Domestic Violence Awareness

As we come to the end of Domestic Violence Awareness Month, let's remember that truthful disclosure of your abuse is not gossip. Nor is it feminism, or a symbol of all women (or even one particular woman) rising up against all men. Nor does it mean that you don't love your husband, or that you just don't want to submit, or that you hate all men.

Rather, truthful disclosure is:

-a cry for help

-a means of seeking spiritual, emotional, and physical protection from your abuser

-a way to protect your children from being further exposed to this evil

-a sign of being pushed to your breaking point

-a way of requesting that the church do justice for the oppressed and love the perpetrator by confronting his sin

-shining light on the darkness of hidden sins

-loving your husband so much that you disclose as a first step to seeking help for him

There are a multitude of reasons why a woman does not come forward (and this post is not intended to make her feel guilty for suffering silently). One of those reasons is that she fears that her disclosure will be viewed as "gossip" or "rising up" or anything else other than her pure motivations.

Let's support those who have yet to disclose by not casting doubt on the motives of those who have disclosed.

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