” I feel like I have nothing left to offer anyone special,

Everything precious that I had to give,

Was so rudely taken away from me at such a young age.

I know it wasn’t my fault.

But, knowing this doesn’t change the way that I feel.

I was raised to save myself for the one I love

And that being taken means nothing is left

 Though, I know this is all in my head,

 I can’t escape this feeling.”

A good mix of legalism and child abuse can really alter a child’s mind for life if they never receive any help. The freedom I now  know in God is undeniable and I am flooded by His love, and gratitude rushes over me once again. God you are so faithful. The things that happen to us do not determine who we are in the least. You must come to realize this in order to break free of your own prison of shame and guilt. God wants us to be free and I know how hard it is to see these invisible chains, but, He died for every moment in our lives and the shame and guilt was already taken away from us that day on the cross. We don’t have to live in pain from what others do or have done to us including the things we do to ourselves thinking we are worthless. He fills us with such a joy that I can’t even describe it. He is in love with you precious believer, and wants nothing more than to pull you in close and repair your broken heart as He shelters you in His abundance.  You are loved by God. You are precious to Him and He has a purpose for everything in your life. All of it, and I assure you that He will use it for His own glory if you just simply hand it over. I also know how hard it is to let go of it. I held on to my pain and bitterness for so long because I felt like I would lose myself if I let go. I felt like it would make what others did to me okay. In all actuality it is just the opposite. I did not lose myself at all, in fact, I gained myself and the ability to forgive and move forward. What others have done to me is not okay, but, I am okay and that is what matters at the end of the day. Reader, I love you dearly and I hope this is an encouragement to your heart. It is time to heal now.

M. Fawn Saylor