Flash Back / Flash Forward
Last night, John and I were watching a show on television. There was a moment when an emotionally abusive man (growing more manipulative and threatening with every episode) whispers a few words into the ear of his terrified wife. He says nothing overtly threatening. He doesn't yell or attack physically. But from her body language, the audience senses extreme discomfort. Her fear is palpable. She is intimidated and -- at least in that moment -- powerless to protect herself from him. It was his very presence that triggered her discomfort and fear.
Whether you watch this from the perspective of someone who has never experienced abuse or someone who has, you get it. She has no idea what he might be capable of and she is afraid of him with good reason. But if you have been a victim of emotional abuse and domestic violence yourself, the intensity of emotion is heightened because you relate and identify with her.
It's been more than a decade now since I broke free from an abusive man. I experienced episodes of violence and sporadic incidents of being slapped and shoved around to put me in my place, but the worst abuse I endured was verbal and emotional; rage, mind games, belittling, demeaning, contemptuous words and actions that tore me down on the inside rather than the outside. I know how intimidating even softly spoken words can be. Some of my most painful and vivid memories do not involve a raised voice, but words spoken with calculation to make me feel powerless and worthless. Words that resulted all too often in my groveling.
So when the scene played out, I flashed back. I watched and identified. I didn't say anything to John in that moment, but inside I was thinking, I know how that intimidation feels.
I have no idea if there was a connection between the scene and my subsequent restless night of sleep. I haven't dreamed about my ex-husband in a very long time. (I left him in 2002. He died in 2011.) But last night I dreamed I was married to him again and it was awful. He didn't strike me or yell at me in the dream. He degraded me with his words and showed contempt for me with his countenance. I don't remember specific details about what words were spoken in the dream (which seemed to go on forever) but I always remember how I felt in response to his presence. I felt horrible while dreaming. And I felt horrible when I woke up. Except for one thing. John woke me up to give me a hug.
Oh, thank God, it was a nightmare. My reality is John. My reality is a loving husband who would never intentionally hurt me. Thank God, I got out. Thank God, I went to counseling. Thank God, I went to college. Thank God, I learned that I had worth and value and that God did not intend for me to stay and be abused forever. Thank God, I finally know what it feels like to be loved, respected and cherished by my husband. Thank God, my husband is truly my friend. He has no desire to antagonize me, diminish me, control me, dominate me, exploit me. And he is not threatened by my personal growth or my having opinions of my own. He doesn't need to control my thoughts and opinions or who my friends are. He doesn't accuse me of disloyalty if I disagree with him. He doesn't want to put me at odds with my family.
My feelings are important to him. And he is willing to listen to me when I need to express them. No punishing emotional consequences for needing to communicate how I feel or think.
It's amazing to be loved this way whether you've ever been abused or not. But I dare to say it's more amazing to the woman like me, who has been torn down by abuse. I've told John so many times that nobody could appreciate him more than I do because I know what it's like to have the opposite of our relationship. And I'll never forget.
Flash forward to this morning. I stayed in bed for an hour and watched TODAY after waking up. I felt lethargic as a result of a restless night and my bad dream. I reflected on the past and how long I lived that way (27 years). And then I got a text message: "Shari ... You up?"
"Yes."
"Wanna do a radio interview?"
Our local Women's Resource Center / Shelter is having a fundraising event this Saturday night. GIRLS NIGHT OUT - ON THE RED CARPET. John and I are sponsors of the event and sponsors of the entertainment. So, morning DJ (and our DJ for the event) Will Shumate of WJLS 99.5, along with Dee Sizemore of WRC, wanted to say hello on air and thank me for my/our support of the Women's Resource Center.
Of course I wanted to talk to them and help promote the event!
I came out of my fog instantly.
My first thought was how ironic it was that I'd just dreamed about my abusive ex-spouse prior to this invitation. Maybe not so ironic. Maybe it's not all bad that I still have an occasional nightmare to remind me of where I've been and the opportunities I have today to be an advocate for other women because I truly identify with them. God has brought me through the worst experiences of my life to make me a beacon of hope and light to others. It's a royal position. And I want to make the most of it.
This is the silver lining to all my dark clouds. And I'm grateful. I'm not only grateful that my life today is so very different from what it once was. I'm grateful God has redeemed all those years with the role I now have in helping bring awareness to this issue. It is such a privilege to have this opportunity to contribute something meaningful to the lives of others.
I'm proud to publicly identify myself as a victim and survivor, and most importantly an OVERCOMER of abuse.
Often I hear people say we must forget the past or put it behind us to look forward. I disagree. It's not good to live or camp out in the past, but reflecting helps us appreciate how far we've come. We should never merely forget.
Beth Moore, in her study on Esther, said it this way:
"You cannot amputate your history from your destiny, because that is redemption."
Powerful words combined with this passage of scripture from the book of Esther:
"And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?”
Whether you watch this from the perspective of someone who has never experienced abuse or someone who has, you get it. She has no idea what he might be capable of and she is afraid of him with good reason. But if you have been a victim of emotional abuse and domestic violence yourself, the intensity of emotion is heightened because you relate and identify with her.
It's been more than a decade now since I broke free from an abusive man. I experienced episodes of violence and sporadic incidents of being slapped and shoved around to put me in my place, but the worst abuse I endured was verbal and emotional; rage, mind games, belittling, demeaning, contemptuous words and actions that tore me down on the inside rather than the outside. I know how intimidating even softly spoken words can be. Some of my most painful and vivid memories do not involve a raised voice, but words spoken with calculation to make me feel powerless and worthless. Words that resulted all too often in my groveling.
So when the scene played out, I flashed back. I watched and identified. I didn't say anything to John in that moment, but inside I was thinking, I know how that intimidation feels.
I have no idea if there was a connection between the scene and my subsequent restless night of sleep. I haven't dreamed about my ex-husband in a very long time. (I left him in 2002. He died in 2011.) But last night I dreamed I was married to him again and it was awful. He didn't strike me or yell at me in the dream. He degraded me with his words and showed contempt for me with his countenance. I don't remember specific details about what words were spoken in the dream (which seemed to go on forever) but I always remember how I felt in response to his presence. I felt horrible while dreaming. And I felt horrible when I woke up. Except for one thing. John woke me up to give me a hug.
Oh, thank God, it was a nightmare. My reality is John. My reality is a loving husband who would never intentionally hurt me. Thank God, I got out. Thank God, I went to counseling. Thank God, I went to college. Thank God, I learned that I had worth and value and that God did not intend for me to stay and be abused forever. Thank God, I finally know what it feels like to be loved, respected and cherished by my husband. Thank God, my husband is truly my friend. He has no desire to antagonize me, diminish me, control me, dominate me, exploit me. And he is not threatened by my personal growth or my having opinions of my own. He doesn't need to control my thoughts and opinions or who my friends are. He doesn't accuse me of disloyalty if I disagree with him. He doesn't want to put me at odds with my family.
My feelings are important to him. And he is willing to listen to me when I need to express them. No punishing emotional consequences for needing to communicate how I feel or think.
It's amazing to be loved this way whether you've ever been abused or not. But I dare to say it's more amazing to the woman like me, who has been torn down by abuse. I've told John so many times that nobody could appreciate him more than I do because I know what it's like to have the opposite of our relationship. And I'll never forget.
Flash forward to this morning. I stayed in bed for an hour and watched TODAY after waking up. I felt lethargic as a result of a restless night and my bad dream. I reflected on the past and how long I lived that way (27 years). And then I got a text message: "Shari ... You up?"
"Yes."
"Wanna do a radio interview?"
Our local Women's Resource Center / Shelter is having a fundraising event this Saturday night. GIRLS NIGHT OUT - ON THE RED CARPET. John and I are sponsors of the event and sponsors of the entertainment. So, morning DJ (and our DJ for the event) Will Shumate of WJLS 99.5, along with Dee Sizemore of WRC, wanted to say hello on air and thank me for my/our support of the Women's Resource Center.
Of course I wanted to talk to them and help promote the event!
I came out of my fog instantly.
My first thought was how ironic it was that I'd just dreamed about my abusive ex-spouse prior to this invitation. Maybe not so ironic. Maybe it's not all bad that I still have an occasional nightmare to remind me of where I've been and the opportunities I have today to be an advocate for other women because I truly identify with them. God has brought me through the worst experiences of my life to make me a beacon of hope and light to others. It's a royal position. And I want to make the most of it.
This is the silver lining to all my dark clouds. And I'm grateful. I'm not only grateful that my life today is so very different from what it once was. I'm grateful God has redeemed all those years with the role I now have in helping bring awareness to this issue. It is such a privilege to have this opportunity to contribute something meaningful to the lives of others.
I'm proud to publicly identify myself as a victim and survivor, and most importantly an OVERCOMER of abuse.
Often I hear people say we must forget the past or put it behind us to look forward. I disagree. It's not good to live or camp out in the past, but reflecting helps us appreciate how far we've come. We should never merely forget.
Beth Moore, in her study on Esther, said it this way:
"You cannot amputate your history from your destiny, because that is redemption."
Powerful words combined with this passage of scripture from the book of Esther:
"And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?”
Comments
Thanks for being a role model and speaking out on domestic abuse. It exists most often behind closed doors. We must never be afraid to speak up and share our experiences to raise public awareness. I look forward to Girl's Night Out and the opportunity to support this worthy cause.