I wondered if the room felt cold because of the temperature, or because my fear was sending my blood to my limbs to prepare me to run. I was one week post-operative from my third experience with surgery needed to remove a tumor. Today the doctor will tell me the biopsy results. My fear of the “C” word was creeping back.

My message is being read by men and women of all ages, in all stations of life. My most avid readers call prison their home.

The abuser is the shameful one. They had no right to exert power over you or demean you as a sex object to fulfill their desires. They are the outcast, not you.

As children we have neither the intelligence, understanding, nor life experience to analyze what the abuse means. Frankly, it completely messes us up.

From a human perspective, there is no reason for me to have wanted anything to do with God, especially when He was referred to as Father. My earthly father was very abusive.

Unforgiveness is choosing to stay trapped in a jail cell of bitterness, serving time for someone else’s crime. I spent many years in a prison of unforgiveness and it made me angry and self-absorbed.