As part of National Domestic Violence Awareness Month, I want to kick off giving survivors a platform to share their stories.

The story that I read is from a young man who has the courage and the strength to share his story.

Go here to listen to the full story:  https://www.facebook.com/551257378/videos/pcb.10157771877492379/10157771874412379/

Witnessing his mother abused affected him throughout his life in many ways – until he was awakened that there was a better way. Abuse has such damaging pathological, psychological, and physiological damaging effects on the abused and those who witness it. ABUSE CHANGES YOU. To this young man, THANK YOU. Thank you for having the courage, to tell the truth, and to share your experience. Others need to understand the impacts that witnessing, hearing, or knowing that your parent or loved one is being abused has on the children, in particular. Children need security. Abuse in ANY FORM, arguing, and a volatile home threatens their sense of security and alters their life’s path.

Men need safe spaces too. Many have been abused sexually, emotionally, psychologically, physically, and will never release that account. It is buried too deep. For situations like that, I pray that you find a licensed therapist to help you unpack what happened to you. You are not the person that you have the potential to become as long as you live in silence & secrecy. I pray that those in abusive situations – with or without children – understand that staying in a two-parent home that is abusive will impact your child/children in ways that you cannot begin to understand.

Turn to God and ask Him for a way of escape. You do not deserve the abuse and your children do not deserve their parent being abused. That is not God’s plan for your life. If you are an abuser, albeit emotionally, verbally, spiritually, sexually, financially, psychologically – MAN or WOMAN turn from your wicked ways. God will deal with you accordingly. You may believe you are getting away with abuse, however, Jehovah God sees & knows ALL. He will judge accordingly. Repent and turn from evil. 

Ephesians 6:4 Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. Psalm 11:5 The Lord tests the righteous, but his soul hates the wicked and the one who loves violence. Proverbs 22:10 Drive out a scoffer, and strife will go out, and quarreling and abuse will cease.

Break the chains. #narcfreeliving 

Photo Credit: Brian D’Cruz Hypno Plus

Past usage of the image can be seen in the records on Wayback Machine

(https://web.archive.org)