The Wounded Heart

Holidays are great. They allow some time to spend with family and friends. This holiday I have done some good, solid, continuous reading. Being the mother of four, busy boys makes reading a whole book, quickly, almost impossible. 

I have read nearly two whole books this holiday and they have both been really helpful. These are not the sort of books one might read quickly because the content is light and fluffy. Quite the contrary. The first book I read is the one that has been very deep and meaningful on a personal level. It is a book called The Wounded Heart by Dr. Dan Allender.  I first came across this book while listening to focus on the family. Dan was the guest and he was speaking on a topic we dont like to speak about in or out of Christian circles.  It is the topic of childhood sexual abuse. 

After hearing Dan talk about this topic on a very deep and thoughtful level, I decided I would like to read it. 

This was the book that I read from cover to cover in less than two weeks. 

If you or someone you know was sexually abused as a child, then this is a very helpful, honest and soul searching book to offer. What makes this book stand out from all the rest? I think it is realistic and honest about the persons emotional and soul situation because of the deep and traumatic effects of childhood violation and in addition it draws the very clear and real lines through to adulthood, where the person is in a very real way still suffering . Dan goes on to relate the patterns of surviving childhood abuse which were obviously helpful and necessary in childhood but which are harmful to relationships in adulthood. The adult survivor struggles with his/her relathionship with God primarily and others . But, he does not only leave it at that but he goes on to provide some good, christian solutions and hope for any adult who is longing to be set free from the bondage and ravages of a childhood where sexual abuse destroyed and damaged. There are many  more gems that the author holds out to the reader. He writes with passion and care and a deep and real understanding of the issues.

I whole heartedly recommend this book for anyone who desires to grow as an adult in his or her relathionship with our heavenly father and with those who love him/her. There is hope for the wounded heart.

Bravely, tenderly travel where many fear to tread and where most can not understand and He who is above all things will travel with you and hold your hand for he is kind and compassionate and loves you so.