Do you know how to find freedom from your perspective? For many, doing so is no easy task, but it is well worth the effort. Ask yourself this question. Does my standpoint build me up, or does it suppress me? Those of us victimized by abuse have been trained in the know-how of suppression. The abuser imprints this skill on their victim as a way of control. Therefore, breaking out of that limited way of thinking frees a person to discover a new life filled with meaning.
Over the past year-and-a-half, my sweetie did just that. He broke out of his old way of thinking that did not serve him. He then adopted a new attitude and implemented lifestyle changes. These changes led to his ability to shed over one hundred pounds. Consequently, Rich now experiences new freedom within his body. He has found strength, stamina, energy, less knee and back pain, and many more beneficial results.
Such a drastic change sets many things into motion. Each new element brings an opportunity to choose a perspective. Rich now deals with loose folds of skin that cover his belly region. Many would see this as a blemish to hide from sight or, if possible, remove. However, instead of choosing a stance that causes shame, we have decided to use a far different viewpoint. We’ve chosen one that lifts Rich up. We see those skin folds as a trophy, reminding us of the superb achievement that Rich has accomplished.
The Two-Sided Coin
Like the two-sided proverbial coin, everything in life can be seen from an opposite angle. I am close to someone—I will call Deric—who sees obstacles as freezing points. When Deric comes to a hitch, he gets stuck at the overwhelming challenge in front of him. I’ve discovered that trying to push him beyond that point does no good. Deric cannot move from his position because of those boulders set in his path. To Deric, they appear far too large to move.
For now, from where he is on his healing path, Deric needs the help of someone to compassionately take his hand and show him how to walk around such boulders. In other words, find solutions that crumble that massive rock into pebbles so he can step over it and move on.
This challenge that Deric struggles with is commonplace to many of us. In fact, only a small percentage of us have been born with the innate courage to climb over such boulders and see them as challenges to tackle.
To see more Crystalisms, go to https://www.facebook.com/groups/1360983917796761.
Robin’s Gift
In my book, Robin’s Gift, Natalie finds her growth frozen by the multitude of gigantic boulders placed in her path. She feels that the effects of abuse have scarred her life far too much to move on.
Because of such deep scarring, Natalie chose to hide herself. She hides her past from everyone around her, setting up an impenetrable barrier, not letting anyone close enough that they can discover elements of the previous life she had once led. But Natalie’s hiding does not stop there. She also covers herself by turning her clothing into an armor of sorts as she hides behind loose-fitting baggy outfits.
The Master of Making Good Out of Bad
I believe God blesses everyone with what they need when they need it. So often, people ask questions like, “Why did God make my loved one sick?” “How could God allow my child to die?” “Why didn’t God save my home from that storm?” No ending exists to this type of question. They arrive from the deepest part of a person’s heart, scarred by seeping wounds that run so deep it may feel they could never heal.
God never makes bad things happen! Let me repeat this—GOD NEVER MAKES BAD THINGS HAPPEN. Bad things occur because of the accumulated effects of our humanness, beginning from when the first person walked this Earth.
God is The Master of making good out of the bad that has occurred. Remember, God granted us the gift of free agency. And yet regardless of our choices, our loving Savior always remains at our side with a stretched-out hand, waiting for us to grasp onto it. Our Lord does not make bad things happen. However, our Savior will always walk us through hardships to the other side if we allow Him to.
Earth Angels
I can look back on my life and see how, throughout every aspect, God has placed at least one of what I call Earthly angels in my path. These angels are a way that God carries us through challenging moments and brings us to safety on the other side.
As a child, Cathy became the embodiment of one of those angels. She provided me with a safe spot to escape the abuse I endured. During my teenage years, Lue, my piano teacher, became another Earth angel. Many, many more have crossed my path. God’s love is ceaseless. Because of this fact, I can rest assured that more angels will come in and out of my life till the end of my existence here on earth. I know I got pretty preachy here. I think I’m done now with my sermon, but I did have a purpose with it.
Robin’s Gift
Back to Natalie, from Robin’s Gift—Here comes that purpose—Natalie has a friend named Lucy who sees through Natalie’s hiding attempts. Lucy recognized that Natalie wore her loose-fitting smocks as a symbolic attempt to disguise her emotional scars. Those scars became an impenetrable boulder in Natalie’s path.
But Lucy is that Earth Angel who helps Natalie step around that boulder so she can find a new and marvelous life on the other side. Lucy helps Natalie see how God turns scars into beauty marks. Lucy’s frequent phrase, “God is your beauty mark,” reminds Natalie to step aside and allow God to do His glorious work.
Ways We Hide
An untold number of ways to hide oneself exist in this imperfect world. We all, from time to time, have chosen to hide behind a boulder within our paths. Scaling a boulder or seeking a way around it can be exhausting. Often, we climb one only to find our pathway blocked by even another. These boulders frequently represent far too much work to overcome. During times like this, it can seem much easier to hunker down and shelter behind its granite side. Yet, if you make this choice, you will become its prisoner.
In what areas do you hide? What does hiding look like to you? Take a deep breath, open your eyes, and look for those Earth Angels. They await to guide you safely around that boulder and back onto your unique healing path.
Note To My Readers
Hopefully, you have gained value from this blog post. If you have, I would like to offer you the opportunity to purchase my books. You can buy The Hidden Diamond and Robin’s Gift at BUY-the-BOOK https://www.amazon.com/s?i=digital-. Two additional sites where you can find my books are https://bkbookshoppe.com and https://bizybookstore.com.
Each purchase of my books supports my mission to help those trapped in abuse break those chains and find their way to freedom while drawing closer to their Maker. Once you have read either of my books, feel free to leave a review on the site you purchased from. Your review will encourage others also to seek out the path of healing.
Adult Physical Abuse—My Experience A Reinterpretation Balance Balancing on a Tightrope Boundaries Breaking Out By Giving You Receive Childhood Physical Abuse—My Experience Excerpt from The Hidden Diamond Find the Blessing Within Foster The Gratitude Attitude Free Giveaway From Robin’s Gift Happenings or Interpretations? Hope Invite My Experience New Year Resolution Note To My Readers Overcoming Depression Resources Robin’s Gift Robin’s Gift – A Sneak Peak Sacred Gift Bearing Seek Understanding Shame Has No Place Summer’s Story Surviving Dark Years Take a Step Back. Take the Challenge The Abuser The Commitment to Braking Chains of Abuse The Fantasy Flaw The Gift of Jesus The Hidden Diamond The Power of Gratitude The Tenth Commandment To My Readers Unhealed Wounds Unwittingly Harm Others. Upcoming Posts We Don’t Know What We Don’t Know. What Gift Will You Bring? Why I Write You Are Worthy! Your New Year’s Resolution
