FROM CHILD ABUSE ,,,,TO SPOUSE ABUSE,,,,,,,,TO HEALING
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I will begin by saying, if you are currently being abused or know someone that is being abused, tell someone. Continue to tell until someone listens. Don't forget to contact the proper authorities. Ephesians 5:11, "Take no part in the worthless deeds of evil and darkness; instead, rubuke and expose them"(NLT)
If you have not dealt with your past abuse now is the time. Seek help and allow your wounds to heal properly.
I am not saying the healing process will be painless. But remember " I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me" ( Philippians 4:13).
1 out of every 3 girls will be abused by the age 18 and 1 out of every 5 boys will be abused by age 18. These are reported cases only!
Did you know that 90-95% of abuse cases go unreported to the police? (
1 out of 4 women and 1 out of 9 men have experience Domestic Violence in the United States.
Fourty-two percent of women murdered is a result of Domestic Violence.
Most Domestic Violence is never reported to police.
Thirty-seven percent of emergency room visits are related to some kind of Domestic Violence.
Well, I don't know about you but this is something to talk about!
My abuse began when I was about 4-5 years old by my babysitter's 2 teenage daughters. They would have their younger siblings have sex with me and my siblings while the watched. After that they would beat us and threaten to kill my mother if we told. The abuse continued until we moved out of town a few years later. Both teenagers died within 3 years of our family moving. The oldest one drowned while trying to save her son. The other teenager was only seventeen when she was raped and beaten to death. I could not cry when they died.
I was abused by my father until I was 14 to 15 years old. He would fondle me every chance he could and then come in my bedroom in middle of the night.
I was called the " black sheep of the family". My father called me names like short, fat,black and ugly to name a few. On occasion my father would yell for me to come downstairs in the middle of the night. He would look at me and say " boy, you are ugly". I would run upstairs crying only for him to call me back down several times to make statments like:" let me look at you again, are you my daughter?"
My father received 5 years on probation and ordered to attend family counseling.
At one counseling session my father had the nerve to say " I am feeling some animosity towards my children".
On several ocassions I watch my father abuse my mother.
I was also a victim of Domestic Violence.
My father died when I was 31 years old, a few months earlier he agreed to talk to me about the abuse. Was this his way of getting out of our talk?
I wrote a letter to dad and read it at the funeral. At the end of the letter I said " even though we did not have our talk, I FORGIVE YOU!"
A deacon that I have known and trusted since the age 8, tried to rape me. Words can not express how that made me feel even today. I will not go any further on that.
Some affects from the abuse:
1) At the age of 24, I married a abusive man just like my father. ( lasted about a one year)
2) No matter how many times people would tell how beautiful I am, I would continue to feel ugly.
3) Resentment towards my mother for not protecting me.
4) Lack of respect towards men.
5) Several suicide attempts and 2 of them resulted in hospitalization.
Healing:
At the age of 26 I attempted suicide for the last time. I was in the emergency room barely breathing and I had no control over my muscles and God spoke to me and said " it is not your time."
From that day on my road to healing began. I thank God everyday for sparing my life. You see when I gave up on life, God did not give up on me.
I just want everyone to know that It's Abuse, Not The End!
If God can do it for me, He can do it for you!
Jodi believes it’s her purpose in life to help others that have been abused to experience healing and wholeness through the life-changing seminars she presents.
Many experience a life of transformation as a result of speaking to Jodi one on one or a seminar environment.
To schedule Jodi to share her story or present a seminar for your group or organization, please complete the contact page.
For more information about abuse or to locate a support group near you please complete the contact page.
Mending the Soul Ministries @ www.mendingthesoulministries.org is a great resource to understanding and healing from abuse.
Please leave a comment on my blog page @ http://michigan.itsabusenottheend.com
