Christian Family Services Ministry

6-5-2023 – A Word to the Wise – What is it like to grow up in an atmosphere of abuse? What words should I use to tell what it is like? How does one describe being beaten viciously with tree branches, extension cords, or various other instruments almost daily going to school with huge whelps?

The child struggles with five major feelings; fear of what is going to take place, anger at being treated in such a manner, guilt about the behavior that brought on the attack, bitterness about the daily existence and hope for escape, and finally hopelessness of the situation leading to jumping into a deep canal of rushing rainwater to end the pain. Finally, he learns his one hope for rescue, flimsy as it is has died making rescue impossible.

How does the child mature with this background? Self-esteem is nonexistent fear of failure a reality. On this scene comes a question. A question that is real, life-like. “Do you want me to be your father? Lord, yes, I want you to be my father, indeed, to rescue me.

So set in motion a series of events which was to last a lifetime. Did the environment change? No, not at least immediately. Hopelessness immediately evaporated, but fear, self-esteem took much linger.

Many years later the Lord told me after helping a great many others that I would never have been able to accomplish it if I had not suffered. So, the anguish was a blessing in disguise.

I know from experience that suffering has its rewards if we are trained by it and we deeply depend on the heavenly father who bears his child up, indeed hearing their cries, soothing their soul.