Read Angie's Thoughts

This blog will be short, sweet and, hopefully, to the point! When an abuse survivor shares any detail of their story and experience with you, no matter how small or how trivial you may think it is, please say something. Say anything. I still carry shame around with me concerning the things that happened to my body and when I trust someone enough to say something, getting silence in return is painfully brutal. I'm already thinking the very worst about myself and in your silence, I believe you are thinking the same things too - " That happened to her?? Ew." "She didn't do anything to stop it?" I need to know that we're still okay, that you still love me and see me as the woman you saw me as before. I've had many people email or write me to share their experiences and even if I can't respond as thoroughly as I would like to at the time, I always send a little message that thanks them for sharing and tells them I still love them and will respond ...

I had lunch with a friend recently, a gal I can truly appreciate. We are close in age, both single, and both unsure of what God has in store for us, even now in our late 30s. While talking about jobs and family, she gazed off in the distance and spoke these 9 simple words, "I just thought I'd be so much farther by now." Her voice was filled with sadness and so much discouragement, I just wanted to weep with her. I've thought that same thing so many times in recent months and it's a hard place to be. My life hasn't turned out the way I thought it would. The hopes and dreams I had in college (since becoming a Christian) have never come to pass and while I've enjoyed the journey God has taken me on over the years, I can't help but wonder if I missed a turn somewhere. There are many days Satan tries to convince me that my lot in life is pretty worthless and that anyone could easily take my place if I weren't here. Sure, I teach children's churc...