Day 19: A Story of Finding Peace

“I never thought it would happen to me.  I am a strong woman from a background of a happy family.  My father worships the ground my mother walks on.  It was the strangest thing.  He yelled at me the day we got married.  He hit me a month after we got married.  I thought if I just did ‘everything better’ he would stop. It took so much courage to leave and I felt as if everyone was judging me. It was the scariest…years of my life, but God was looking out for me as he is for you.  I know you are afraid and everyone is telling you ‘I wouldn't put up with that.’  Well, they haven't been where you are.  But I have.  I know you are hurting.  I know you are afraid.  Just for one night, gather your courage, gather your children and run.  Again, God did not put you on Earth to be miserable.  Abuse comes in all economic, ethnic and religious circles.  Leave what you have been taught and run.  God will look out for you.  I pray that you will know and feel soon what I know.......peace, safety, love and most of all God's blessing. Joy cometh in the morning.” ~ Domestic violence survivor