The truth.
The truth is I am not brave. I am not courageous. I’ve done nothing spectacular to earn my spot on this earth. I survived by God’s choice, in the grace of His gift of will and tenacity.
In truth I am not fearless as I may seem when I write and speak. The truth is I am gripped with fear. Fear that someone will try to harm me once again. Fear I cannot even identify, that comes from some unknown place deep within. The truth is I fight it with every fiber of my being to not let fear control me.
The truth is I made some serious mistakes, had some downright stupid lapses in judgment, and the truth is I continue to stumble along trying to help the next person be aware by understanding how very unaware I was. The truth is I felt, on some inexplicable gut level, I was in danger and I chose to ignore those signals because I didn’t understand them, or that he, anyone, was capable.
I choose to advocate for intimate violence victims because, frankly, no one advocated for me in adequate time. All the people I knew who had experienced it only came out after I was shot to tell me their truth. Most still don’t want it to be public knowledge. Still, after all this time, they carry a shame that isn’t theirs.
I would love to do just what they did. Put it away as a most unfortunate experience, a relationship that happened. One which is so highly emotionally charged it is self-preservation to leave the story behind, maintain the secrecy, and build a new life that doesn’t include those ugly scenes.
When I want to curl up and wish it away, go about my life and leave it lay, I remember what it felt like to learn those women knew what I had lived, yet could not bring themselves to share it. I remember what it felt like to feel so very alone, not the bruised and black eyed woman in the poster, but the emotionally battered woman whose injuries were invisible and undetectable to everyone else. The one who didn’t call a hotline to report he’s calling me names again, threatening me with what he’ll do ‘if’ again, using my children to control me again.
I have a prayer. It goes like this
Dear Lord,
If you want me to be the light, give me the candle
If you want me to be heard, give me the voice
If you want me to lead, show me the way
If you want me to reach out, hold my hand, tightly. Never let me go.
The truth is I believe I survived to do something. Since I wasn’t handed written instructions that day, the only truth I know is as long as I am given the words and the voice, as long as my hand is secure, I am being called to reach for someone else’s and support them. And God will give both of us the strength. He will give each of us that strength if we don’t look away from the light.
‘And now Father, send us out to do the work you have given us to do, to love and serve you…’ BCP
Shameless Survivors 
The nightmares still come, every week like clockwork, sometimes every night in a row for days and days. Sometimes, I see a man in the distance and my heart just stops – it’s never him but my image of him continues to move through life and I fear that I will come face to face with the real him. Even when I share my story of domestic violence with others, the fear remains as does the panic. In my dreams, I scream for help only no sound comes out so no one knows.
The other day, I called myself one of those horrific names he used to call me – I put myself down and made fun of myself – it is so deeply ingrained that I say the words before I am even aware.
Yeah, I also made mistakes, but I never ever asked to be abused…no one does. I have asked God for strength and he give it every time.
Our fear is very private, very individual and very real. We are each other’s strength. Hugs….
Wow Lisette, this page is very powerful! You are a phenominal lady and I am so glad that we are working together to help others who are suffering in silence. I still remember the words that my ex said to me and the way they made me feel. The fear of driving home. It took a long time for me to feel safe again.
The truth? The truth is you are brave. The truth is you are courageous. Because the truth is you are a survivor; all survivors are brave and courageous. I know a survivor when I see one.