My first encounter with being sexually abused, was at the early age of three years old. The effects of abuse are long-lasting and devastating.

In my teenage years, I was no longer being sexually abused. But I was “trapped” in a victims way of thinking and behaving.  I continually looked for attention from males. I craved the need to be wanted, even if it was only for sexual acts. The Webster’s dictionary defines Slavery as the “submission to a dominating force”. As a child, my trust was violated by an Adult who I trusted, which was “a dominating force” in my life. And though that force no longer hovered over me, I had continued to be enslaved to the condition of being abused. Partner after partner, continued to strip me of my value and self-worth.

Many of you can relate to my story. And you too have been enslaved to being a victim of your past abuse. I recently have been reading the story of Harriet Tubman and the following quote spoke volumes to me, “I freed a thousand slaves. I could have freed a thousand more, if only they knew they were slaves”. That’s it! Many of us survivors of abuse, do not “realize” that we are enslaved to our past abuse. Years after the abuse had taken place, I continued to succomb to physical and emotional pain, submission to unhealthy relationships, depression, addictions and to unwanted sexual acts.  The enslavement to remain a victim to the affects of the abuse came natural and when I made the decision to no longer live in bondage to the pain, I had to develop a new way of thinking and living. Those established behaviors and bad habits had to be broken. You see,  this new-found freedom, did not come easy and at times the old ways of thinking try to lead me back to the victim mentality Enslavement….

Today, my healing continues to unfold as God reveals to me, His Truth for my Life.

May Hope and Faith lead you to your Freedom!