Singing, serving, smiling — but looks can be deceiving. by Don Cox as told to Muriel Larson In my home, I was the king; my family members were the peasants. At least that was the way I saw things. Whenever there was the slightest resistance to my will, my violent temper could assert itself….
Author: nowwhat
Honor My Mother?
A new adventure of biblical truth. by Betty Smith Sixteen-year-old Angela struggled to find the chord among the piano keys. She pressed a combination. The sound made me cringe. “It’s okay,” I assured her. As I reached for the keyboard, I felt my heart quickening. My hand trembled as it hovered over the keys….
Learning to Feel Again: First steps
Do you long to feel more of some emotions, yet fear that certain feelings will stir up too much pain? Are you struggling with painful memories? Maybe you have reached the point of saying, “I can’t take this anymore.” The good news is that you can get better. Here are some ways to get…
Learning to Feel Again
by Beth Swain Relieved, I watched the counselor gather his papers without asking me that dreaded question. Then, as if an afterthought, he asked, “Oh, was there any sexual abuse?” There it was. “You mean with me?” I asked, attempting a casual facade. Still, my quivering voice betrayed me. “Yes, with you.” His kind…
Midst Roses and Concrete
Finding forgiveness for the deepest hurts. by Shirley A. Reynolds On a concrete bench in a mausoleum courtyard, I tried to muster courage. Shaking my fist at the foliage, I said, “I’m not leaving until I’ve emptied my heart of this anger toward my mother.” Oh Mama, I thought. Why did you use a…
The Power of Pain
The suffering of Christ gives newmeaning to a suffering man. by Douglas Hainer as told to Marguerite Tustan My earliest memory is being struck in the head with the butt of a rifle. It was my fourth birthday. My older sister, jealous of the attention I was receiving, hit me so hard that I…
The Ugly Truth: Recommended reading and resources
I often recommend the Web sites of my articles: “Feelings, Forgiveness, and Peace” and “Moving On From the Past”: www.christianwomentoday.com/parenting/feelings.html www.christianwomentoday.com/closet/movingpast.html Accept Jesus Christ as Savior:http://www.journeyofjoy.com Gainvictory over a bad temper: www.christianwomentoday.com/spiritfilledlife.html “Dr. Muriel” Web site:http://www.christianwomentoday.com/advice/advice_qa.html Other recommendations Child Help USA for persons who were abused sexually as children: 1-800-422-4453 Children’s Center child abuse…
The Ugly Truth About Child Abuse
Understanding past and present influencesto find freedom for the future. by Muriel Larson My dedicated Christian friend, Melissa*, told me, “The memory of that awful experience when I was four has been indelibly seared into my mind; I have relived it again and again. It has profoundly affected my whole life. It is the…
What You Should Know about Child Abuse and Neglect
What can we do about this modern crisis? by Jill Davis Remember the H1N1 flu virus that President Barack Obama called a national emergency in the fall of 2009? Once 1,000 people died from the disease, the World Health Organization warned of a worldwide pandemic. Our health care system quickly mobilized as the public…
Rescue of the Throwaway Child: Words to the Wise
This life, even at its best, provides a barrage of signals and experiences that tend to tear us down. Sometimes destructive communication comes from those who should love and support us most. At times like these, we may turn to the Bible repeatedly for God’s estimate of who we are. For example, our value…