Quivering Daughters

Epilogue

*special message at the end

I will go before you

And make the crooked places straight;

I will break in pieces the gates of bronze

And cut the bars of iron.

I will give you the treasures of darkness

And hidden riches of secret places,

That you may know that I, the LORD,

Who call you by your name, Am the God of Israel.

For Jacob My servant’s sake, And Israel My elect,

I have even called you by your name;

I have named you, though you have not known Me.

I am the LORD, and there is no other;

There is no God besides Me.

I will gird you, though you have not known Me.

(Isaiah 45:2-5)

Sparrows flutter, falling

And the King of Heaven sees.—Luna

he little girl trembled. Her teeth chattered as she lay curled in midnight, curled in mud. Tiny stars eddied through squeezed, tear-stained lashes. “What are you asking of me? I can’t do this, you know I can’t!” She opened her eyes to meet the gaze of smothering darkness, and choked on its bitterness. “I tried to be good,” she whimpered, clutching at her flesh as though tearing away ugliness. “You said if I did what you asked, you would love me!” But once again, she’d failed. And once again, she crumpled—alone, unwanted, ashamed, abandoned.

“Abba,” she whispered. Hot tears carved paths down her cheeks. “Abba—” Her clammy fingers wrapped around her arms in a feeble attempt to ward off sinister, sticky cold. “Where are you?” Sobs escaped her lips as her hands groped in darkness, finding nothing. Yet she knew, somehow, that she must keep going for it was a matter of life or death.

She pushed herself up, up, shuddering, out of the dank soil, and inched her foot ahead. Her way unfolded with step by agonizing step, breath by labored breath. Weariness filled her flesh. “I want my mother,” she mourned, yearning for the comfort and warmth which lay distantly in memory. “I can’t do this anymore! I must to stop now!”

Letter To a Friend | Book Recommendations

by Elizabeth Wyse Cook

My dear friend,

You asked what books I might recommend as you seek healing from the emotional and spiritual trauma you have been through. There are a few books that stand out in my mind as having been really helpful to me. I am sure there are many, many more, but these are some of my favorites.

His Princess: Love Letters from Your King

by Sheri Rose Shepherd This book is the first one that came to me. As someone who had a horrible time receiving love and affirmation, this book gave me a small, daily dose of both. Eventually, the truth of it began to sink in. It is also a beautiful book, which was very good for me. I desperately needed to learn how to take time to see beauty and appreciate it. She has a whole series of books like this, including one for men.

Letter From a Friend

by Elizabeth Wyse Cook

My dear friend,

I know you have been through some rough times recently. Your family does not understand why you have done what you have done. Most of your friends are probably avoiding you. But deep inside, you know you did the right thing by leaving. You can no longer be a slave to other people’s opinions - opinions that they claim are God’s way of doing things, but you cannot find basis for in Scripture. You likely feel very alone and very small as you begin your new life. I’m sure there are some doubts at times. It is ok. All of that is normal.

Abuse is a hot, yet tender, topic. Nearly everyone would agree that abuse is horrible, unjustifiable, and devastating. Invariably, within a discussion of abuse, someone will bring up the question of definitions and ask, but what is abuse? Are we just throwing the word around, willy-nilly, and making false accusations? Are we slandering others using this emotionally-charged word? Shouldn't we drop this word and perhaps use something a little less alarming?

He has shown you, o man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you? But to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God. Micah 6:8

We are conditioned to consider abuse to be that which inflicts violence in the forms of rape, battery, beating, or extreme neglect. And yes, those are examples of abuse ~ yet they are not the only examples. Here is how the United States Department of Justice defines abuse. Please read carefully.

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Epilogue

Letter To a Friend | Book Recommendations

Letter From a Friend

What is Abuse?