A Humble Experience

Once again, I am eternally grateful for the opportunity of being the special guest on Laugh & Tears blog talk radio. That was the first time I was on a live radio show and enjoyed the comments, questions, chats online, etc. Of course, if you're wondering, the topic was Domestic Violence. We discussed personal testimonies, recognized and defined exactly what domestic violence is. The audience was able to identify in their own lives if they had ever been abused physically, emotionally, sexually and so on. Like myself, I had never heard of the term "domestic violence" or even knew that I was in an abusive relationship. As oddly as it seems, you would've thought I knew what was going on as far as the termonology. But sadly, like myself, ALOT of people DON'T know the hidden signs or redflags of Domestic Violence or are aware that they are even in an abusive relationship.

We also dicussed how most people are and have been EMOTIONALLY and VERBALLY abused rather than physically abused throughout their life. Society doesn't associate the emotional and verbal abuse in the same sentence as physical abuse. One word remains the same that ties these unions together...........ABUSE!!! I'm sure the listeners were able to reflect back over their lives and did a quick checklist to see if they had been or are being emotionally and verbally abused.

There was a question that came up on the online chat that asked basically, how can sexual abuse or rape be implemented in a marriage union? An answer to that question lies here: If you are married or single, whenever force, manipulation, unacceptable acts or positions that your mate is not in agreement with and is using it for the gain of power and control is SEXUAL ABUSE. Anytime a form of force, whether it's by a physical action or emotional and verbal mechanisms, is used to get sex, is wrong.

If you are in a domestic violence situation plan a SAFETY PLAN carefully. I mentioned on the show how I always kept toiletries or travel kit bags in my car or outside of the house incase an altercation arised and I had to leave. There were plenty of times and nights I slept in my car or ran away to a safe haven. Having simple things like toothbrushes, combs and brushes, extra pair of clothes and underwear, change in case I needed to use a payphone if my cellphone was left behind and this list could on. I'm not suggesting that you run away repeatedly. I'm simply giving you options and prayerfully available resources and tools to implement whenever you decide to leave your abusive partner. In addition to a having a safety plan, make several different copies of your Order of Protection if you have one. Leave them in your safe haven places: friends house, under a plant outside or anywhere that you feel you can get a hold of it if the times comes and you can't get access to your original copy.

If you missed the opportunity to listen in on the live show, please feel free to log on at www.blogtalkradio.com/laugh_tears to hear the entire discussion.

I enjoy the calling on my life which is to raise the awareness of DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.... as always I leave you with this: HELP BREAK THE SILENCE OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE