Whether you are a survivor of sexual abuse or you are still fighting your way out, the first thing you need to know is that YOU are NOT alone. There is life beyond the bolted door…
THE BOLTED DOOR
In my first published paperback book, Beyond The Bolted Door, I am sharing MY story in hopes that you will find the courage to tell YOUR story and to break through the bolted doors in your life.
There are SO many others throughout history who have stood frozen with terror at a door slammed and bolted shut in their face. This door represents secrets, shame, guilt, lies, pain, cover-ups, and devastation.
It took me 50 years to speak up on my own behalf, to finally see my own value and worth. I see my story as one of hope and survival but also a cautionary tale – where I beseech you to NOT wait as long as I did to defend yourself or tell your story or even be your OWN hero!
BOOKENDS OF LIFE
Beginnings and endings are the bookends to every life story. And the journey itself IS the chapters in between. We ALL have a story to tell. No one should ever carry the weight of a secret burden that crushes their soul and cripples their journey.
No one should ever feel their story is not worth telling or not worth hearing. Ironically, it is facing the truth of your painful story that sets you free FROM it. “And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” (John 8:32)
PAIN TO PURPOSE
My pain has transformed into a work of art now on display; light shines out from my broken places like sparkling glittery diamonds. My purpose has exploded in beautiful words of HOPE laughing in the face of darkness.
I no longer feel like the misplaced puzzle piece – NOW I FINALLY see my place and it is a perfect fit. My cocoon is long gone. I know WHO I am and where I belong. My healed heart beats for the abused, for the broken, the lost, the forgotten, the angry, the rejected, the misunderstood, the captive, the ones who feel hopeless and that life is not worth living – my heart beats for YOU. YOU are my WHY.
At the very least I hope to point you in the right direction of how to turn your pain into purpose, by sharing MY story – understanding that your story is YOUR journey, and will be deeply personal (and unique) to you in its unfolding and resolve. BUT God has set eternity in the human heart therefore we are eternal beings. Remember that. So, THIS life with all of its pains is NOT all there is. It is just our earthly journey, and our stories will live on long after we are gone. And THAT is really, the whole point to life; to find the purpose buried deep in the pain and to be awakened to our true value.
LEAVE A LEGACY OF HOPE
We all hope to leave behind something of worth that can not be silenced or shaken. So, in essence (which is THE most important element of something) we get to leave behind – ourselves, in story form. Our stories may have been silenced or suppressed, but as we together begin to rise up, the sound will be a mighty cry of triumph that will echo down through the ages.
COMING FORTH AS PURE GOLD
The strength of character and the fortitude of an unshakable faith is built into us IN the deep, dark trenches! Remember the word there…IN! When we are tried IN the furnace of affliction, we shall come forth as pure gold.
In conclusion, I get it! If we have been healed and changed, then it should be visible as a testament to God’s power made manifest IN and THROUGH us. Like the blind man who got back his sight and proclaimed, “I was blind but NOW I see!” I would assume that after being blind you would WANT everyone to know! Finally, once all the scales are off your eyes, you can NOW proceed with glorious intention and purpose to leave behind a lasting legacy that will endure and will remain.
“For I know the plans I have for you,” says the LORD. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.” (Jeremiah 29:11)
*Partial proceeds from my book will be used in conjunction with We Are Sons and Daughters Global, for further distribution of my book to other countries, to spread help and hope to others around the world who feel alone in their pain.