Tears collected in a bottle. An unusual idea, but David used this phrase in Psalm 56:8 to describe how God keeps a record of human pain and suffering. He cares for us when we are hurting. Rhonda* clung to this verse many times throughout her life. Believing God saw her tears and held her close…
“For many years, the voice in my head convinced me the sexual molestation happening to me was my fault,” Nicole* shared. Her perpetrator, a family member, began abusing her when she was five years old. She knew it was wrong, but his intimidation and control were threatening enough that Nicole stayed silent. Nicole withdrew and…
Ever been the victim of a crime? It can turn your life upside down. Anxiety creeps in. You begin to question your safety everywhere you go. Maybe you’re lucky and you haven’t. The statistics are staggering: 328,236 felonies or violent crimes were reported in Georgia in 2017. Every crime often impacts one or more victims….
Defeating pancreatic cancer – the cancer with the lowest survival rate – takes a woman who is strong and courageous. And Mary Anne* IS that kind of woman. * Her real name is used with permission. Wasn’t Always Strong and Courageous But Mary Anne wasn’t always strong and courageous. For 22 years, she lived with…
A broken home by age one set the wheels in motion for years upon years of struggle. In a time when divorce wasn’t common, both of her parents quickly remarrying other people was confusing and divided her heart. Tracy* wouldn’t understand until many years later that when her dad built a Christian family with another…
If you haven’t read part 1 of Diane’s story, please read it here first. Three years after her official diagnosis, Diane experienced a turning point in her journey with bipolar disorder. She made a decision that would change how she viewed her mental illness and others who also had mental illnesses. “I wasn’t afraid any…
“When I was finally ready to share my diagnosis of bipolar disorder with the church, I was told it was probably not a good idea to go public with it. That same day, the wife of a male church member shared her husband’s cancer journey and asked for prayers. Many church members rallied around her…
Dianne* met a couple of strip club dancers when she was 17 who encouraged her to dance, but she told them she wasn’t interested. So they encouraged her to turn tricks instead. * Her real name, used with permission. “I was too screwed up to get a job, and I needed money for drugs,” Dianne…
Warrior Woman – Hear Me Roar Teres’sa* is definitely a warrior woman. She and the other warrior women at the sexual abuse counseling center where she works adopted the motto “Hear Me Roar!” to remind them to be outspoken about and fight for victims of sexual abuse. * Her real name, used with permission You…
If only there’d been a National Child Abuse Prevention Month when Tammy* was 4 years old. Maybe someone would have believed her cries for help and stopped her abusers. * Her real name is used with permission. No Voice With a severe alcoholic as a mother and a step-father addicted to porn, Tammy had no…