Knowing what the signs are of abusive parents is another way to harvest life gracefully. We all need to be concern about child abuse and not be afraid to take a stand against it. One way of doing this is to be able to recognize signs of abusive parents.
Abusive Parents
Living with abusive parents can have long time psychological effects on children. Hence, knowing about abusive parents is important to help children in your neighborhood or class who suffer from abuse from their parents. This article will give you some valuable information on abusive parents.
Abusive Parents
Child abuse is a definitely a serious issue and more so when it is done by the parents themselves. Though most people will not believe that parents can abuse their own children, it is a problem that is faced by many young children irrespective to class, race, gender and country. Most people think that child abuse by parents is only physical, however, this is totally untrue. Rather, there are various types of abuse that children can suffer from the parents.
Parental abuse can be emotional, physical and sometimes even sexual. However, the most common and severe parental abuse is when they neglect their children physically as well as emotionally. Exposure to such kind of abuse can cause serious distress in children as the people who are supposed to love and take care of them while in distress are the ones who are actually hurting them. As abusive and neglectful parents can cause severe physical, mental and emotional damage to the children and hamper their normal development, it is important to recognize and take care of children who are being abused by their parents. Hence, let us take a look at abusive parents facts and the effects they can have on children.
Abusive Parents: Causes
One of the common reason for parents to become abusive towards their kids is that they themselves have experienced it during their childhood. Many people do not even realize that they are abusing their children because such kind of behavior would be something that they would consider as normal. Some parents take aggression and violence as a way of controlling their children. Apart from this, parents who are suffering from certain kind of mental illness or personality disorder can also be abusive towards their children. Moreover, children with parents who have a drinking problem or substance abuse can also become victims of parental abuse as they may be neglected by their parents totally. Read more on dysfunctional family as a cause of difficult childhood.
Abusive Parents: Signs
As the abusers in this case are parents themselves, recognizing the signs of abuse can be a little difficult for an outsider. Moreover, children who are victims of the abuse may not come up with the issue because of the fear of getting hurt by their caregivers again. Nevertheless, there are some signs that one can look for, if they suspect that a child is undergoing abuse by his/her parents. Read more on types of child abuse.
Signs of Physical Abuse
Physical abuse is surely the one that can be recognized easily. Physical abuse like hitting, pinching, beating, shaking, burning, etc. are often used by parents as ways of punishing their children for some wrongdoing. They think that it is the best way of disciplining their children. However, this causes the development of fear in children towards their parents. Children who are being physically abused by their parents can be seen with unexplained and frequent injuries like cuts, bruises and welts. They may shy away from touch or may seem to be afraid of going home.
Signs of Emotional Abuse
Little children need love and attention from their parents during their growing up years to feel secured. This should be done not just by buying them gifts, but also by hugging and kissing them. Also, kids like to be appreciated for their achievements by their parents, even if it is small one. However, when this does not happen and the child is humiliated at every step by the parents by calling her a stupid or a fool, the kid can be said to be a victim of emotional child abuse. Such parents may call the child worthless and constantly compare her negatively with other children. Emotionally abusive parents may punish their child by yelling and threatening her or may be by ignoring her completely.
Children who are exposed to domestic violence i.e. if one of the parents is abusing the other, the child can be called a victim of emotional violence. Children who are emotionally abused by their parents are usually fearful, anxious and withdrawn. They may not show any kind of attachment towards their parents or caregiver. They may exhibit extreme behaviors i.e. some kids may behave like adults, while others may show infantile behavior like throwing temper tantrums, rocking, thumb sucking, etc.
Signs of Child Neglect
Parental neglect is said to be one of the most difficult type of abuse to detect as well as to define. Neglect can be defined as a situation where the parents completely ignore the children, both physically as well as emotionally. Such parents may not bother to fulfill their children's basic needs like proper food, clothing, etc. They may leave their children unsupervised at home or at places where the children are not safe. Some of the warning signs that people can observe in a child who is neglected by his parents are filthy and ill fitting clothes, untreated physical injuries and health problems, etc.
Signs of Sexual Abuse
Sexual abuse of children is not uncommon, though hardly spoken of. In most cases, the culprit is a close friend or relative and in certain cases, parents themselves. Though people think that only girls become victims of sexual abuse, this is actually quite untrue. Rather, even little boys can become victims of sexual abuse. Children who are abused sexually are usually filled with shame and guilt and are likely to blame themselves for the happenings. Some of the signs that a sexually abused kid may show include difficulty in sitting or walking, making efforts for avoiding a person, showing knowledge about sexual acts, etc. Know more about signs of child molestation.
Abusive Parents: Effect on Children
Growing up in an environment where their physical, emotional and mental needs are not fulfilled does have a strong negative impact on the minds of children. Though the scars left by physical violence will not last for a long time, the emotional scars etched on their minds are permanent and can damage their life as adults. Read more on the psychological effects of child abuse.
* Children who have suffered abuse from their parents usually find it difficult to form and maintain long lasting relationships as adults. As the emotional needs like trust, security, reliability, etc. are not fulfilled in the relationship with the parents, the children are not able to form good and healthy relationships because they do not understand that these are the basic things that are required to maintain a loving relationship.
* Living with abusive parents can hamper the self esteem of children as parents constantly telling them that they are stupid and worthless for a long time, may make them that it is actually true. As adults, they may not be ready to take up challenges like higher studies, better job, etc. because they may consider themselves as incapable of such achievements.
* The emotional damage caused by sexual abuse, especially by their parents will be most severe. They may live with the feeling of shame and stigma throughout their adult life. Sometimes, this may lead to the occurrence of severe mental as well as psychological problems in the person.
* Children of abusive parents may have difficulty in expressing as well as for controlling their emotions. They are also likely to get addicted to alcohol or drugs, just to relieve the painful thoughts caused by parental abuse.
You may like to read more on:
* Child Abuse Facts for Parents
* Child Abuse Statistics
I hope you have understood the dangerous effects that abusive parents can have on the psyche of children. Hence, if you suspect a kid in your neighborhood or may be in your family undergoing abuse from his/her parents, it is important to make certain efforts to save the child from the damages caused by it. Children who are abused by their parents can be helped with proper treatment and therapy. Though most people ignore such things due to the fear of interfering in other people's lives, you must remember that a step made by you can make a huge difference in the life of an innocent child.
By Deepa Kartha
Showing posts with label child abuse. Show all posts
Showing posts with label child abuse. Show all posts
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
Friday, March 26, 2010
Harvest Life Gracefully by following the first step of examining your life
My first step to Harvest Life Gracefully is to examine your life. To examine your life happenings, events, relationships, careers, body, attitude and personality and your spirituality.
With examining your life you are getting to know who you are and admitting what you like and what you don't like about yourself. With this information you can use what you like to perk yourself up when you are feeling down, such as lacking in confidence, and self-worth. This information will help you to decide what you dislike about yourself and then when you are willing and ready you can begin to make necessary changes.
When you examine yourself it is important for you to be completely honest and to remember to be factual and not to judge good or bad to what you see. A helpful tip that I used when I look at myself, is to look at myself as if I was someone else. Reason for this is because we often hold intense emotions about ourselves, this would be a way to detach from those emotions, that could get in our way of being honest, judgmental and factual.
Here are some other tips that I used when I examined my life. Hopefully these tips may be helpful and useful to you.
A journal is a wonderful way to enhance your life. It is a tool that can help you to admit and accept who you are and what your life is all about. When keeping a journal you can write about events, activities, your relationships, your goals, your careers, how you feel about god and or any life happenings that seem important to you, starting from childhood until the present day, once you reach the present day, it would be a good idea to continue to journal whenever something seems to be of great importance. A journal is a positive way to understand and know yourself, it can help clarify your thoughts and feelings as well as gain knowledge about yourself and your life. A journal can help a person process any traumatic experience and move on peacefully; it is a good way to relieve stress and can benefit your health and well-being.
Find a mentor, a mentor could be a trusted friend, a counselor, a life coach, or a minister. I discover when I communicated to a trusted person about my struggles, problems, likes or dislikes was a excellent way for me to learn to accept and love myself. When I see that people can love and accept me in spite of my character defects allowed me to see the truth about myself. A mentor can help you to move on from a traumatic experience, encourage you to make amends where needed, help with problem solving, offer encouragement when changes are needed and offer praise when things are going fine.
Look in the mirror with your eyes wide open, look at yourself from head to toe, taking note of every aspect of your body. Practice this on a consistence basis, daily if possible. Take notice to what you like about your body and what you don't. Look into your eyes and praise yourself, tell yourself how you love yourself and what a good person you are.
All of these tips may seem difficult, time consuming, or embarrassing to do. At first, I wanted to make those same excuses and once I realize that it was shame that prevented me from completing these tips, I began to focus on the shame realizing this is what I want to get rid of, therefore it was important for me to learn how to harvest life gracefully and find my purpose in life. This is why I look at myself as if I was looking at somebody else this way I could be more factual and less detached from the intense emotions. It also help to tell yourself when you see something you don't like to say to yourself, “I don't like this, but it is O.K.” You may need to repeat this mantra several times before you feel peace. This mantra is a excellent way to learn how to accept yourself.
When you are ready to make changes that you don't like about yourself. I found reading self-improvement books in the expert areas that I am struggling with is a helpful tool. Reading will help educate you on how to make the necessary changes. They will give you good ideas and can show you how to make the necessary changes.
I am a survivor of childhood abuse and I learn how to harvest life gracefully by following five steps, this article is only on the first step. To harvest life gracefully is not a overnight accomplishment, it takes time but when you start with the first step you will begin to feel better and better at each passing day The first step is a very important part in learning how to harvest life gracefully.
With examining your life you are getting to know who you are and admitting what you like and what you don't like about yourself. With this information you can use what you like to perk yourself up when you are feeling down, such as lacking in confidence, and self-worth. This information will help you to decide what you dislike about yourself and then when you are willing and ready you can begin to make necessary changes.
When you examine yourself it is important for you to be completely honest and to remember to be factual and not to judge good or bad to what you see. A helpful tip that I used when I look at myself, is to look at myself as if I was someone else. Reason for this is because we often hold intense emotions about ourselves, this would be a way to detach from those emotions, that could get in our way of being honest, judgmental and factual.
Here are some other tips that I used when I examined my life. Hopefully these tips may be helpful and useful to you.
A journal is a wonderful way to enhance your life. It is a tool that can help you to admit and accept who you are and what your life is all about. When keeping a journal you can write about events, activities, your relationships, your goals, your careers, how you feel about god and or any life happenings that seem important to you, starting from childhood until the present day, once you reach the present day, it would be a good idea to continue to journal whenever something seems to be of great importance. A journal is a positive way to understand and know yourself, it can help clarify your thoughts and feelings as well as gain knowledge about yourself and your life. A journal can help a person process any traumatic experience and move on peacefully; it is a good way to relieve stress and can benefit your health and well-being.
Find a mentor, a mentor could be a trusted friend, a counselor, a life coach, or a minister. I discover when I communicated to a trusted person about my struggles, problems, likes or dislikes was a excellent way for me to learn to accept and love myself. When I see that people can love and accept me in spite of my character defects allowed me to see the truth about myself. A mentor can help you to move on from a traumatic experience, encourage you to make amends where needed, help with problem solving, offer encouragement when changes are needed and offer praise when things are going fine.
Look in the mirror with your eyes wide open, look at yourself from head to toe, taking note of every aspect of your body. Practice this on a consistence basis, daily if possible. Take notice to what you like about your body and what you don't. Look into your eyes and praise yourself, tell yourself how you love yourself and what a good person you are.
All of these tips may seem difficult, time consuming, or embarrassing to do. At first, I wanted to make those same excuses and once I realize that it was shame that prevented me from completing these tips, I began to focus on the shame realizing this is what I want to get rid of, therefore it was important for me to learn how to harvest life gracefully and find my purpose in life. This is why I look at myself as if I was looking at somebody else this way I could be more factual and less detached from the intense emotions. It also help to tell yourself when you see something you don't like to say to yourself, “I don't like this, but it is O.K.” You may need to repeat this mantra several times before you feel peace. This mantra is a excellent way to learn how to accept yourself.
When you are ready to make changes that you don't like about yourself. I found reading self-improvement books in the expert areas that I am struggling with is a helpful tool. Reading will help educate you on how to make the necessary changes. They will give you good ideas and can show you how to make the necessary changes.
I am a survivor of childhood abuse and I learn how to harvest life gracefully by following five steps, this article is only on the first step. To harvest life gracefully is not a overnight accomplishment, it takes time but when you start with the first step you will begin to feel better and better at each passing day The first step is a very important part in learning how to harvest life gracefully.
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Harvest Life Gracefully- Don't let anybody take away your identity
When you had been abused the one thing that we need to remember to harvest life gracefully is that the abuser cannot take away who we are. We need to hang onto our beliefs, and values and continue to respond to what our belief system tells us to do.
The abuser assaulted our body or even assaulted us mentally through verbal and emotional abuse. The abuser probably told us we are nothing and will always be nothing. Our souls know better we do have the power to not believe what our abusers said or done to us.
It is so important to listen to your soul.
The abuser had power over our body and had power by throwing degrading words at us. But the abuser does not have the power to take away who we are as a person. Believe this and act as if you do believe this. When you act as if you believe, this is a way to empower yourself.
Remember, we are here to learn how to harvest life gracefully!!!!
The abuser assaulted our body or even assaulted us mentally through verbal and emotional abuse. The abuser probably told us we are nothing and will always be nothing. Our souls know better we do have the power to not believe what our abusers said or done to us.
It is so important to listen to your soul.
The abuser had power over our body and had power by throwing degrading words at us. But the abuser does not have the power to take away who we are as a person. Believe this and act as if you do believe this. When you act as if you believe, this is a way to empower yourself.
Remember, we are here to learn how to harvest life gracefully!!!!
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
Harvest Life Gracefully- Sexual abuse strikes four generations
It occur to me today that sexual abuse had strike four generations in my family. Meaning my grandmother, my mother, myself, and my daughter.
I wonder how common that is???
I wonder if there was something about each of us that was similar, that attracted us to being sexual abused???
I wonder if this means that the chances that my granddaughters will be sexual abuse is great?
The cycle of abuse needs to be broken in my family.
Now on a much brighter side, it is time to go and harvest life gracefully!!!!!
I wonder how common that is???
I wonder if there was something about each of us that was similar, that attracted us to being sexual abused???
I wonder if this means that the chances that my granddaughters will be sexual abuse is great?
The cycle of abuse needs to be broken in my family.
Now on a much brighter side, it is time to go and harvest life gracefully!!!!!
Sunday, March 7, 2010
Harvest Life Gracefully- Update
Being new to this blogging stuff, I just discovered a wonderful thing! It is probaby a small thing for most, but for me, it is a biggie! I was excited to see that I can make pages on this blog. Since I began blogging, I was confuse on how to, post my story, only in one area on this blog. I am so happy to have found how to do this. So those who may want to follow my story can go to it directly on the My Story Page. Check back from time to time to see if I posted another part to my story, on the "My Story" page.
I will continue to post child abuse awareness information in this section. I will also post more detail information about my steps in how to harvest life gracefully. Other postings will be about healing from abuse, self-esteem, and self-worth.
I hope you will find my blog to be helpful and informative.
Ideas, constructive critcism and comments are more than welcome!
Now lets go and Harvest Life Gracefully
I will continue to post child abuse awareness information in this section. I will also post more detail information about my steps in how to harvest life gracefully. Other postings will be about healing from abuse, self-esteem, and self-worth.
I hope you will find my blog to be helpful and informative.
Ideas, constructive critcism and comments are more than welcome!
Now lets go and Harvest Life Gracefully
Friday, February 26, 2010
Thursday, February 25, 2010
Harvest Life Gracefully - Article by Michael Tummillo, for anyone that feels unworthy of God's love
Fig Leaves For The Catholic Faithful
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Michael_Tummillo]Michael Tummillo
I can recall sitting in Catholic Church as a boy. I had always wondered why it was that, at Communion time, some people remained seated or kneeling in a very prayerful, pious position while others shuffled forward to receive the bread and wine. As time went on, and the length of time between my confessions grew too long (in my own opinion) and the types of sins I was capable of committing grew "worse" (again, in my own opinion), I found that, I, too, would refrain from taking communion because, in my own opinion, I was simply unworthy.
Unworthy? As time went by, the Lord has allowed me my share of ministry opportunities to Catholics. Here are a few examples:
CASE #1: I met a pretty Catholic woman in her 40s who told me she hadn't taken communion in 10 years. Why? Because she had been divorced and felt unworthy.
CASE #2: Another Catholic woman, a single mom, confessed to me that she was not only not skipping communion, but was feeling unworthy of even entering the doors of the church. Why? She, too, had been divorced.
CASE #3: At a Coffee Shop Bible Study, a young Baptist college student introduced me to a friend, a lovely Catholic girl he'd met at school. She was very vocal during the Bible Study, anxious to read the verses and had much to add to the discussion. Afterward, she asked me to pray for her. She wanted to become a nun, she said, but she had this strong desire to raise children, too.
CASE #4: A Catholic woman had become pregnant as a teen girl and gave the baby up for adoption. She later married another man and was unable to bear children. She wondered if she wasn't being punished for her past sin.
CASE #5: A devout Catholic man had an affair many years ago. In repentance, he poured himself into his religious practices becoming downright professional; a dedicated model of the perfect Catholic man. By outward appearances a pillar of faith; inwardly, like Samson, he was in bondage to those pillars.
WHO SAID YOU WERE NAKED?
Across denominational lines, the Church has declared to all people that they are separated from God, that they are guilty and that He's angry at them. We go so far as to preach that, unless they attend church on our prescribed day, at the prescribed time in our particular denomination, that they remain separated from Him. Heaven forbid that anyone in attendance should sin - at least sin in such a way that others might notice (pregnancy out of wedlock, divorce, you know...one of the "biggies). Those types will be brow-beaten and "scarlet lettered" from now till Doomsday, as they say.
Do you recall what God said to Adam after he and the wife ate off the tree? God saw that they had covered themselves with fig leaves and, when Adam said they covered themselves because they were naked, God responded, "Who told you that you were naked?"
We must answer that same basic question: "Who told you that you sinned?"
Our answers might include:
"My pastor."
"The Church."
"My parents."
How about "The devil"? You see there is NO CONDEMNATION for those who are in Christ (Rom 8:1). There are two voices in Heaven, we read; Jesus who makes intercession for the Saints (that's you and me actually, not dead Christians - LIVE ones), and Satan, who accuses "the brethren" (and sisteren) incessantly.
Just as Noah's sons walked in backward and covered his nude body when he collapsed from drunkenness, after having attention called to him by the other son, Jesus, too, covers our nakedness.
Do you recall reading where He told the sinful prostitute, "You tramp! you're going to Hell!" No, because He never did that. How about where He told that obese man that there was obviously sin in his life or he would be thinner and subsequently happier and have a higher paying job and date more often? No, not hardly. His usual response was along the lines of "go and sin no more." If anything, He repeatedly told those to whom He ministered, "Don't tell anyone," and they ran off and told EVERYONE.
To the woman "caught" in adultery (wasn't the MAN caught, too?), Jesus said, "Woman, where are your accusers? Has no one condemned you?" She said, "No man, Lord." And Jesus said unto her, "Neither do I condemn you: go, and sin no more." (John 8:10-12)
To the paralytic in Mark 2:5, He said simply, "Son, your sins are forgiven."
When some guys lowered their friend through a hole they made in the roof so that Jesus might see fit to heal him, Jesus was impressed. Luke 5:20 tells us, "When Jesus saw their faith, He said, "Friend, your sins are forgiven."
While dining at Simon's with a group of Pharisees, Luke 7:36-49 reveals how a "sinful" woman came in with a jar of perfume. She stood behind Jesus at his feet weeping, and began to wet his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them and poured perfume on them. Verse 44 says, "Then He turned toward the woman and said to Simon, "Do you see this woman? I came into your house. You did not give me any water for my feet, but she wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. You did not give me a kiss, but this woman, from the time I entered, has not stopped kissing my feet. You did not put oil on my head, but she has poured perfume on my feet. Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven-for she loved much. But he who has been forgiven little loves little."
Then Jesus said to her, "Your sins are forgiven."
Hebrew 10:18-19 reminds us, "Their sins and lawless acts I will remember no more. "And where these have been forgiven, there is no longer any sacrifice for sin." Did you notice: no hoops to jump through; no performances necessary; no obligations. Just faith.
Unworthy? Not on your life! Don't believe the lie of the enemy that anything you ever did has re-qualified you as unworthy. I am convinced that NOTHING is able to separate us from the love of God (Rom 8:38-39). Friends, there are NO V.I.P. Sinners! To wallow in guilt and cling to thoughts and feelings of unworthiness is to tearfully declare, "Thanks for the crucifixion, Jesus, but it JUST WASN'T GOOD ENOUGH for me!"
THE RESULTS?
Regarding those five cases mentioned above, in every instance, I shared what you have just read.
In Case #1, the woman rejoiced, smiled tearfully and assured me that she understood. I believe with all my heart that she resumed the practices of her faith.
In Case #2, I had actually driven 4 hours to teach a Bible Study that never happened once I arrived. This woman had asked me to come to her office so that we could speak. After sharing with her something similar to what you've just read, she exclaimed, "I know you drove a long way to get here, but if the only thing you accomplished was telling me what you just said, IT WAS WORTH IT!" She has since become engaged, I've been told, to a Baptist boyfriend from her youth.
In Case #3, after the young lady told me she wanted to be a nun but also loved children, I assured her that, if that was indeed her calling, a nun can love children, too. As a Catholic boy, several nuns had quite an impact on my life; they loved children and it showed. I remember them fondly. She's married now.
In Case #4, that woman now understands that God doesn't punish His family. He loves her and has a plan for her life. She is serving the Lord with gladness and has been re-acquainted with her child.
In Case #5, we can only believe that God will minister the truth to this individual and that he will receive God's grace (Eph 2:8,9), step out of his performance mode and experience the liberty that has been bought for him by the blood of the cross. Does that sound like YOU, or anyone you know?
Though you may not be a Catholic, trust me, the devil has no problem condemning non-Catholics of their past mistakes and current bondages as well.
How many sins had you committed 2,000 years ago, after the crucifixion? None.
So, if your sins were forgiven, for how long did that "offer" stand? For 150 years? For 1,233 years? How about 3,000 years? You see, everything you've ever done - or will ever do - was either forgiven 100% by the shed Blood of the Lamb of God, who TOOK AWAY the sins of the world...or it wasn't. That doesn't give us a license to be evil. We will reap as we sow, after all. But we can rest in the hope that God's mercy REALLY is new every morning.
We REALLY have been justified.
God REALLY does see Jesus when He looks at us for we are the righteousness of God in Christ.
Our debt REALLY has been paid.
Now, is there anyone YOU need to forgive?
Every blessing,
Michael Tummillo
A servant of God
rel=nofollow http://www.yourtown4jesus.com
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
His mission is to bring Discipleship and Encouragement to the Body of Christ. Since '99, he has broadcast nearly 700 inspirational articles to his online subscribers and a dozen booklets on subjects sure to interest the thinking Christian and accelerate the process of spiritual development.
He is the founder of t.e.a.m. ministries. An Author, Pastoral Counselor and Teacher, his eMail broadcasts, known as "Your Town for Jesus" are read around the globe. Subscribe at [mailto:team1min@our-town.com]team1min@our-town.com
Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?Fig-Leaves-For-The-Catholic-Faithful&id=524644] Fig Leaves For The Catholic Faithful
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Michael_Tummillo]Michael Tummillo
I can recall sitting in Catholic Church as a boy. I had always wondered why it was that, at Communion time, some people remained seated or kneeling in a very prayerful, pious position while others shuffled forward to receive the bread and wine. As time went on, and the length of time between my confessions grew too long (in my own opinion) and the types of sins I was capable of committing grew "worse" (again, in my own opinion), I found that, I, too, would refrain from taking communion because, in my own opinion, I was simply unworthy.
Unworthy? As time went by, the Lord has allowed me my share of ministry opportunities to Catholics. Here are a few examples:
CASE #1: I met a pretty Catholic woman in her 40s who told me she hadn't taken communion in 10 years. Why? Because she had been divorced and felt unworthy.
CASE #2: Another Catholic woman, a single mom, confessed to me that she was not only not skipping communion, but was feeling unworthy of even entering the doors of the church. Why? She, too, had been divorced.
CASE #3: At a Coffee Shop Bible Study, a young Baptist college student introduced me to a friend, a lovely Catholic girl he'd met at school. She was very vocal during the Bible Study, anxious to read the verses and had much to add to the discussion. Afterward, she asked me to pray for her. She wanted to become a nun, she said, but she had this strong desire to raise children, too.
CASE #4: A Catholic woman had become pregnant as a teen girl and gave the baby up for adoption. She later married another man and was unable to bear children. She wondered if she wasn't being punished for her past sin.
CASE #5: A devout Catholic man had an affair many years ago. In repentance, he poured himself into his religious practices becoming downright professional; a dedicated model of the perfect Catholic man. By outward appearances a pillar of faith; inwardly, like Samson, he was in bondage to those pillars.
WHO SAID YOU WERE NAKED?
Across denominational lines, the Church has declared to all people that they are separated from God, that they are guilty and that He's angry at them. We go so far as to preach that, unless they attend church on our prescribed day, at the prescribed time in our particular denomination, that they remain separated from Him. Heaven forbid that anyone in attendance should sin - at least sin in such a way that others might notice (pregnancy out of wedlock, divorce, you know...one of the "biggies). Those types will be brow-beaten and "scarlet lettered" from now till Doomsday, as they say.
Do you recall what God said to Adam after he and the wife ate off the tree? God saw that they had covered themselves with fig leaves and, when Adam said they covered themselves because they were naked, God responded, "Who told you that you were naked?"
We must answer that same basic question: "Who told you that you sinned?"
Our answers might include:
"My pastor."
"The Church."
"My parents."
How about "The devil"? You see there is NO CONDEMNATION for those who are in Christ (Rom 8:1). There are two voices in Heaven, we read; Jesus who makes intercession for the Saints (that's you and me actually, not dead Christians - LIVE ones), and Satan, who accuses "the brethren" (and sisteren) incessantly.
Just as Noah's sons walked in backward and covered his nude body when he collapsed from drunkenness, after having attention called to him by the other son, Jesus, too, covers our nakedness.
Do you recall reading where He told the sinful prostitute, "You tramp! you're going to Hell!" No, because He never did that. How about where He told that obese man that there was obviously sin in his life or he would be thinner and subsequently happier and have a higher paying job and date more often? No, not hardly. His usual response was along the lines of "go and sin no more." If anything, He repeatedly told those to whom He ministered, "Don't tell anyone," and they ran off and told EVERYONE.
To the woman "caught" in adultery (wasn't the MAN caught, too?), Jesus said, "Woman, where are your accusers? Has no one condemned you?" She said, "No man, Lord." And Jesus said unto her, "Neither do I condemn you: go, and sin no more." (John 8:10-12)
To the paralytic in Mark 2:5, He said simply, "Son, your sins are forgiven."
When some guys lowered their friend through a hole they made in the roof so that Jesus might see fit to heal him, Jesus was impressed. Luke 5:20 tells us, "When Jesus saw their faith, He said, "Friend, your sins are forgiven."
While dining at Simon's with a group of Pharisees, Luke 7:36-49 reveals how a "sinful" woman came in with a jar of perfume. She stood behind Jesus at his feet weeping, and began to wet his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them and poured perfume on them. Verse 44 says, "Then He turned toward the woman and said to Simon, "Do you see this woman? I came into your house. You did not give me any water for my feet, but she wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. You did not give me a kiss, but this woman, from the time I entered, has not stopped kissing my feet. You did not put oil on my head, but she has poured perfume on my feet. Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven-for she loved much. But he who has been forgiven little loves little."
Then Jesus said to her, "Your sins are forgiven."
Hebrew 10:18-19 reminds us, "Their sins and lawless acts I will remember no more. "And where these have been forgiven, there is no longer any sacrifice for sin." Did you notice: no hoops to jump through; no performances necessary; no obligations. Just faith.
Unworthy? Not on your life! Don't believe the lie of the enemy that anything you ever did has re-qualified you as unworthy. I am convinced that NOTHING is able to separate us from the love of God (Rom 8:38-39). Friends, there are NO V.I.P. Sinners! To wallow in guilt and cling to thoughts and feelings of unworthiness is to tearfully declare, "Thanks for the crucifixion, Jesus, but it JUST WASN'T GOOD ENOUGH for me!"
THE RESULTS?
Regarding those five cases mentioned above, in every instance, I shared what you have just read.
In Case #1, the woman rejoiced, smiled tearfully and assured me that she understood. I believe with all my heart that she resumed the practices of her faith.
In Case #2, I had actually driven 4 hours to teach a Bible Study that never happened once I arrived. This woman had asked me to come to her office so that we could speak. After sharing with her something similar to what you've just read, she exclaimed, "I know you drove a long way to get here, but if the only thing you accomplished was telling me what you just said, IT WAS WORTH IT!" She has since become engaged, I've been told, to a Baptist boyfriend from her youth.
In Case #3, after the young lady told me she wanted to be a nun but also loved children, I assured her that, if that was indeed her calling, a nun can love children, too. As a Catholic boy, several nuns had quite an impact on my life; they loved children and it showed. I remember them fondly. She's married now.
In Case #4, that woman now understands that God doesn't punish His family. He loves her and has a plan for her life. She is serving the Lord with gladness and has been re-acquainted with her child.
In Case #5, we can only believe that God will minister the truth to this individual and that he will receive God's grace (Eph 2:8,9), step out of his performance mode and experience the liberty that has been bought for him by the blood of the cross. Does that sound like YOU, or anyone you know?
Though you may not be a Catholic, trust me, the devil has no problem condemning non-Catholics of their past mistakes and current bondages as well.
How many sins had you committed 2,000 years ago, after the crucifixion? None.
So, if your sins were forgiven, for how long did that "offer" stand? For 150 years? For 1,233 years? How about 3,000 years? You see, everything you've ever done - or will ever do - was either forgiven 100% by the shed Blood of the Lamb of God, who TOOK AWAY the sins of the world...or it wasn't. That doesn't give us a license to be evil. We will reap as we sow, after all. But we can rest in the hope that God's mercy REALLY is new every morning.
We REALLY have been justified.
God REALLY does see Jesus when He looks at us for we are the righteousness of God in Christ.
Our debt REALLY has been paid.
Now, is there anyone YOU need to forgive?
Every blessing,
Michael Tummillo
A servant of God
rel=nofollow http://www.yourtown4jesus.com
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
His mission is to bring Discipleship and Encouragement to the Body of Christ. Since '99, he has broadcast nearly 700 inspirational articles to his online subscribers and a dozen booklets on subjects sure to interest the thinking Christian and accelerate the process of spiritual development.
He is the founder of t.e.a.m. ministries. An Author, Pastoral Counselor and Teacher, his eMail broadcasts, known as "Your Town for Jesus" are read around the globe. Subscribe at [mailto:team1min@our-town.com]team1min@our-town.com
Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?Fig-Leaves-For-The-Catholic-Faithful&id=524644] Fig Leaves For The Catholic Faithful
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Harvest Life Gracefully- Examination of my life- part 3 - elementry school age
Down the road, a mile away from where I lived, up on the hill, stood a white catholic church, one house where the pastor of the church lived and another house where the nuns lived. The nuns job was to teach the students that went to school at the small brick schoolhouse, which was located on the same property near the houses. The nuns, were a site to see, they wore a long black gown called a habit, It went all the way to their ankles and all the way to their wrist, with a big rounded stiff, starchy collar. A white rope was tied around the waist with a rosary attached. A long black veil with a white stiff cap that cover the head, ears and side of head, no hair was allowed to be seen and the only skin allowed was the skin on their hands and face. I often held imaginary images in my mind of how they would actually look like, such as their hair and body without their habit on and with normal clothing on. Vanity was a big issue for the nuns in the Catholic faith at that time.
The school housed 8 grades, first though eighth. There were four classrooms, two grades per room and one nun teacher per room. Including myself there was 10 kids in my class, three boys and seven girls. The school 's main focus was teaching music and religion. It was mandatory for everyone to attend mass at church, every day upon arrival to school and just before any classes took place. Then on every Friday we were march off to the church to confess our sins to the priest. Once a week the priest would come to your class room and delivered a message about God and love that was long, and drawn out, which left me confuse with no understanding of the message. Religion class was of utmost importance, we were graded on memorizing all of the prayers and the catechism word from word.. Teaching what the prayers and the catechism meant was not in the teacher's teaching plans. We were taught how to read music, recognize musical instruments and their sounds, to know the names of the composers of classical music, like Mozart and Bach, and how to sing. The students of the school were the choir for the church. I went to so many funerals, that my family doesn't have enough toes and fingers to count how many. These funerals made me feel curious about life and death but also very fearful. Perhaps it's because of how confusing mortal sin was to me, and not understanding God's love and if I was worth his love. . For a preteen youngster, seeing a funeral procession with a casket and crying people was a overwhelming experience. A memory that stay etched in a mind, forever.
During recess, the girls was not allowed to play with the boys. Each class had their own designated area on the school grounds to play. There were no intermixing with other grades or with boys. A playground of swings, slides and merry-go-round was available for the really little kids. Softball was the game of choice for the older kids. Sliding on the snow was the preferred activity during the winter months. Cardboard boxes was a popular item to use to slide down the hill. It was not unusual to form a chain with your classmates by locking elbows' before pushing off. The trick was to see if you can get to the bottom of the hill without breaking the chain.
A checkered red/green jumper with a white blouse was the uniform worn to school by the girls. The boys wore dress shirts and brown or black dress pants. On a regular basis the nuns would check to see if the jumper worn by the girl was not too short, by checking if the skirt hem of the jumper touched the floor when the girl knelt on the floor. If it did then it was long enough and if it didn't then a note was sent home to have the hem lowered. The mini style was in at this time so most of the girls in my class decided to get clever, by practicing in the privacy of their own bedroom, learning how to slouch while kneeling to make the skirt hem touch the floor, without the nuns noticing the slouching. Some girls got pretty good at it because the skirt hem of the jumper was above the knee and she was able to convince the nun that the hem actually did touched the floor while kneeling.
One day when I was probably in the 6th grade, one of my classmates decided to draw a picture of a naked women. One of the nuns found the drawing and demanded to know who drew it. No body would tell, therefore the nun decided to give us a long lecture about impure thoughts. We were told how to take a bath so not to provoke impure thoughts. A quick wash and a quick dry without taking a look at your body. Keeping your eyes close maybe? There were to be no looking in the mirror at yourself either. From that day forward, whenever I took a bath, I would hear those words spoken by this nun, and wonder if I was going to go to hell for the way I was washing myself and if I was provoking impure thoughts.
I thought that the ideal of a religious school was to teach you how to have a personal relationship with God. To know God's love and forgiveness. To learn how to have faith, hope and love. The eight years I spent going to this school, taught me how to be afraid of mortal sin and intimidated by God. I was taught in a black and white viewpoint. Instead of learning how to listen for God's voice in my heart. I was taught how to listen to the you should not do this or that and you should do this in my head. I was afraid that I would go to hell if I did not follow God's rules exactly and perfectly. I did not hear anything about being saved though faith. I did not understand what faith meant until, way into my adult years and then only, after seeking counsel with a catholic priest because of the effect of what I learned though the teachings of my teachers about sin and hell
The school housed 8 grades, first though eighth. There were four classrooms, two grades per room and one nun teacher per room. Including myself there was 10 kids in my class, three boys and seven girls. The school 's main focus was teaching music and religion. It was mandatory for everyone to attend mass at church, every day upon arrival to school and just before any classes took place. Then on every Friday we were march off to the church to confess our sins to the priest. Once a week the priest would come to your class room and delivered a message about God and love that was long, and drawn out, which left me confuse with no understanding of the message. Religion class was of utmost importance, we were graded on memorizing all of the prayers and the catechism word from word.. Teaching what the prayers and the catechism meant was not in the teacher's teaching plans. We were taught how to read music, recognize musical instruments and their sounds, to know the names of the composers of classical music, like Mozart and Bach, and how to sing. The students of the school were the choir for the church. I went to so many funerals, that my family doesn't have enough toes and fingers to count how many. These funerals made me feel curious about life and death but also very fearful. Perhaps it's because of how confusing mortal sin was to me, and not understanding God's love and if I was worth his love. . For a preteen youngster, seeing a funeral procession with a casket and crying people was a overwhelming experience. A memory that stay etched in a mind, forever.
During recess, the girls was not allowed to play with the boys. Each class had their own designated area on the school grounds to play. There were no intermixing with other grades or with boys. A playground of swings, slides and merry-go-round was available for the really little kids. Softball was the game of choice for the older kids. Sliding on the snow was the preferred activity during the winter months. Cardboard boxes was a popular item to use to slide down the hill. It was not unusual to form a chain with your classmates by locking elbows' before pushing off. The trick was to see if you can get to the bottom of the hill without breaking the chain.
A checkered red/green jumper with a white blouse was the uniform worn to school by the girls. The boys wore dress shirts and brown or black dress pants. On a regular basis the nuns would check to see if the jumper worn by the girl was not too short, by checking if the skirt hem of the jumper touched the floor when the girl knelt on the floor. If it did then it was long enough and if it didn't then a note was sent home to have the hem lowered. The mini style was in at this time so most of the girls in my class decided to get clever, by practicing in the privacy of their own bedroom, learning how to slouch while kneeling to make the skirt hem touch the floor, without the nuns noticing the slouching. Some girls got pretty good at it because the skirt hem of the jumper was above the knee and she was able to convince the nun that the hem actually did touched the floor while kneeling.
One day when I was probably in the 6th grade, one of my classmates decided to draw a picture of a naked women. One of the nuns found the drawing and demanded to know who drew it. No body would tell, therefore the nun decided to give us a long lecture about impure thoughts. We were told how to take a bath so not to provoke impure thoughts. A quick wash and a quick dry without taking a look at your body. Keeping your eyes close maybe? There were to be no looking in the mirror at yourself either. From that day forward, whenever I took a bath, I would hear those words spoken by this nun, and wonder if I was going to go to hell for the way I was washing myself and if I was provoking impure thoughts.
I thought that the ideal of a religious school was to teach you how to have a personal relationship with God. To know God's love and forgiveness. To learn how to have faith, hope and love. The eight years I spent going to this school, taught me how to be afraid of mortal sin and intimidated by God. I was taught in a black and white viewpoint. Instead of learning how to listen for God's voice in my heart. I was taught how to listen to the you should not do this or that and you should do this in my head. I was afraid that I would go to hell if I did not follow God's rules exactly and perfectly. I did not hear anything about being saved though faith. I did not understand what faith meant until, way into my adult years and then only, after seeking counsel with a catholic priest because of the effect of what I learned though the teachings of my teachers about sin and hell
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
Monday, February 15, 2010
Harvest Life Gracefully- Recognizing Emotional Abuse
Signs of emotional abuse in children
Overly unsocial, fearful about doing something wrong.
Shows extremes in behaviors such as: extreme obedience or extreme neediness; extremely inactive or extremely aggressive
Emotional detached from parent or caregiver.
Behaves in an adult manner, for example by taking care of other children or behaves in infantile manner, for example by, rocking, thumb-sucking, and having tantrums.
Overly unsocial, fearful about doing something wrong.
Shows extremes in behaviors such as: extreme obedience or extreme neediness; extremely inactive or extremely aggressive
Emotional detached from parent or caregiver.
Behaves in an adult manner, for example by taking care of other children or behaves in infantile manner, for example by, rocking, thumb-sucking, and having tantrums.
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
Monday, February 8, 2010
Sunday, February 7, 2010
Harvest Life Gracefully- Examination of my life - preschool age - part One
To harvest life gracefully during my preschool age was a impossible task for me as I did not feel loved I was a very bashful, lonely and vulnerable little girl. Envisage, me as a 16 month old child whom had not yet begun to walk because I was born with my hip bone out of my hip socket. One of my legs, were longer than the other. Apparently, this type of deformity was not well-known then as today, my physical imperfection was rare and strange for my parents. After seeking medical advice from medical experts, my parents were advise to have a medical procedure performed to put my hip bone back into its' hip socket. My parents struggle with making a decision to have this medical procedure, because family members were giving my parents frightful comments about how I would become crippled, then horrible arguments broke out about it; while I was standing in the mist of those arguments. I have no memories of these arguments, but I know they took place, because my mom told me so. Knowing my parents as I do, I am sure I did not receive any emotional support from my parents about the arguments that I overheard. I am sure that I came to believed there was something terrible wrong with me and I blamed myself for it. I came to this conclusion from doing research about children and how they process traumatic situations, when emotional support is not present.
Against family wishes my parents decided to go ahead with the medical procedure as the doctors advised. The hospital, where the procedure was to be done at was 50 miles away from my home. Oh! by the way, I forgot to mention that my mom was 8 months pregnant at this time. On March 29, 1955, was the day, I arrived at the hospital for my procedure. While at the hospital, on the same day my mom's water bag broke and she went into labor. She then, was rushed, by my dad, in his vehicle to a hospital that was 75 miles away, where she delivered my brother. I was left alone, feeling frightful I began to cry my little heart out, long and hard. No one came to my rescue, except for another patient, who was admitted, for a skin disease. She came into my room, picked me up out of the crib, sat down in the rocking chair, that was in my room, held me and comfort me, as she rock me in that rocking chair. While she was comforting me, the nurse came in, saw what she was doing and demanded her to leave my room immediately. The nurse said, “You have no business being in another patients room, especially since you have a skin disease that could possible be pass on, you need to leave this room now!.” (I never did get a skin disease from her) Later, after my dad was able to return to the hospital, this lady told my dad what happened. She said , “Your daughter was crying so loud, and hard, I felt so bad for her, I could not resist, picking her up to rock and comfort her. My dad said, “Thank you, for looking out for her.”
My dad had problems getting to the hospital to be with me, because he was a dairy farmer, his cows needed to be milk every morning and evening. Then there were 4 other children at home to be attended to. He felt conflicted, between his responsibilities to his cows, his wife in one hospital, his daughter in another and 4 other children at home. My dad was able to manage this dilemma, by asking for help and support, from family members. He ask my grandma (my mom's mother) to stay with me at the hospital, a few hours each day, she agree to do so. Otherwise, I was pretty much left alone, during the hospital stay.
This event was an uncontrollable event, in my life. Never-less it was an event that affected my life greatly. Feelings of abandonment, insecurities and self-worth needed to be addressed, but they were not. Perhaps my parents wasn't aware, or had the know how or their focus were on other things. I believe that this was the beginning of my self-defeating beliefs I had develop about myself. I also believe, this was the beginning of the emotional abuse I received. My emotional abuse from my parents was not one of verbal degrading comments to me but one of emotional neglect of supporting me when I needed it.
What do we say? "HARVEST LIFE GRACEFULLY!"
HARVEST LIFE - and heal your heart from abandonment and feel joy again!
The Missing Mother Handbook Click Here!
Coming soon!!! Harvest Life - Examination of my life - preschool age - part two
Against family wishes my parents decided to go ahead with the medical procedure as the doctors advised. The hospital, where the procedure was to be done at was 50 miles away from my home. Oh! by the way, I forgot to mention that my mom was 8 months pregnant at this time. On March 29, 1955, was the day, I arrived at the hospital for my procedure. While at the hospital, on the same day my mom's water bag broke and she went into labor. She then, was rushed, by my dad, in his vehicle to a hospital that was 75 miles away, where she delivered my brother. I was left alone, feeling frightful I began to cry my little heart out, long and hard. No one came to my rescue, except for another patient, who was admitted, for a skin disease. She came into my room, picked me up out of the crib, sat down in the rocking chair, that was in my room, held me and comfort me, as she rock me in that rocking chair. While she was comforting me, the nurse came in, saw what she was doing and demanded her to leave my room immediately. The nurse said, “You have no business being in another patients room, especially since you have a skin disease that could possible be pass on, you need to leave this room now!.” (I never did get a skin disease from her) Later, after my dad was able to return to the hospital, this lady told my dad what happened. She said , “Your daughter was crying so loud, and hard, I felt so bad for her, I could not resist, picking her up to rock and comfort her. My dad said, “Thank you, for looking out for her.”
My dad had problems getting to the hospital to be with me, because he was a dairy farmer, his cows needed to be milk every morning and evening. Then there were 4 other children at home to be attended to. He felt conflicted, between his responsibilities to his cows, his wife in one hospital, his daughter in another and 4 other children at home. My dad was able to manage this dilemma, by asking for help and support, from family members. He ask my grandma (my mom's mother) to stay with me at the hospital, a few hours each day, she agree to do so. Otherwise, I was pretty much left alone, during the hospital stay.
This event was an uncontrollable event, in my life. Never-less it was an event that affected my life greatly. Feelings of abandonment, insecurities and self-worth needed to be addressed, but they were not. Perhaps my parents wasn't aware, or had the know how or their focus were on other things. I believe that this was the beginning of my self-defeating beliefs I had develop about myself. I also believe, this was the beginning of the emotional abuse I received. My emotional abuse from my parents was not one of verbal degrading comments to me but one of emotional neglect of supporting me when I needed it.
What do we say? "HARVEST LIFE GRACEFULLY!"
HARVEST LIFE - and heal your heart from abandonment and feel joy again!
The Missing Mother Handbook Click Here!
Coming soon!!! Harvest Life - Examination of my life - preschool age - part two
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
Harvest Life Gracefully- first step to harvest life gracefully is to Examine your Life
In order to harvest life gracefully and successfully, I need to take a long hard look at my life, the past and the present, by examining my life for what it is. When examining my life, I realized that I must do this in a factual way, without judging my life as bad or good, or right or wrong, but to admit that it is what it is. Making a judgment on what had or didn't happened in my life, and wishing my life had been different would be a hindrance to harvest life successfully. Anger and resentments would get in the way of my goal to harvest life gracefully.
Now, I will start telling my story for what it is, my very first step in how to harvest life.
I am the 5th child of 11. My parents were devoted Catholics and did not believe in birth control. Never less this is why I came from such a large family. I grew up on a dairy farm, my dad spent long hours in the fields working the crops and in the farm barn tending to his cows. He work from sun rise to sun down. I did not have much of n opportunity to really get to know my dad on a personal level until he stop being a farmer, about 10 years before he pass away at age 73. My mom had a problem with depression and spent much of her time in bed or talking on the phone to her mother, who was my grandmother on the phone for comfort and understanding. I remember my mom saying how she would feel so depressed whenever she became pregnant.
I remember coming home from school, my sisters and I would have to do up the breakfast and lunch dishes as well as make supper and do those dishes. Then it was house cleaning, washing clothes and taking care of the babies until bed time. There was little time to do homework and school was not encouraged at all. I can still remember my dad after a long day of working on the farm, sitting at my mom's bedside holding her hand as she cried from feeling sad and depressed. It was also my dad who got up with the baby in the middle of the night if needed. Many mornings I would see my dad asleep in the rocking chair holding the baby, where he had spent most of the night.
As a result of my mom's illness and my dad's long work hours I did not develop any social skills, or coping skills to deal with any childhood problems other than to bury all of my feelings deep inside of me. I did not received any emotional support from my parents or anybody else accept for the few occasions that I was able to spend time with my grandmother. (my mom's mom) I did not know what feelings were or how to name or express what I was feeling until I reach adulthood and sought out help after my life had became a mess. I did not know how to make friends as I had no companions. I had my siblings but I never felt like I fitted in. My two older sisters bonded together and left me out on any of their activities. My brothers were not available because they were involved with working on the farm. My younger sisters were much younger than me and bonded with each other. Therefore, as I child I was left to my own defenses. I became a lonely and an insecure child, I did not felt love for myself or love from my family.
I don't have a lot of memories of preschool age but in my next writing I will write about some of those memories.
Again, I want to mention in order to harvest life gracefully, one need to examine their life in a factual manner. I really am serious when I say in a factual way, we do not want any judgments if we want to heal from our emotional wounds. This is the first step to harvest life gracefully. The goal is to reach a point of acceptance. Acceptance will come as we work on admitting what is.
What do you say? “ HARVEST LIFE GRACEFULLY!"
Now, I will start telling my story for what it is, my very first step in how to harvest life.
I am the 5th child of 11. My parents were devoted Catholics and did not believe in birth control. Never less this is why I came from such a large family. I grew up on a dairy farm, my dad spent long hours in the fields working the crops and in the farm barn tending to his cows. He work from sun rise to sun down. I did not have much of n opportunity to really get to know my dad on a personal level until he stop being a farmer, about 10 years before he pass away at age 73. My mom had a problem with depression and spent much of her time in bed or talking on the phone to her mother, who was my grandmother on the phone for comfort and understanding. I remember my mom saying how she would feel so depressed whenever she became pregnant.
I remember coming home from school, my sisters and I would have to do up the breakfast and lunch dishes as well as make supper and do those dishes. Then it was house cleaning, washing clothes and taking care of the babies until bed time. There was little time to do homework and school was not encouraged at all. I can still remember my dad after a long day of working on the farm, sitting at my mom's bedside holding her hand as she cried from feeling sad and depressed. It was also my dad who got up with the baby in the middle of the night if needed. Many mornings I would see my dad asleep in the rocking chair holding the baby, where he had spent most of the night.
As a result of my mom's illness and my dad's long work hours I did not develop any social skills, or coping skills to deal with any childhood problems other than to bury all of my feelings deep inside of me. I did not received any emotional support from my parents or anybody else accept for the few occasions that I was able to spend time with my grandmother. (my mom's mom) I did not know what feelings were or how to name or express what I was feeling until I reach adulthood and sought out help after my life had became a mess. I did not know how to make friends as I had no companions. I had my siblings but I never felt like I fitted in. My two older sisters bonded together and left me out on any of their activities. My brothers were not available because they were involved with working on the farm. My younger sisters were much younger than me and bonded with each other. Therefore, as I child I was left to my own defenses. I became a lonely and an insecure child, I did not felt love for myself or love from my family.
I don't have a lot of memories of preschool age but in my next writing I will write about some of those memories.
Again, I want to mention in order to harvest life gracefully, one need to examine their life in a factual manner. I really am serious when I say in a factual way, we do not want any judgments if we want to heal from our emotional wounds. This is the first step to harvest life gracefully. The goal is to reach a point of acceptance. Acceptance will come as we work on admitting what is.
What do you say? “ HARVEST LIFE GRACEFULLY!"
Monday, February 1, 2010
Harvest Life Gracefully-- Heighten your Awareness watch -YouTube- Monsters (Child Abuse Commercial
When I was searching the internet tonight I ran accross this video about childhood sexual abuse awareness.
I thought it was powerful. I think you may too.
I thought it was powerful. I think you may too.
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