Tuesday, 07 October 2008
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Overcoming Sexual Abuse: A Cinderella Story
Guest post submitted by lulusanchez
Like most little girls, I was always captivated by the story of Cinderella. The story about a girl who was oppressed by her evil stepmother and stepsisters. A beautiful girl, loved by her dear father. However, upon his passing, she was reduced to a servant in her own home.
What I find most intriguing is that, despite her devastation, She never gave up hope on her dreams. She had dreams of meeting the love of her life, a prince, and living happily ever after. No matter how hard her "family" came down her, no matter how many times or how many ways they tried to squelch her dreams, she never gave up hope. And after many trials and tribulations, a torn dress, she was granted that dream.
Her prince found her when she was invisible, he found her when she was in rags, with soot on her face.
I feel I can relate to this fairy tale. I'm not going to pretend that my life has been exactly like hers, but there are some definite parallels; parallels that could be found in the lives of many, the lives of those who have experienced the love, grace, and mercy of their heavenly father.
My story begins when I was 6. The earliest significant memory that I have was of my parents divorce. It wasn't a huge deal to me, them separating, my parents had never really gotten along. However, this event marked a significant turning point in my life.A couple of years after my parents divorce my mother, a woman I respect and love with all my heart, remarried. It seemed like it was going to be ok. My stepfather seemed to care about my mom, he bought her flowers, bought us things as well. And he talked many times about one day having a big house, he even promised me that I would own a horse! What girl doesn't want a horse?
Unfortunately things were not as peachy as they seemed. These ideas were only empty promises used to cover up the truth. Over the course of four years my step-father sexually abused me. He tried to make me believe that I was worth nothing more than to fulfill the sexual desires of men. Satan used him to try and manipulate my dreams of one day meeting my handsome prince, the one who was going to fall in love with my heart. The way he put it, there was no such thing as that prince. It was a horrible time in my life, a confusing time.
Then there is my dad. Good ol' dad. I love him very much, but sometimes parents aren't the mature ones. I have had many struggles for the past 6 years or so with my dad. He wants to have a relationship with me, but he doesn't want to do any of the work. I have to call him, whether it is his birthday or my own; Christmas, Easter, any holiday that involves family, I have to call him.Whenever we have a falling out, I have to be the one who calls and says, "I'm sorry, I'm a fool" even though I have nothing to be sorry about. I remember when I was a child, and I was his little princess. When he would scoop me up in his arms, when he would play his guitar for me at night till I fell asleep. It seems to me, that it was easier to be his daughter then. I know that Satan has used him to get to my heart as well. Satan will not stop at anything to take a pure heart and crush it.
However, despite these circumstances in my life, I never gave up hope. Hope that I was worth something more. I knew in my heart that one day someone would come into my life, and pursue my heart with everything in them. I had no idea that prince would be Jesus Christ. He saw me when I was in rags, when I was invisible, with soot on my face and hands. He saved me from losing sight of my significance.
I could be so far gone right now. I could be an alcoholic, a drug addict, a prostitute, I could be someone who thinks the only way they are ever going to find any feeling close to love is through sexual promiscuity. But God saved me from that! He rescued me from the pit.Many people ask me how I can be so joyful. My answer is this, I take comfort in knowing that God is not only my king, he is my refuge, he is my savior, my prince, my everlasting father, and he will never leave me or forsake me. In Christ I have hope.
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Comments (97)
Thank you I just eamiled this to my daughter who was abused when she was 5
Amen.
What a beautiful post. Thank you for sharing.
This is awesome. Praise God. Thank you for sharing.
I am so happy for you that you found God. May his blessings be upon you always!
Its the same with verbal abuse. Its amazing the kind of hope God's unwavering stability offers.
God Bless you
*sigh* wonderful life you had despite the experince!! i wished i am the same way but i never was and prayed that my children will live like that the way you look at life.
that there may be a day when i am hopeless and lost, my children will always find the hope and never lose themselves. my whole family are lost.
and i pray so hard that this family i created will not be like that.
God is amazing. He is trully amazing. because last few months i have been struggling for a long time. i felt like giving up.
then today the people who have the major effect on my hopelessness showed up. i was shocked to see them at my house ..
but they asked me to forgive them and to come back to the church with them.
and at that moment, i thought, "wow, God is amazing. He saw how much i am falling and here He is recusing me!"
Praise God that we all found that one place to see our Prince. The love of our lives.
Beautiful story.
Amazing. Keep being joyful and hopeful.
Satan rules. Satan dies. Satan ate my chocolate pie.
Read up on evolution people, evolution!
wow. God bless you always. Be strong.
glad you saw the light among the darkness...stay strong. :) god bless you.
My story is kind of similar to yours. My parents divorced when I was still a baby and my relationships with both my father and my step-father have been very strained by various issues. It has a huge effect on my relationship with men - not just romantic, but also friendship and even coworkers or acquaintances. Lately, I have also realized that it has made a huge effect on the way that I see grace. That's a long story.....but sometimes I feel like a girl in rags with soot on her face, too. And I still can't believe that Jesus even notices me, let along takes a second look.
Isn't it incredible that God knows everything about you and still cares for you? Especially because it isn't just because He is God and he HAS to know you and love you. He wants to! Unbelievable...but I believe it.
Beautiful.
You and your story is a blessing.
Thank you.
Thanks for sharing!
That was awesome. When I first saw this I was thinking "Awww! Another fairytale-like courtship story" I just knew it was going to be about how you being sexually abused, losing trust in men but then meeting The One. In a sense you did because you were found by the Prince of all princes. This is such a touching well written story. It is so awesome to see how some people go through so much drama in their life but still have joy because of the joy that salvation in Christ has given them. Stay strong and don't lose faith. God bless! Your story was very encouraging.
I can relate to your story on so many levels! Thanks for sharing it with us.
This is such an endearing testimony. Jesus Christ is the Prince of Peace and through Him all things were made! How amazing is that! Thank you for your testimony! I know God has an amazing plan for Your life! God bless you.
-Rebekah-
You blow me away. GOD blows me away. He is amazing! May He continue to bless you with His love, "rejoicing over you with singing" Zeph. 3:17.
Thank you for sharing.
Thank you for sharing the amazing true story of your life and of how the Prince of peace found you and put His loving arms around you. I believe that your testimony is a great source of blessing, direction, and encouragement to many people, not just women but men as well.
I'm wondering if you are still feeling, to some extent, the effects of your terrible mistreatment at the hands of a man who should have been like a father to you.
God bless you!
very inspiring
@Grampa_David@xanga - there are times when the past likes to creep up, but God quickly shuns them before they can really damage me again. With His promises in my heart i cannot be overcome :) thankyou for your encouraging words. I'm so moved that people have been touched by my story. To God be the Glory.