Never Lose Hope

      I have worked in mental/behavioral health for 7 years as of last month. Just recently I sat in a room with a woman who spoke of her DV History at the hands of multiple men that her and her family trusted to protect and provide for her. Though she wept in the midst of recounting some of these events, the thing that stood out the most was the fact that she never lost hope. In the midst of being spit on, pushed down stairs, dragged, defecated on, even losing a child in her 8th month of pregnancy and having a historectomy in the process, she remained hopeful in the GOD that fashioned her in her Mother's womb.
      I say all of that to say this. In this life we will go through a lot of unwanted and unnecessary things. But through it all, we cannot lose our hope. Hope is the one thing that will help us to not take ourselves, or someone else, out. Hope will help us to keep getting up out of the bed and putting one foot in front of the other. Is it hard? Yes it is. But it is possible. Ask me how I know......
      Domestic violence is one of the most demeaning acts of human nature that can be done to another person. But even though it exist, GOD still affords us the ability to remain hopeful that we can make it through it and be victorious over it. We do not have to succumb to what is being done to us nor do we have to allow it to define us. So, I say to you, try as best as possible to remain hopeful through whatever you are going through. And for those who are watching a loved one go through, simply be available. The last thing that your loved one needs to feel is abandoned by everyone they know and loved. This is the quickest way for them to lose whatever pieces of hope that they are clinging on to. And in due time, when they are ready, they will make the necessary moves to better their situation. I pinky promise. And if she can keep hope through all of that, what's stopping you? 
💜
💜
💜
If you are someone you know is struggling, here are a few helpful #'s to call.
- National Domestic Violence Hotline:  
1-800-799-7233
- National Sexual Assault Hotline: 
1-800-656-HOPE (4673)
-Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA): 
1-800-662-HELP (4357)
-National Hopeline Network: 
1-800-SUICIDE (784-2433)
-National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 
1-800-273-TALK (8255)
-National Youth Crisis Hotline: 
1-800-448-4663
And also a special hotline number for the hearing impaired: 1-800-799-4889.
Don't hesitate. It's better to be safe than grieving. Make the call. 💜💜💜 #DomesticViolenceAwareness #MentalHealthAwareness 
#MakeTheCall 
#GetTheHelp 
#LetsTalkAboutIt 
#TalkToSomebody