Recently, one of my friends reached out to me to inform me that she’d been viciously attacked by her boyfriend (now ex). She described the bruises, and she admitted she felt scared for her life.
“You were right about him.”
In the pit of my gut, I winced.
There was a time when I reveled in being right… being right during factual debates, being right at work, being right regarding hot, controversial topics, and being right about you, your life, and your decisions. I thought I knew best for everyone and made sure they knew it.
Over the course of the past decade, I’ve hesitantly accepted that I don’t even know what’s best for myself. I’m rarely right. But for years, I lived in denial, made terrible choices which affected many people, and suffered. I’ve stopped playing God and have turned my will and my life over to the care of God as I understand Him.
A childhood friend killed herself a few years ago after battling depression and enduring domestic abuse. Two years before, I’d reached out to share my experience with similar problems and offered the solutions which had worked for me.
“It’s okay. I’ll be fine. I’m just worried about him.”
Another childhood friend died last year in a sketchy incident involving drugs. One year prior, I’d hugged him desperately in tears at a funeral. I begged him to get himself into a 12-step recovery program. I told him I thought he might not make it otherwise.
“Oh, don’t worry about me. I’m doing fine. I haven’t done anything in months.” Alcohol emanated from his pores.
A woman I know and love came to me and shared about her marital struggles. I shared my experience and encouraged her to seek help and concoct a plan for starting a new life for herself. She stayed for another year. Her eyes are still dead.
Being right is the worst feeling in the world now.
If there’s any time I’d prefer to be wrong, it’s when I’m watching someone I love die. But recovery tells me the path to serenity is simple, but not easy. I wish there were an easier, softer way. But I haven’t found one.
I want to see people I love live. I want them to feel deep-down, unshakable peace and serenity. I want them to laugh. I want them to sleep at night. I want them to focus on the solution and not the problem.
I want gratitude to overwhelm them and cause them to weep without shame every single day.
It’s not for those who need it. It’s for those who want it.
And God, I want it.
Gratitude Cup 
It has increased to one in three from one in four women will suffer abuse. Many will never admit it to anyone and suffer in silence… some until their death announces it to the world around them.
Not just women suffer abuse, men do, too. While I accept that they do, I generally give it less thought than I do the fact that women are suffering. Shame on me for that … as one of God’s children anyone suffering deserves respect and an honest interest in helping them to escape their living nightmare. Whether that is giving voice to knowing what they are facing and encouraging them to seek and accept help to supporting charitable organizations that provide the assistance individuals need while they walk their path; hopefully a path that leads them far from the abuse and a means to healing.
The increase in abuse cases could mean that people as a whole are more comfortable in admitting their circumstances than ever before. May sound odd, but I hope so! I pray that those suffering are able to come forward, out of the darkness of the abuse and know they are loved, feel worthy of love. For without light, acceptance, love and encouragement in our lives do we really live?
Thanks so much for sharing this, Rhonda. I pray for everyone suffering to find their way into light.
Reblogged this on Just wheat.