This week, we were asked to look back over our childhood and think of how any major stressors have impacted our lives. I actually found this assignment quite difficult because I realized that I have had a fairly easy life. Yes, money was tight for my family, but we still had everything that we needed. I have lived in Ohio my entire life, so I have never experienced any major natural disasters, other than an ice or wind storm here or there that has knocked out power for a few days. Yes, it was an inconvenience, but it was never a life-threatening moment and I enjoyed the peace and quiet during that time.
The one stressor that I can probably relate to is violence. My parents' marriage was very rocky throughout my childhood and got worse when I was in high school. I remember sitting in the garage on winter nights just to get away from listening to them fighting. I became depressed and very dependent on my boyfriend at the time to take that hurt away from me. I learned to suppress my feeling because my parents did not take the time to realize that their arguing had hurt me so bad. My parents got a divorce in 2006 and things are still not so great. They will rarely come together in the same room without there being tension. Today, I still struggle with sharing my feelings, even with my husband. I have built this wall around me that is very hard to get through. I feel as though I should be strong for my family, even though I am weak inside.
I was saddened to read that the rate of domestic violence is so high in South Africa. According to the World Council of Churches website, "one in four men have admitted to rape and one in twenty men have admitted to rape in the past year" (para. 1). Sadly, only about seven percent of rapes against women actually lead to conviction (para. 7). The council is working to provide awareness of this global struggle to eliminate violence, but as long as the crime continues to go unpunished, the crime will continue to be present.
Tiffany Booze
Reference:
World Council of Churches, (2011). Facts about columbia. In 40 days to end violence against women. Retrieved on November 23, 2012, from http://www.overcomingviolence.org/en/resources/campaigns/women-against-violence/week-3-colombia/colombia-facts.html.
Tiffany, so sorry you had to go through that experience. I myself was involved in an abusive relationship. I think you are a strong person. I will say a prayer for you, that God heals you completely. For he does not put more on us than we can bare. I believe in whatver don't kill you makes you stronger. Really Good post!!
ReplyDeleteHi Tiffany,
ReplyDeleteI pray for the day when women and children are no longer being raped. I've had friends close to me that have gone through the horrific experience and its hard to bounce back emotionally. At times I find myself very protective over my own daughter because of how GROWN men look at her when we are out and she is only 15. Thank you sharing a personal story, I'm praying for you and your family.
Rosalind
Thanks for sharing your story. I know that living through that turmoil was probably very hard, especially during your teen years. I hope that you are learning to share your feelings more with your husband and letting him help you sort all of this out. Also, I could not believe that the rape rate was so high in South Africa. That is very sad and disconcerting. I wish women were valued more.
ReplyDeleteTiffany, Reading your post brought back memories and I can honestly say that I understand what you went through. I remember being young and thinking that my family was the only family in the world that could actually be this darn disfunctional. However as time went on I quickly learned that I was not the only one dealing with certain issues. I know first hand that is not easy growing up in world war three.
ReplyDelete