Editors Note; This is one of the most painful posts I've had to deal with, up and to this point. This is an updated situation that was first addressed several months ago. You may read the initial post, "You Hold the Key," to fully understand the ramifications of this powerful and perplexing question.
Dear Aunt B,Do you remember me? If you don't, I guess I could just refresh your memory a little bit. A little under a year ago, I think, I emailed you because I had problems with my father and I was taken away. I need a little more advice, if you don't mind helping me again.
My new foster parents said I could visit my mother because she is on her medication. I really do want to see her, but I am extremely nervous about it. My mom had an accident where she fell and had some brain damage, so some of her memory is gone, which means that she doesn't really remember anything about the way my father has treated us both recently. I know she really loved my father, and that fact that she doesn't remember anything doesn't really help me much. Because she loved him so much, I have a feeling in my gut that she wouldn't believe me if I told her what he has done. How could I explain to her why I can't live with her anymore, and why my father is in jail? Is there any way to do this without completely crushing her and putting her into another spiral of depression, or without coming to completely hating me for what I did?
I am sort of getting the feeling like I tore my family apart, and to my mom, for no reason at all. With my mom's loss of memory its almost like a completely new slate, and I would love if the thought my father's actions did not have to be in my mom's head, but I just don't know what to do at this point. Can you help me at all?
Dear Friend,This whole thing has broken my heart from day one. I have prayed that you will find happiness, understanding and ultimately, forgive your father for what he has done. That is a tall order, for what he did to you was beyond any reasonable persons ability to forgive. As well, I am more than happy that you were able to get out of that situation.
But my Dear, you are a very special girl, I just know this and your heart is huge. You may suffer for this, all the days of your life but you are one of the "good people," the few, the proud, left walking this earth. That sounds rough, huh? Don't ever change that, ok? Another tall order.
I also pray that you have been able to get into counseling? All that you have been through, you need to work through it all, sift through the ashes and begin to build yourself back up again. I strongly suggest that you seek counseling, if you have not, up to this point. You've gone through so much at such a tender age and I would love to know that you did not have to go through all this alone. Now, if you have not asked for some form/sort of counseling, I really suggest that you insist upon it.
This is a rather complex situation with twists and turns, bumps and mountains. I have every confidence in you, that you will climb and stand at the top of this mountain of pain. You are stronger than you even realize. As well, you have the heart of a giant, the soul of an Angel and the personality of a cool summer breeze. I would simply ask that you use all the resources available to keep that intact. Yes, a woman is only as good as her tools so you must use your tools. In counseling, you'll possibly learn coping skills and attain a strategy to enable you to put all this painful stuff behind you.
I am holding your hand through this. You've walked through the fire, a fire I know all too well. The wonderful thing about this is the fact that you made it through that fire, forged into a young woman, tempered as gold is tempered. Mark my words, you will be a better woman for all this and all things happen for a reason. If you remember this, you can move on to the next Chapter, in this book;
Your Life.
My concern, at this juncture is, and I hate to repeat myself, but are receiving counseling? No, you don't have to be crazy to go for counseling, a woman is only as good as her tools, right? You must use every available resource/tool to help you in this life, your life. What you have gone through, in these few years, in your young life, is absolutely horrific. I am more than sorry that you had to go through all this and it pains me to know that you might be scarred by it all.
*Vengeance is mine, saith the Lord. Let go and let God deal with your father.
I'd told you before that you are the key, you have the key and you must use that key. You still possess that key. It is emblazoned on your heart. You must use it to let go, let God and forgive, just for starters.
Forgiveness is a huge word, isn't it?
Forgiveness;
- The act or an instance of forgiving: absolution, amnesty, condonation, excuse, pardon, remission. Seeforgiveness/vindictiveness.
Yes, it's not easy but I believe you've already begun the journey down this path. Some people might even question me telling you this and even ask the question;
"How can she forgive her father for what he has done to her?"
We must always treat others as we would want to be treated. What your father did to you is and was reprehensible and just about unforgivable. I'm sorry to say but I don't give two s**ts in hell about your father. But I do care about you and your welfare, your healing and your rise above all this.
My suggestion to you is two fold;
I would ask you to seek counseling and bring up these issues, especially concerning how to deal with your Mother. I would also suggest that you speak to whomever it is that your Mother is in counseling with and seek their opinion as to how to proceed. It's a bit much for you to have to deal with all you've gone through and still have to worry about hurting your Mom. She must be in the care of a Physician, right? So, I think it would be wise of you to speak with them and quite possibly they can help you deal with this issue in a treatment setting?
Most of all, I wish that you would not be strapped with all this guilt, you wear so passionately. None of this is your fault. Read that again; None of this is your fault! You should have never been subjected to what you were put through. Your father will one day answer for his behavior and I dare say, I would not want to be in his shoes.
Please hear me and ask your Foster Parents to get you into some form of treatment. You've been through far too much to bear the brunt of all this alone. If for some reason you feel you can't ask them, then I suggest that you go to your school Guidance Counselor. They will steer you in the right direction and it is their job to take note of a situation.
I am not passing the buck, as they say, when it comes to answering your question. I simply do not feel you should go through this alone. Many of us have suffered through molestation, rape and abuse. You are not alone, in that respect but you do have to live within your own skin and I want you to like you. Right now, I think, just simply gathered from your words alone, that you don't care too much for yourself. You carry a tremendous amount of guilt around, guilt that you should not wear.
Guilt, much like anger, will eat you up inside. It can and will affect you the rest of your life, unless...you work through it, look at it and see that it does not serve you. You must see that it does not look good on you, you don't wear it well and it is choking you. Do whatever it takes to get it off you, throw it away, burn it.
Be good to yourself, please? I have the feeling that your pain, what you've gone through will help others, in the end. So, take what you've gone through, work through any anger, pain, guilt, shame and tame it all. Allow it all to empower you, to make you stronger. Own it before it owns you, ok?
Keeping It Real,
Aunt Babz
*"Vengeance is mine saith the Lord!"
"for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord." (Romans 12:19)
God did not say vengeance is ours. He said vengence is His. If we want to be on the receiving end of God's blessings and favors, we have to truly understand what it means to give it completely over to the Lord.
"Do not say I'll pay you back for this wrong! Wait for the Lord, and He will deliver you." Proverbs 20:22
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