I dedicate this post to some of the bravest people I’ve ever known.
Unspeakable horrors happened to you. Your earliest memories expose trusts broken by parents who should have loved you – protected you.
Grown ups who bought and sold you to satisfy their warped desires.
I saw the hurt in your eyes when I begged you to stop telling me. I couldn’t even bear to hear what you had somehow managed to live.
~
You were just a boy, 10 years old when you left home. You chose a life of prostitution. Somehow you had glamourized that life-style. You thought that you’d make lots of money.
Then you’d go get your brothers – rescue them from your abusive addict of a mother. And raise them on your own and give them a chance for a better future.
~
You were only 17. You were nervous and ashamed. You were quiet and your eyes seemed so… so dead. I wondered if you were still in there somewhere.
You raised your shirt to show me. You raised your shirt because you couldn’t find the words to tell me. You raised your shirt and exposed your nakedness.
I choked back tears and forced myself to look at the burns and ugly scars that covered your torso.
Yes your pimp let you go but he made sure no one else would want you. I held you until you stopped crying.
~
You were incarcerated in the east and released in the west – far from home and everything you knew. You were like a possessed man – and seemed to have the physical strength of ten.
You scared me – you scared everyone. The anger and hatred in your eyes was so intense and frightening that I sat paralyzed when you crashed your fist down on my desk.
And then you told me that you were put in jail for beating three men within an inch of their lives.
With tears streaming down your face, you shared how you had tracked them down like animals after they’d brutally raped your sister.
~
Your mother was an alcoholic. You were born with Foetal Alcohol Syndrome. You made horrible choices. And although you were a full-grown woman you had the emotional maturity of a 12-year-old.
You’d been sexually abused most of your life.
Your teeth were rotting in your mouth.
You’d given birth to three children.
Each time you birthed a child, social services snatched them away from you. Each time they did so you felt as though they’d ripped your heart out. You never even held your babies.
~
These are all true stories. The stories of people I met while working at a coffee-house that served the homeless. My heart ached for them.
I wished I could take their pain away. I wished I could restore them to the way they would have been if only…
I pleaded with God to give them peace.
There was nothing else I could do
but tell them they had value
that they would have to dig deep to find a way to crawl out of their personal hell
that they had what it took to find a way
that I believed in them.
It’s a wonder that they survived
I believe in you
These four simple words have the power to transform. They shine light on the truth of who we are meant to be. When struggles come, when we feel that all is lost, that we just don’t have the strength anymore:
to keep fighting;
to do the right thing;
These words, when lovingly spoken by someone who cares for us, help us to go on.
Hopefully, we’ve all experienced them in times of need
And they have given us courage when we were afraid.
They have flooded us with light when it’s been too dark to see.
I believe in you doesn’t fix the past, but it’s a place to start.
Is there someone you love who is struggling?
Stand by them.
Believe in them until they believe in themselves.
Maybe it’s you who is struggling.
Please don’t give up.
Dig deep.
You have what it takes.
I believe in you.
Courtney B. said:
Reblogged this on Courtney B. Writing and commented:
Beautiful piece of truth, inspiration, and motivation.
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dianasschwenk said:
Thank you so much!
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artsifrtsy said:
Really powerful thought – believing in someone often the key to them believing in themselves. So many need someone to believe in them. Glad you were there.
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dianasschwenk said:
thank you. I’ve had my share of people believing in me too. We all need that at times, don’t you think?
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artsifrtsy said:
I agree and have been a benefactor of belief when I most needed it.
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russtowne said:
Thank you, Diana, for shedding light on those who are trapped in shadows and for believing in them. May they find the beauty of their spirit inside them and may that give them the strength to forgive, to love themselves, to start to heal, and to begin a new life. And may they keep encountering beautiful spirits such as you to help light the way as they struggle to escape the darkness.
Russ
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dianasschwenk said:
Thanks for stopping by, and as always, your very kind words Russ.
Diana
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Human In Recovery said:
Reblogged this on Human In Recovery and commented:
Opening ourselves up to hear and understand the horrors and sorrows in the life of another does not have to negate our personal grief or weigh futilely on our souls, it just expands our capacity for compassion and endurance.
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dianasschwenk said:
Thanks for re-blogging my post!
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Anonymous said:
I’m not sure I can keep fighting…
even with all the people who believe…
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dianasschwenk said:
I hope you do. You’re worth fighting for….don’t you think? Is there anyone you can call?
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mindfuldiary said:
This post is touching. I could feel the pain of those people. It is wonderful that there are still people like you in this world, who believe and make themselves available, to those who need somebody to believe in them. Beautiful post. Well written Diana!
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dianasschwenk said:
Thank you for stopping by and for your encouraging words!
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julicu said:
such sad stories… makes you wonder where lies the limit of human suffering… if there is one…
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dianasschwenk said:
Yes, it does. The human spirit is stronger than one would think. Thanks for stopping by and leaving a comment. 🙂
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joannerambling said:
Way to make me cry, this was such a moving and touching and sad post. This post has made me even more thankful that I belong to such a wonderful family
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dianasschwenk said:
Hi Joanne, yes the key word in there is ‘belong’ Thanks for reading and enjoy your wonderful family. 🙂
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Andrea Kelly said:
Absolutely beautiful and moving post. Thank you so much for the reminder…
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dianasschwenk said:
Thank you for your kind words. 🙂
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Susan Burford said:
What a wonderful post Di. I want to thank you for all the times you believed in me when I didn’t believe in myself. Many times in my life your words and your voice were my source of strength. I hope the people you mentioned in your post felt the same way. Here is the song I think your friend is referring to. It’s from the play/movie Hair http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aCs1rkAXZ9o
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dianasschwenk said:
Hi Sue! What lovely words – thank you! If you don’t know already that sentiment is mutual. You have done the same for me. I love you! Thanks for link. 🙂
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elizabeth2560 said:
Time to step back from one’s own hurt and pain – which in reality is only temporary – and think of others who may have never known another world
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dianasschwenk said:
yes. It does seem to give perspective, doesn’t it?
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Magnolia Beginnings said:
Diana, I have worked with the homeless and also taught in a prison and it’s truly amazing what just believing in someone can do. Everyone needs and deserves someone to see the good in them. The result of no one ever seeing that brightness is devastating to the individual and to society. You have done more than you’ll ever know, I’m sure. Didn’t you always feel that you got more out of those interactions than you ever gave? I know I did.
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dianasschwenk said:
Yes, I learned so much. I’m not in that field anymore, but when I first went into I felt I would be the one enlightening them, but they enlightened me. I also learned about what’s really important from those who have little…I learned so much actually, far more than I could articulate here. Thanks for stopping by and for your insightful comment.
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newsofthetimes said:
You are amazing, as are the people in these stories. Thank you for everything you do every day to ease the suffering in the world. You are my sheroe!
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dianasschwenk said:
Thanks, but I’m not there anymore but I’ll take a compliment wherever I can get one! 🙂
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newsofthetimes said:
But I know you still do important work. And that you make a commitment to thining about building community every day. So you are amazing!! 🙂
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dianasschwenk said:
I’m humbled and honoured, maybe even blushing – thank you for your generous words. 🙂
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newsofthetimes said:
Just giving credit where credit is due! 🙂
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Carmen Mutschall said:
These are powerful stories, important to remember, thanks Di. Love & hugs, C
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dianasschwenk said:
Thanks Carmen. Thanks so much for reading and commenting! I just got a visual of one of the day programs you were running back then. Do you remember?
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mylifeisthebestlife said:
Very powerful words. I wish we could eradicate these stories.
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dianasschwenk said:
Yes, me too. 🙂
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jensine said:
thanks for this … made me think
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dianasschwenk said:
You’re welcome – I hoping that’s a good thing….
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jensine said:
always 🙂
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dianasschwenk said:
good to hear!
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billgncs said:
what a burden to walk through each day knowing another valued them so little as to treat them that way.
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dianasschwenk said:
I know, it’s very sad….
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billgncs said:
a bit like some posts I wrote a while about “Lion Cub”, a little lost soul of a boy in the foster care system who I happened to meet.
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dianasschwenk said:
yes I remember!
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billgncs said:
like the old song… how can people be so heartless
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dianasschwenk said:
Never heard that one. 🙂
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billgncs said:
I would sing it, but that would make it worse
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dianasschwenk said:
I’m thinking it would make me smile…so go ahead, record it and post the link! 🙂
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Louise G. said:
A powerful and riveting post Diana — and so true. Their stories are sadly, universal. Their stories are sadly what so many carry. Their bravery and courage, their calls for help, so often go unheard, unseen, unspoken. Thank you for speaking up.
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dianasschwenk said:
Lately, I’ve heard so many sad things from people who are going through rough times and I came across that youtube video again and began remembering some of these stories. It was hard to write and writing it made me cry. But you’re right often these stories go untold…
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Rob said:
Powerful stuff Diana. It’s amazing what some folk can (have to) endure. I salute their bravery.
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dianasschwenk said:
Yes, they are amazing. I hope they found their way.
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jmgoyder said:
I found this terribly difficult to read because of the pain the people you describe here is beyond terrible and, even though I know this kind of abuse is happening, I have never had to see it first or second hand and I think you are amazing to have dealt with the various people and situations with those wonderful words of belief. I think this is a wonderful post – absolutely wonderful!
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dianasschwenk said:
When it’s kids, it’s just that much more worse. Thank you Julie xo
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