Poetic Encouragement

It is my desire to share poetry, songs and quotes that have encouraged me as I traveled down the road to wholeness. I would love to hear from others. Tell me what has encouraged, strengthened and pressed you forward. You can submit them by clicking on my "e-mail" button at the bottom of the page. Thanks for stopping by. May God richly bless you as you travel and I pray that you never feel like you are travelling it alone.

"The Graft"

Thank you to my friend for sharing this poem with me. Sorry it took me so long to get it posted.

"You Just Don't Know, Do You?"

A survivor is hard to live with. Period. There are behaviors, thoughts, patterns, fears that will confuse people that have never been abused. It is my opinion that very few spouses stick around long enough through therapy to find the REAL person that was buried under all that abuse, what that child could have grown to become had the abuse not shattered their spirit. It is also extremely confusing time for the survivor that desires to be 'normal' (whatever that is) but is bound by invisible chains. I feel the author of this poem very adaptly describes the frustration of trying to articulate the inner workings of a survivor, seeking the approval that it is alright to have fears that can't not be explained away. The approval to grieve the loss of childhood, security, and love. Just so you know Author, you have mine and God's approval, it is ok if no one else in this whole world understands why you cry, tremble or react the way you do sometimes... but you have every right to be angry, grieve, and learn to understand your fears. Thank you for the poem I am sure it will touch many hearts and encourage them to keep trodding on this journey of wholeness.

"The Uncertain Journey"

When a person decides to enter into therapy because the pain in their soul is greater than the pain of therapy. The uncertain journey begins. Once you start out on this journey you can never truely turn back. You can stop where your at, but the knowledge that you gain from this type of painful journey will change your life forever. More often than not, the pain becomes greater before you feel any relief. Then the relief is more like hindsight; "Hey, I have thought of killing myself all day, I can't really remember the last time that happened." I encourage you to take the journey. The pain, the uncertainty, the knowledge is worth the risk.

"Winter of Childhood"

This poem is an incredible insight as to what an adult feels looking back at an abusive childhood. I see the trees as the survivor's life, strong, able to withstand the severe winters. The 'winters' are the extreme forms of abuse that were suffered, deeply, eternally by this person. In this poem I hear the unspoken pain described in a way that is gentle enough for non-survivors to hear and yet profound enough for survivors to understand. I love the waiting of the Sun part. Thank you for sharing this with me, and others. It is truly encouraging.

"Scarlet Tears"

As you can tell from the title of this poem, it is about self-harm, which many survivors know first hand. What I hear in this poem is the extreme pressure of feelings that overwhelm the survivor, because of the abuse they survived. In that abuse, I'm sure they heard like the rest of survivors words that enforced this bottled up feelings. Words like; "If you dont stop crying I'll give you something to cry about!" , "Stop your whining!". There are many ways abusers control their victims, stopping them from feeling is one very effective way. Because if that child feels then they will know the depth of damage being done to them. Keeping that child in a 'bubble' of non-feelings keeps them quiet and controllable. If you are a survivor, I would like for you to explore some of the ways your abuser controlled your feelings, how did they keep you from crying, keep you quiet.

Now, as this survivor is entering therapy, the feelings can be overwhelming. She will learn to cry again, but until then the cutting seems like the best solution. It relives the pressure inside and provids temporary release.

"My Dearest Little Friend"

I wrote this for all my friends that I found hit the same hard spots I did when I was going through therapy. I wanted them to know that I understand the journey is hard but they CAN make it through it! I wanted them to know that I care. I wanted them to know they are not alone, all they had to do was reach out and grab my hand (Borrowing Faith). I pray that you too will be encouraged, and will reach out; if not to me, then to one person. That is all it takes one person, one thing at a time.

"Jacob's Ladder" By Elisha Smith

What an incredible testimony of the grace of our Lord. How this author saw a glimmer of Him through her trials. I see this poem just pouring forth from the author's heart, like David as he too was given a glimmer of the same Lord.

I pray you too will see a small glimmer (because that is all you need) in the darkest times to know that you are not alone.

"Lonely Child" Rachael F.

I can relate to this poem so well now that I have gone through therapy. Before therapy it really would have made no sense. I had no idea that child existed inside me. But in therapy my therapist and I discovered that child, listened to her stories, listened to her fears and when she wanted to cry my therapist rocked her; told her she was safe, told her she was loved. In in short period of time this child grew and became strong. Now, when I read this poem I see the long journey I walked through with this child.

This poem was emailed to me but I have to say it touches me deeply, profoundly. Thankyou for sharing with me.

"Wait" Author unknown

I'm not sure where I first heard this poem. But it struck me that no matter what valley you are walking through that this poem speaks volumes.

So many times, we as Americans, wanting things now; fast food, fast cars, fast internet connections, fast satisfaction. But that is not God's way. He is not in the realm of time as we are. We are bound by minutes, days and deadlines. This poem just gently reminds me that I am eternal, that one day I too will be outside the realm of time, and that finished product is my goal. Not to make it there perfectly, or even complete, but to learn to see Him along the way more and more.

"I'm Askin' You Today"

The first time I heard this song I was driving to the sitters house after my second therapy appointment. The lady who was watching my children had written me a note in church the previous day that said, "I want your children to come to my house tomorrow for lunch and for the afternoon."

She knew that my husband was out of town. He worked out of town for 2 weeks and then home for 2 weeks. She knew that the church was not supporting me, "Have more faith", "give it God", "Pray more". When I told her that it was ok, I could bring my kids with me, she said "No, God told me you need time alone, even if it is the half hour drive to my house."

So the next day, on my way to her house I heard this song. It was about God promising to give me back the wasted years, if only I would give myself to Him today.

It is true I had prayed every day for months for God to make me a godly woman. But I never expected that to come in the form of therapy. I had visions of Sunday school teacher, Conference speaker, teacher. As usual God had other means of accomplishing His plan for my life.

On this day I felt as if the journey would be too much. I had visions of ramming my car into poles, cement gaurd-rails, anything to escape this black hole that I was being plunged into head first. God stepped in and gave me a glimmer of hope. It didn't stop those thoughts or the overwhelming feelings. But for the moment (sometimes that is all that matters) it held me to life.

"My Adult vs. The Child"

This a great example of what is happening in the heart and mind of someone who is first entering therapy and is discovering the depth of the damage that childhood abuse does to the soul. If you are a non-survivor then maybe this poem will help you understand a little bit better what your loved one is experiencing and might not be able to put into words.

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