Comments on: Walk in the Shoes of a Sexual Abuse Survivor

By: kirkdaniel

kirkdaniel — Thu, 11 Jul 2019 03:47:09 +0000

Here are some links that I hope will prove beneficial:

https://rainn.org/sites/default/files/HelpSomeoneOnePageRAINN.pdf

https://1in6.org/get-information/for-family-and-friends-of-men/

By: Violet Anderson

Violet Anderson — Thu, 11 Jul 2019 00:33:54 +0000

In reply to kirkdaniel. Thank you kirkdaniel for these helpful words. I think some of these I already knew in my heart. I would be interested in some websites or resources that could help me in being supportive.

By: megamomof10

megamomof10 — Wed, 10 Jul 2019 06:43:25 +0000

Imagine you tell your mom and she says “I don’t believe you”
Imagine it’s a close relative and you see them because you can’t avoid family. Imagine living with that for 40 years. It affects your life.

By: Bertha

Bertha — Wed, 10 Jul 2019 03:20:09 +0000

This is so so good. I wish ministers and parents and people wanting to help abuse survivors everywhere would read this and believe it and live it.

By: kirkdaniel

kirkdaniel — Tue, 09 Jul 2019 22:12:59 +0000

In reply to Violet.

How you can help others find healing:

1. Be there for them, like you are right now.
2. Listen without judgment. Listen, listen, listen. And a good hug is appropriate very often–women to women, men to men (yes, to all of you Anabaptist men, it is okay to hug another man! Particularly if they are hurting.)
3. Avoid platitudes (i.e. God is going to use this in your life in a mighty way). The best thing to say when we are expressing grief or struggle is “I’m so sorry this happened to you. I don’t know what to say, but I am right here.” Reaffirm our worth.
4. Pray and check up on us. We really appreciate that others show they care in this way.
5. Familiarize yourself with survivor issues. There are some good websites out there that give a wealth of information to those seeking to be supportive. Let me know, and I can direct you to a few resources.

By: kirkdaniel

kirkdaniel — Tue, 09 Jul 2019 22:00:04 +0000

In reply to Regina S. God bless you, dear sister. Thank you for adding to your voices to others, so we know we are not alone.

By: Dorcas

Dorcas — Tue, 09 Jul 2019 17:43:07 +0000

Good, good words.

By: Regina S

Regina S — Tue, 09 Jul 2019 14:02:54 +0000

Thank you Sharla for sharing this. I’m a sexual abuse survivor. In childhood and as a young adult. I’ve never said this in public before. My heart goes out to other survivors of sexual abuse.
If someone reading this is a survivor please repeat this. It’s not your fault!

By: Violet

Violet — Tue, 09 Jul 2019 12:15:57 +0000

Thank you, Sharla, for opening your heart. I haven’t walked the same journey as you, only from a distance. But I care. There are so many hearts with deep anguishing wounds, and I don’t know what words to say… I know that healing is only in God Himself. But I wish I knew how I can help someone else to find that…. Thank you, again.

By: kirkdaniel

kirkdaniel — Tue, 09 Jul 2019 11:10:22 +0000

We’ll said! May God bless you on your healing journey.