Broken Girl

This is a song by Matthew West.  I just heard it for the first time and totally appreciated it.  I would have imbeded the video but for some reason it just wouldn't work.  I very much recommend you watching it.

http://youtu.be/9X6h6QiFqi4

Concrete Angel

 

This song is another one that hits so close to home.  Who will stand up for the children who are being hurt and abused?  Will you?

KJ 52 - Where Were You

Boy, this sure hits home - especially the beginning.  I couldn't listen to it the whole way through the first time.  Yeah, it still hurts.

The Kids

The kids do get the picture... and it sticks with them for a long time - perhaps for ever.     If I would have realized and been educated about the long -term affects the violence in our home was going to have on our children, I believe I would have left long before I did.  It's tough not to blame myself when my kids are violence towards each other and me.  It was engrained in their little minds from the time they were babies that hitting was okay.  After all, they saw Dad hit Mom enough times... and they got hit by Dad enough times... how could they think anything differently??  I realize that they didn't learn the behavior overnight, therefore they can't unlearn it overnight.  They now realize hitting is not okay, but it is still a reaction for them to hit.  It's difficult to replace that violent behavior with something else,, especially when that's all they've know for years.

Learn from someone who learned from experience - do whatever necessary so your kids don't witness violence or be exposed to it.  When you feel there's no one to help you through it, go serching for someone who will listen.  There are people who will help you.  Women's Shelters, Social Workers, and Police are great starting places.

Please, just do something.  The kids don't deserve this kind of exposure, and the effects on them last a long time.

Courage

It Takes Courage
--(Author Unknown)

It takes courage
To refrain from gossip, when others delight in it,
To stand up for the absent person, who is being abused.

It takes courage
To live honestly, within your means,
And not dishonestly, on the means of others.

It takes courage
To be a REAL man, or a TRUE woman,
To hold fast to your ideas,
When it causes you
To be looked upon as strange and peculiar.

It takes courage
To be talked about, and remain silent,
When a word would justify you, in the eyes of others,
But which you dare not speak,
Because it would injure another.

It takes courage
To refuse to do something that is wrong
Although everyone else may be doing it
With attitudes as carefree, as a summer song.

It takes courage
To live according to your own convictions,
To deny yourself, that which you cannot afford.
To love your neighbor - as yourself!

One Year Anniversary

It has now been one year since I was yelled at, hit, and belittled by the one who said he 'loved' me.  This is my first year in the past 12 that I have lived without walking on eggshells, afraid of doing something wrong, intense tension, and being forced to do things against my will. This past year has set new precedent, new dreams, new goals, and new freedoms for the rest of my life.

I will never go back to that old life and situation again.

I choose how my life goes.  I am responsible for me, and my children.  We are safe.  We are loved.  We are free.  I will do whatever I have to for those things to remain - safety, love and freedom.

It's hard to believe it's been a year.  I am such a different girl than I was 365 days ago.  My kids are different, too. 

Are things still messy? You bet.  Are we stronger because of it? Most definitely.

Thank God we are out... Not every woman and child makes it out.

If you are being abused, get support and get help.  You deserve to be treated with dignity and respect.  YOU ARE WORTH IT.