February is a month to recognize that teens are getting hurt out there — those times of hanging out and building relationships and trying to find love in all the wrong places — it is real and it is not healthy. Dating abuse is serious! Nearly 1.5 million high school students nationwide experience abuse from…
In February, we “focus” on ways that teens and young adults can avoid abuse in their relationships. Here’s a story about Little Wife and the things that happened to her when she was young…that actually groomed her to become a “little abused wife” later on in life… Little Wife was looking in the old…
Little Wife set her empty wine glass on the kitchen table and gazed sadly out the window at the falling snow. The weak mid-January sunlight filtered through the cold clouds barely reaching the ground before dissolving into another gray afternoon. “Well,” she thought to herself, “If I’ve had one glass of wine and broken my…
Joan woke up in the morning with heaviness on her heart. “Another day, another problem,” she thought. It seemed like every day there was another mountain to climb, hurdles to jump, and barriers to get around. She could not make sense of her relationship with Tom. One minute he appeared sensitive to her feelings and…
Anyone who mentions the words domestic violence automatically thinks of the various forms of physical abuse which are visible to the naked eye. Below the surface of those wounds though is a crushed heart and a remnant of an image bearer of God. Often in the Christian community the devastation of verbal and emotional abuse…
Relationships are supposed to be fun and fulfilling and full of love. That was God’s original plan. First with our family and our friends, then as romantic dating partners and then as married people, we were originally meant to be kind and loving and patient and full of grace and mercy towards the people in…
“Mr. Big Man,” said the judge as she passed him two pieces of paper. Big Man looked up, reached out his big hand and took the papers from the judge with a confused look on his face. “Mr. Big Man, you’ve just been served. Glorie Christos, your request for a two-year plenary order of protection…
February has been Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month (TDVAM). FOCUS Ministries is here for the students, the teens, the tweens, college people and all young people who are trying to navigate strange times and difficult relationships. Here are some important questions to consider: Have you really thought about YOU…in your personal relationships? Have you given…
You cut me deep you cut me quick way down to the core so I weep silently. I weep for me I weep for you because what you’re doing to me. How can you say how can you do this to me. I never thought I’d be here again wondering what will happen to me….
Because we recognize the month of February as a time to build awareness of Teen Dating Violence, I am re-posting the story I wrote last year about how Little Wife started out being an abused little teenage girl. Not much has changed … Girls still get abused, controlled, manipulated and assaulted on “dates” and by…