Category: Abuse
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2 Lies that Enable Abuse in the Church
My mom knew that my dad was a pervert with a violent temper who never apologized for anything. She thought that if she submitted to him and was a good Christian wife, he would eventually become a good Christian man, repent of his sin, and love her. Her background included catholic, charismatic, and reformed doctrines,…
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The Healing Power of Old Hymns
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There were many times, particularly when I was a teenager and young adult, that I took great solace in hymns. Some seem to think that’s a bit odd. I suppose it is unusual for a teenager to gravitate so strongly toward “old-fashioned” music. However, the lyrics of hymns tend to be much more rich, thoughtful,…
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Mother’s Day: Searching For My Mom
I had hand-drawn cards from my kids, a bottle of wine and roses from my husband, but I felt I couldn’t fully appreciate them. Mother’s Day just wasn’t about me. There was an emptiness that could only be explained by the hole that was left by my mother.
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Dear Parkland Teens: From One Survivor to Another
Because, no matter how smart, strategic, or passionate you may be, you have been sent out as sheep among wolves.
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So, You Want to Stop the Next School Shooter?
I stole his gun. I hid it, unloaded and wrapped in a towel, in a box of chintzy craft supplies, knitting, and fashion accessories I’d accrued as a teenager. It was the last place he’d look. I left the ammo in his dresser drawer. It was my way of mocking him, as if to say,…
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The Emotional Crucifixion of Parkland Teen Survivors
In a dramatic piece published by The New Yorker, author Rebecca Mead refers to, The Passion of Emma González, comparing the plucky teen girl to Joan of Arc, and by implication, Jesus Christ. While the writer no doubt intends the saintly veneration of González, she is contributing to the psychological crucifixion of these children.
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The Truth About Trolls & Social Media Bullies
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Here’s Why Emotional Abusers Use Insults, Slander, and Online Harassment to Silence Opposing Views
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The Bleak Reality of Male Abuse Survivors
Over the past year, I’ve been writing a book called, Those Who Weep, which chronicles the spiritual recovery process of abuse survivors. As I continue to write and edit, I mostly draw upon my own personal experiences. However, I have also interviewed many fellow survivors in order to identify commonalities and key issues. To my…
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What To Expect When You Come Out As An Abuse Survivor
If you follow me on Twitter, you know I’ve been very vocal lately about my past experiences with child abuse and domestic violence. However, I originally came out about my victimization long before #MeToo or #TimesUp ever swept the internet. In fact, I came out during my early marriage, in 2006, when I publicly denounced…
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See, What Kind of Love: How 1 John 3 Speaks to Child Abuse Survivors
This morning a pastor friend of mine, Reverend J. Michael Dixon of The Orchard Church in Chicago, sought to encourage me by tweeting me 1 John 3:1. I frequently speak on social media about a feeling of being orphaned, and this was such a perfect verse to address that feeling. After reading the entire chapter…
Jenn Greenberg 