Mending the Soul Understanding and Healing Abuse

Mending the Soul Copyright © 2005 by Steven R. Tracy Requests for information should be addressed to: Zondervan, Grand Rapids, Michigan 49530 Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Tracy, Steven R. Mending the Soul : understanding and healing abuse / Steven R. Tracy.-1st ed. p. cm. Includes bibliographical references and indexes. ISBN 0-310-25971-1 (hardcover) 1. Sexually abused children-Pastoral counseling of. 2. Adult child sexual abuse victims-Pastoral counseling of. 3. Child sexual abuse-Religious aspects-Christianity. 4. Abused children-Pastoral counseling of. 5. Adult abuse victims-Pastoral counseling of. 6. Child abuse-Religious aspects-Christianity. I. title. BV4464.3.T73 2005 259'.1-dc22 2004025695 ISBN-13: 978-0-310-25971-1 This edition printed on acid-free paper. All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the New American Standard Bible. Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. Scripture quotations marked NIV are taken from the Holy Bible: New International Version®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved. The website addresses mentioned in the endnotes are offered as a resource to you. These websites are not intended in any way to be or imply an endorsement on the part of Zondervan, nor do we vouch for their content for the life of this book. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means-electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or any other-except for brief quotations in printed reviews, without the prior permission of the publisher. Interior design by Tracey Walker Printed in the United States of America 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 /?DCI/ 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 Stories and examples used in the book are based on actual events, but various details have been changed to preserve anonymity of the individuals involved. In several instances, stories are composites of two or more actual events. The information in this book should not be construed as professional or legal counsel. Readers are encouraged to consult legal and medical professionals with specific questions or concerns. The author and the publisher expressly disclaim responsibility for any adverse effects resulting from application of the information contained herein. chapter 1 a wake-up call regarding the extent and power of abuse Mary sobbed uncontrollably on the bathroom floor. Her mother stroked her hair and held her until she could finally speak. Mary's first day of high school had been a parent's worst nightmare. She had gotten into a fight with a classmate, had threatened the principal, and was on the verge of being expelled from school. Mary's parents, missionaries with a Christian organization in the inner city of San Francisco, were beside themselves. Ever since she entered adolescence, Mary had grown increasingly rebellious and withdrawn. The precocious little girl who wore fairy dresses and drew pictures of puppies now wore black and drew pictures of corpses. Mary attempted suicide twice in junior high. In fits of rage she would curse her parents for not aborting her before she was born. Her parents sought help from counselors, their youth pastor, and even the family doctor, but nothing seemed to help. It felt as though they were in a losing battle with an invisible demon that was consuming their daughter's very soul. Finally Mary began to speak to her mother in barely audible whispers. She told about a boy at school who had threatened her friend. As her mother began to question the depth of her rage at the boy, the long-invTracy, Steven R. is the author of 'Mending the Soul Understanding and Healing Abuse', published 2005 under ISBN 9780310259718 and ISBN 0310259711.