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God Raised Me From The Ashes

Be determined and confident. Do not be afraid of them. Your God, the LORD himself, will be with you. He will not fail you or abandon you.

[Deuteronomy 31:6(GNT)]

From Brenda:

How do you fit 42 yrs of a lifetime into one story?? It’s hard to do and it is even harder to fit all of what God has done for me in a short story. But I will see what I can do.

At the age of 5 is when I started being sexually abused by a family friend. This abuse lasted until July 4 1976 when I was finally able to stand up to my abuser and tell him NO. Not only was it our nations independence day… it was mine also. Now let me ask you. Who was it who gave me the strength to do that??

Shortly after that I was walking home from school when I met a lady in the middle of the street. She gave me a card with a bible verse Matt 19:14. Let the children come to me and hinder them not. Well I came home with it and a friend of my mother’s was there.

“Do you have a bible?” She asked

“Yes I do.” I replied

“Well go get it.”

So I climbed to the top of my closet and got out my children’s bible. She taught me how to look up the verse and to this day because of her I know how to look things up in the bible. Her name was Beth. What a fitting name!! I attended the bible study for children the lady in the street invited me to. I don’t remember her name. All I remember was she talked about a boy who stuttered and how he was able to change the world. I was a little girl with a Learning Disability and wondered if God could use me just as he used that boy. It wouldn’t be but years later when I found out the answer to that question.

Years passed and I thought the worst was behind me but I was wrong. A very dark cloud loomed within my future. Not only had I been dealing with the abuse of a family friend I was also dealing with abuse at home by my mother. As I got older the abuse grew stronger. I found myself having social problems at school and I didn’t feel loved at all. We had moved to a new location and I wasn’t adjusting well at all. In the 6th grade things started to turn for the worst. The sexual abuse started again only this time it was a different person. My dad found out about it and he put an end to it but I still had problems with people at school, then I would come home and have problems with my mom, my parents and my brother would have horrible fights. My family was coming apart and I felt powerless to stop it. No matter where I went trouble followed me. I began to think that nobody loved me at all. Not even God. At the age of 12 I gave up on life.

I was home alone one day and decided to end my life. I got a knife out to kill myself. I pointed the knife to my heart when my hands started shaking so bad the knife fell out. I know that was an angel stopping me because what happened next was no coincidence. My mother came home with the groceries and it was my job to put them away. At the bottom of the bag was a free TV guide with all kinds of ads. For some reason I was drawn to it. I opened it up and the first thing I was saw was… “Reading the Bible helps.” Oh my word!! I knew this wasn’t chance. I knew someone wanted me to see that. So I got my bible out and started reading in Matthew. I loved reading the words of Jesus and would get disappointed when I got to Acts and Jesus wasn’t there anymore. So I would start over at Matthew.

Well the little girl grew into a teenager but the past abuses still haunted me and I was still dealing with emotional, verbal, and physical abuse from my mother. My dad was really the only one who really seemed to love me and because of the past sexual abuse, I was afraid of him. I wouldn’t get close to him. I was afraid of my own parents. In 1989 I lost my dad to a lengthy illness. I was 21. My world was devastated.

At the age of 17 I gave my life to Christ. I got on my knees then and promised that I would serve him the way he needed me. God was persistent to get me to that point. He never gave up on me. When I turned 15 he started sending people into my life who were pointing to him. It wasn’t that I didn’t want to, I was just unsure of what they were talking about. I had been raised in a denomination for a long time and thought I was already saved. I meant it when I told God I would serve him.

I did go to college for a little while but the funds ran dry and I never finished but I had to get a job to pay the bills. That is when I got a job working with special needs adults. It was there I found my calling. I loved my job taking care of them. After 4 yrs of taking care of them I moved on to a nursing home where I received my Certified Nursing Assistant. My care giving had now been expanded to a whole new set of people. The elderly with dementia and who were sick. Jesus said whatsoever you do to the least of these you have done it to me. God held me to my promise of serving him. Every mouth I fed, every tear I dried, every hand I held, every dying person I ever prayed with, every person I listened to and everyone I helped. I was helping God.

• The little girl who once felt like she had nothing to contribute is now ministering to others as a lay minister. Counseling other abuse victims.
• The little girl who once felt unloved is now loving others with the love of Christ.
  The little girl who was once beaten, put down, and sexually abused is now wrapping her arms around other victims and praying with them.
• This little girl who once thought nobody loved her now has a wonderful little family who adore her and is now serving God the way he wants me to serve him.

I am no longer a victim. I am a survivor. He was there the whole time, he saw what happened and what the devil did to me he turned around and made it a blessing. He was there in the middle of it all and became my parent when my own parent failed. He is my loving father and I love him with all of my heart and I thank him for never leaving me or forsaking me like the people in my life who I trusted. He will never leave my side and when it is my time to go home, he will walk me home.

//From the SYSN Admin: Thank you for your amazing testimony Brenda! Please pray for Brenda, and leave comments on her post using scripture and kind words to let her know how much we appreciate her sharing with us. Also remember to Share YOUR story with us here: http://shareyourstorynow.org/share

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Circle of Prayer

Circle of Prayer is a ministry of the American Bible Society, a Christian ministry that has been engaging people with the life-changing message of God’s Word for nearly 200 years.

Also check out our Bible Search and Scripture journeys tools.

Popularity: 12% [?]

Story posted on Sunday, January 16th, 2011 and is filed under Abuse, Drugs & Alcohol, Grace, Hope, Life Verse, Your Stories. | 8 Comments »

There Are No Coincidences With God

You can be sure that whoever gives even a drink of cold water to one of the least of these my followers because he is my follower, will certainly receive a reward.

[ Matthew 10:42 (GNT)]

Brenda says:

At the age of 5 is when I started being sexually abused by a family friend. This abuse lasted until July 4 1976 when I was finally able to stand up to my abuser and tell him “NO MORE!” Not only was it our nations independence day, it was mine also. Now let me ask you, “who was it who gave me the strength to do that?”

Shortly after that I was walking home from school, I met a lady in the middle of the street. She gave me a card with a bible verse on it, Matt 19:14, “Let the children come to me and hinder them not.” Well I came home with it and a friend of my mother’s was there.
“Do you have a bible?” She asked.
“Yes I do.” I replied.
“Well go get it.”

So I climbed to the top of my closet and got out my children’s bible. She taught me how to look up the verse and to this day because of her I know how to look things up in the bible. Her name was Beth. What a fitting name!! I attended the bible study for children the lady in the street invited me to. I don’t remember her name. All I remember was she talked about a boy who stuttered and how he was able to change the world. I was a little girl with a learning disability and wondered if God could use me just as he used that boy in the story. It wouldn’t be till years later when I found out the answer to that question.

Years passed and I thought the worst was behind me but I was wrong. A very dark cloud loomed over my future. Not only had I been dealing with the abuse of a family friend I was also dealing with abuse at home by my mother. As I got older the abuse grew stronger. I found myself having social problems at school and I didn’t feel loved at all. We had moved to a new location and I wasn’t adjusting well at all. In the 6th grade things started to turn for the worst. The sexual abuse started again only this time it was a different person. My dad found out about it and he put an end to it but I still had problems with people at school, then I would come home and have problems with my mom, my parents and my brother would have horrible fights. My family was coming apart and I felt powerless to stop it. No matter where I went trouble followed me. I began to think that nobody loved me at all. Not even God. At the age of 12 I gave up on life.

I was home alone one day and decided to end my life. I got a knife out to kill myself. I pointed the knife to my heart, but then my hands started shaking so bad the knife fell out. I know that was an angel stopping me because what happened next was no coincidence. My mother came home with the groceries and it was my job to put them away. At the bottom of the bag was a free TV guide with all kinds of ads. For some reason I was drawn to it. I opened it up and the first thing I was saw was… “Reading the Bible helps!” Oh my word!! I knew this wasn’t chance. I knew someone wanted me to see that. So I got my bible out and started reading in Matthew. I loved reading the words of Jesus and would get disappointed when I got to Acts and Jesus wasn’t there anymore. So I would start over at Matthew.

Well the little girl grew into a teenager but the past abuses still haunted me and I was still dealing with emotional, verbal, and physical abuse from my mother. My dad was really the only one who really seemed to love me and because of the past sexual abuse, I was afraid of him. I wouldn’t get close to him. I was afraid of my own parents. In 1989 I lost my dad to a lengthy illness. I was 21. My world was devastated.

At the age of 17 I gave my life to Christ. I got on my knees then and promised that I would serve him the way he needed me. God was persistent to get me to that point. He never gave up on me. When I turned 15 he started sending people into my life who were pointing to him. It wasn’t that I didn’t want to, I was just unsure of what they were talking about. I had been raised in a denomination for a long time and thought I was already saved. I meant it when I told God I would serve him.

I did go to college for a little while but the funds ran dry and I never finished but I had to get a job to pay the bills. That is when I got a job working with special needs adults. It was there I found my calling. I loved my job taking care of them. After 4 yrs of taking care of them I moved on to a nursing home where I received my Certified Nursing Assistant. My caregiving had now been expanded to a whole new set of people. The elderly with dementia and who were sick. Jesus said whatsoever you do to the least of these you have done it to me. God held me to my promise of serving him. Every mouth I fed, every tear I dried, every hand I held, every dying person I ever prayed with, every person I listened to and everyone I helped. I was helping God.

The little girl who once felt like she had nothing to contribute is now ministering to others as a lay minister. Counseling other abuse victims.
The little girl who once felt unloved is now loving others with the love of Christ.
The little girl who was once beaten, put down, and sexually abused is now wrapping her arms around other victims and praying with them.
This little girl who once thought nobody loved her now has a wonderful little family who adore her and is now serving God the way he wants me to serve him.

I am no longer a victim. I am a survivor. He was there the whole time, he saw what happened and what the devil did to me he turned around and made it a blessing. He was there in the middle of it all and became my parent when my own parent failed. He is my loving father and I love him with all of my heart and I thank him for never leaving me or forsaking me like the people in my life who I trusted. He will never leave my side and when it is my time to go home, he will walk me home.

//From the SYSN Admin: Please pray for Brenda, and leave comments on her post using scripture and kind words to let her know how much we appreciate her sharing with us. Also remember to Share YOUR story with us here: http://shareyourstorynow.org/share

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Circle of PrayerCircle of Prayer is a ministry of the American Bible Society, a Christian ministry that has been engaging people with the life-changing message of God’s Word for nearly 200 years.Also check out our Bible Search and Scripture journeys tools.

Popularity: 12% [?]

Story posted on Wednesday, December 22nd, 2010 and is filed under Abuse, Death, Divorce & Marital Conflict, Illness, Life Verse, Overcoming sin, Praise, Prayer, Struggles, Suicide, Your Stories. | No Comments »

God Keeps Me Afloat

When you came out of Egypt, I promised that I would always be with you. I am still with you, so do not be afraid.

[ Haggai 2:5 (GNT)]

Rachel says:

I have been in very hard times and am still in it. I am in an abusive marriage. Two years ago the physical abuse started and I was put down on a daily basis, I can feel myself tearing up as I type this… I had nobody to talk to because i was afraid of being judged by others. My husband told me if I ever tell I will lose my kids, and that I would be deported.

One day i walked into this church, and I was so miserable… But when the pastor asked if anybody would like a special prayer to come in front…I took the leap. It was a turning point for me. I cried for almost fifteen minutes nonstop and then after all that the pastor told me to start praying and she said “get on your knees and pray, The Bible says call me in times of trouble and I will answer you.”

Since then I cry less at nights, as I can feel God keeping me afloat in my life.

Last year on Christmas eve my husband came home drunk. He started arguing with me, and finished by breaking my cell phone in half because i was trying to call for help. He then dragged me on the floor like a log, and I was so afraid that he was going to kill me. I went to church and I prayed and hoped that one day I would get the courage to leave. I know that God is on my side and my kids’.

God has blessed me with people who come to my rescue by talking to him and the physical abuse has stopped and I believe in the name of Jesus Christ that one day things will be better. I will be able to leave a normal life. Every time he calls me crazy or he doesn’t provide for the family…I pray that the Lord be upon him and that Gods’ mercy help him to do the right thing.

//From the SYSN Admin: Please pray for Rachel as she continues to go through a very difficult time. Please pray for her entire family, and leave comments on her post using scripture and kind words to let her know how much we appreciate her sharing with us. Also remember to Share YOUR story with us here: http://shareyourstorynow.org/share

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Circle of PrayerCircle of Prayer is a ministry of the American Bible Society, a Christian ministry that has been engaging people with the life-changing message of God’s Word for nearly 200 years.Also check out our Bible Search and Scripture journeys tools.

Popularity: 8% [?]

Story posted on Wednesday, December 22nd, 2010 and is filed under Abuse, Divorce & Marital Conflict, Struggles, Suicide, Verses, Your Stories. | 3 Comments »

Fighting My Son’s Addiction

But after you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who calls you to share his eternal glory in union with Christ, will himself perfect you and give you firmness, strength, and a sure foundation. To him be the power forever! Amen.

[ 1 Peter 5:10-11 (GNT)]

Christine says:

My battle with my son Kyle’s drug addiction had been long and difficult, but my prayer was unrelenting. On a Thursday morning, it was decided that my son was going into rehab for one year. He wanted to get clean so badly, and although I tried to get him into a program 2 months ago but the judge blocked it ordering my son to 160 hours of community service, I didn’t get it. I pleaded with the judge to send my son to go to rehab, I had set it all up and b/c he was on probation they needed permission, but to no avail. One night not long after, he texted me one night at 2am and said- “I love you” – that was it…I knew something was wrong! Everything that was in me was on alert, not that those words are rare but just something about it screamed “goodbye.” So I called 911 and had a unit sent to his house and they took him in. He didn’t stay in recovery for very long, actually he left himself after just one day.

A few days after yet another failed attempt on my part to get my son help from the judge, my son broke probation by showing up late, and told the probation officer to please send him to jail- he just wanted off the streets because he felt that he was going to die. His probation officer made a call and said, “ok, you have 24 hours to get into rehab or I will send you to jail.” My son called to tell me the good news, but nothing could prepare me for what happened the night before he went into rehab.

The whole day before Kyle was set to leave for rehab, I was praising God because it was finally happening – and a few hours later my world crashed. I was at church giving the “praise report” when I got a call from emergency telling me that my son had been shot. My heart stopped. My son had given the store clerk my number as they both waited on the police. I rushed over to the store and saw him on the ground covered in blood with paper towels all over his left eye. With a weak voice, covered in blood, he said, “Mom- it’s ok- please don’t worry- I talked to God, he is here with me, I am going to heaven. I will see you there- please don’t cry for me, I am ok- I am ready.”

I just stood there frozen. Time stood still for me as the helicopter landed and airlifted Kyle to the hospital. I was so numb on the way to the hospital but I kept praising God. In my heart I knew he was dead, but I was thanking God for allowing him the chance to not only get right but to allow me to know he was going to heaven. I just thanked God because my biggest fear in this journey was that he would end up dead, and I would not know if he got right, the thought of him burning in hell for eternity would have put me in a nut house. So I was very thankful that God allowed him to go this way. I was truly comforted in the most insane way. All I could think to do was sing praise songs, I was alright.

I got to the hospital and I sat there waiting, wondering how the Doctor would come tell me my son, my baby was gone. My mom was there, the Pastor and his wife, my friend Beth and her husband, Kyla was on her way- my ex in laws were there, Kyle’s girlfriend and her friend- Ann was there (she drove me) – and I told them all how much I was comforted. I think they all thought I was just in shock. Finally, the Doctor came out and said, “Ma’am, I am so sorry.” I was shaking my head because I already knew the news. I knew he was gone, and yet I had such a peace imagining him playing the guitar and hanging with Jesus.

After what seemed like an eternity, the doctor continued, “I really tried but just could not save his eye.”
I looked up in complete confusion and said “excuse me?” The doctor clarified, “I really tried to save his eye but there was too much damage.” Still utterly confused, I asked “…is he alive?” The doctor said, “Oh yes, he was incredibly lucky, the bullet went in on the side and exited out of the cheek and missed the frontal lobe by a hair. His right eye still has 20/20 vision and it completely missed his brain. There is no sign of brain damage – he will make a full recovery. Tomorrow morning we will go in and clean it up and sew up the area. Would you like to see him?”

I was stunned. My heart was pounding. I could not believe it. God had spared him. I was speechless. I met the comforter that night and I still have no words to describe it. I was in awe. I felt so loved by my Father in heaven. I went into his room and I didn’t see the 21 year old drug addict. I saw my son. For a moment I was flooded with the reality of everything, and I just stared and soon focused in on the oxygen mask, neck brace and bloody gauze covering his left eye.

I took his hand, and at that moment he squeezed my hand and said “I’m so sorry for the pain I’ve caused you. I told God in the helicopter if he let me live I would turn my life around and use it for him. At first I was relieved to die, I said yes God- all this pain will be over, I am ready. And then I was in the helicopter and started thinking about you and grandma and grandpa and how much I have hurt everyone and I asked that God please let me make it right.”

I think God was holding me because I was just swaying back and forth with my heart exploding with love. I had experienced a glimpse of Abraham’s heart. I had laid Kyle down at the altar, at His feet, and God spared him.

//From the SYSN Admin: Isn’t it absolutely amazing how God works? Please comment on Christine’s story, and remember to also Share YOUR story with us here: http://shareyourstorynow.org/share

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Circle of Prayer

Circle of Prayer is a ministry of the American Bible Society, a Christian ministry that has been engaging people with the life-changing message of God’s Word for nearly 200 years.

Also check out our Bible Search and Scripture journeys tools.

Popularity: 19% [?]

Story posted on Wednesday, October 20th, 2010 and is filed under Abuse, Drugs & Alcohol, Parenting, Prayer, Your Stories. | 15 Comments »

Facing Danger by Seeking God’s Shelter

God is our shelter and strength, always ready to help in times of trouble. So we will not be afraid, even if the earth is shaken and mountains fall into the ocean depths; even if the seas roar and rage, and the hills are shaken by the violence.

[ Psalm 46:1-3 (GNT)]

Kay (KMS) says:

When I met KC, he was distraught. I tried daily to get him better, and soon we took our friendship to the next level. The first year of our relationship was great. Then we decided to move in together. That’s when he changed into his TRUE self. He started to drink heavily around me. This man was able to drink a case of beer and still function!!! That tells me that he was always this way!! It got to the point that he was drinking two cases a day, sometimes three. On top of that, he was taking Xanax… at least 4 bars a day!

One night, I came home from work to find him drunk on the front porch. He had locked himself out of the apartment. I got him in and asked him how he managed to do that. I instantly got kicked in the face with a steel toed Doc Martin. He told me I was a **** and deserved the boot to my face. He then proceeded to passed out on the porch. He cried the next day and told me over and over that he was sorry for what he had done to me, and I forgave him.

Time had gone on, and his drinking continued to get worse, except now he was also out of work. I wasn’t able to pay off any of my debt because I had to pay the rent, all the utilities, buy the groceries, and make sure that his son (from another relationship) was taken care of (He was 6 by this time). The abuse got worse. He started putting me down. This cycle went on for five years. He would throw my abortion in my face (yes, I had one when I was 18 because I was on hardcore drugs. My doctor showed us the irregular fetal development and suggested a termination. I still have not forgiven myself for it, and I shared my pain with him just for him to use it against me…mental/emotional abuse). He would ask me where my other child is, and then would proceed to tell me that my child was scraped and flushed down a toilet. He brought me coat hangers and told me to get to scraping. He would tell me that he wondered what my child would have looked like and then continue with it by telling me that we would know if I wasn’t a baby murderer. I would cry because I felt the same way about myself. I felt like I was a baby murderer. Then I would get angry because I shared something painful about myself with him for him to understand where my mind goes when I see children of a certain age group, and he used it as a weapon against me!

His abuse took a toll on me, and I began to hate my life. I looked in the mirror and began coming up with an alibi for his “disappearance”. I was willing to kill him if that was what had to be done for me to be free. The negativity grew to the point where I was willing to kill myself just to be free…neither solution was a good one. I finally left the relationship status in late May 2009, but he lived at the same house. We had separate rooms. I started dreaming about an old friend by this time, JS, someone I hadn’t seen in years. In my dreams, he was in turmoil. We were reconnected via the internet. We started hanging around each other in late June. I told him my story, and he shared his. I remember him being bitter about his situation, and I told him to forgive. Forgiveness is not for the person, it is for you!

I felt as if God brought us together for a reason because I could feel his pain before I spoke to him, and according to him, he was thinking about me just before he saw a message from me. I thought to myself, “That had to be GOD!” Naturally, two people connecting with common background found comfort in one another, and of course one thing led to another, and I fell in love… I’m not exactly sure what he felt, but I know he felt something because of the texts and conversations we had. Plus, he told me he had strong feelings for me (but I think it was because I got pregnant). Note that I have known this man since I was 14 years old. Sometime in July, I found out I was pregnant.

I just knew in my heart that this child belonged to JS. I needed to escape because KC was literally choking me at home. He held me up in the air by my throat with his 9 year old child watching. I finally was able to break free, and I run down the street to call JS. When I called JS and told him that we needed to talk,  he picked me up and took me to his house to stay the night.

I went to Seattle at the end of July and JS came back to Phoenix City by this time. We talked all the time while I was gone. I missed him more and more, every minute that we were apart. I was in love. It was wonderful. I came back to Columbus in August with my sister. Shortly after my return, JS left to go to Louisiana. He was supposed to find us a place to live together. While he was gone, we remained in close contact with one another. Things didn’t work out as planned, and he returned home, which actually made me happy. Not long after JS came back, KC found out that I was pregnant. He told me that if this child belonged to my friend, he was going to kill me, the baby, and JS. I KNEW he really would have done it! I started pushing JS away, fearing for his safety. I never gave him a real good reason as to why, but most importantly I needed to protect him from KC. I loved him enough to want to see him happy without me rather than being miserable with me, and miserable is what he would have been because KC would have stalked us forever! Not long after that, I finally packed my stuff and ran away to San Diego.

KC found me, just like he said he would. He followed me there and brought me back to Columbus. We fought every day, but he stopped hitting me by this point. He told me that the baby wasn’t leaving his side and since the baby was in me, then I had to stay as well. Utter misery!!! I finally had my baby in March. He showed up 3 days after my due date. My miracle baby! I say this because I went into premature labor in February. The doc was able to stop it, and I was on bed rest. Labor came back in March. During delivery, the baby’s heart rate was rapidly increasing, and I ended up having a seizure. I had to have a c-section. My baby is healthy now, but barely living when they pulled him out. The doc told me that we both almost didn’t make it, but God is great and he got us both through it.

I began trying to get in touch with JS after MK was born. He never replied to my emails or texts or notes, so I gave up because in my mind he obviously never cared about me or the baby. I know this is not the truth, but in my mind it was. My mind was still sick from all the abuse, and I felt that all men were out to hurt me. Not long after that, KC found out that I was trying to get in touch with JS. KC got drunk and began beating me up with my new baby in my arms. All I could do was curl up into a ball and lay my body over my son’s so that he would not get hurt. While on the ground, curled up, I was kicked repeatedly in the head, face, back, anywhere that foot landed. KC passed out, and I took off again. I called my cousin KO and went back to San Diego. KC would call me over and over telling me that he was going to kill me if I didn’t bring his son home. “Kill me then,” is what I thought. I would just rather him kill me than have to hear his voice again!!

During my stay in San Diego, I started thinking about my conversations with JS about Jesus and God. I always believed in God, but I never believed in Jesus as my Lord and Savior. We got into debates about this topic. He gave me a Bible, and I finally pulled it out of my bag and began to read it. JS is the reason that I am saved today. He guided me to the Lord and I am so thankful for him! I read his note in the front cover of my bible every morning:

“To my good friend KMS. I hope that when u read it, that it helps you the way that it has 4 me. I pray that u find all the peace, love, & joy that u deserve in life. Never 4get that the Lord loves u and is there 4 u. And so am I! J….”

The Bible and this note helped to heal my heart. I returned to Columbus in May. I tried to get in touch with JS one more time, but this time I didn’t leave any contact info. I got a response back from his mother, telling me that he is happy for my relationship with the Lord. During this time, I was also informed that he was happily married. Wow! My heart shattered instantly, but I could do nothing but be happy for him. I have learned that if you really love someone, you want them to be happy regardless of who they are happy with. Then it dawned on me that this is the first time that I have ever really loved someone like that, but this story is for another time.
While in Columbus, KC would visit with my son often. Then suddenly he stopped contacting me. His new girl didn’t like me. I didn’t really care, but I told his family members that if he wants to see MK then he needs to be an adult and have contact with me because I can’t just keep contacting his family to find out what his plans are. He got drunk and showed up at my dad’s door (while everyone was on vacation) and we went blow for blow! I delivered a beating right back to him. I wasn’t about to just sit there and let someone try to kill me. In this fight, I broke his nose and split his ear open. He fractured my cheek bone, cracked my ribs, and swelled my eye shut. I finally called the police on him. He was charged with aggravated assault, aggravated battery, and aggravated stalking. He was released on bond, and instantly sought revenge on me. I have been jumping from place to place, hiding.

The cycle doesn’t seem to end. Now I pray to God that KC gets the help that he needs and that MK and I can find our next safe place to stay. No place is safe for long because he knows all the people that I know who are willing to take us in for a while. Hotels/motels are out of the question… he found us there once by driving through all the parking lots!! That’s a dedicated abuser in need of some serious psychological help along with prayer! I am now determined to do whatever I have to do to make sure that MK and I are safe.

This is my story, and God is how I overcame the abuse. Though I am not completely out of the boiling waters yet, at least I took that first step. I have one leg out and the other one is slowly following. The process is not easy, and it is not quick (especially if you have a dedicated abuser after you), but it is possible.

I know God is standing by me, getting me through all of the pain! For those of you who are in an abusive relationship, you are not alone. I just recently discovered that I am not alone! Now I have support from strangers, but these strangers who are helping me and supporting me and offering up prayers for me…these people are more of God’s gifts to me…he sent them my way to help me heal, and I am thankful for each and every single man and woman in my life that has offered up their support!! God bless you all!

Here is a quote from a song called “Survivor” by Jeff Ott, which I look to for comfort:
“I made a bag out of a piece of cloth. I made a wish and I wrote it down on a piece of paper. I put the paper in the bag and wished with all my heart. I said, please deliver me; low and behold it became reality! So I can say today: I REFUSE TO BELIEVE GOD CREATED ME TO BE TORTURED. I REFUSE TO BELIEVE GOD CREATED ME TO BE ABANDONED. I REFUSE TO BELIEVE GOD CREATED ME TO BE NEGLECTED. I REFUSE TO BELIEVE GOD CREATED ME TO BE ABUSED! I picked up the pieces of my broken heart off the dirty boulevard. I found a punk rock kid who had a needle and some leather string. I made a wish and I said it again and again. I took the needle and threaded it. I sewed my broken heart back together again!”

//From the SYSN Admin: Please pray for KMS and the safety of her child. Please also comment on her story and provide encouragement through scripture and kind words. Also remember to Share YOUR story with us here: http://shareyourstorynow.org/share
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Story posted on Thursday, September 30th, 2010 and is filed under Abuse, Divorce & Marital Conflict, Drugs & Alcohol, Suicide, Your Stories. | 4 Comments »