It breaks my heart to read your story, LJ. So tough to cope with a mother like that. It is truly amazing some people have the all right values despite the fact their parents didn’t.
It’s that precious free will - making a choice even a little towards God can make a huge difference after a while, kind of like a 2 or 3 degree change of direction - after miles, you’re in a totally different place than you would have been.
Each soul always has choices, every minute.
(Never a dull moment - my motto.)