“I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do… Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord!” — ROMANS 7:15, 25
Few things feel as frustrating and disheartening as the sense that we’re caught in a vicious cycle. We hope for progress, and then discover we’ve ended up right where we started.
Victims of domestic abuse are typically caught in a cycle that is truly vicious—and deadly. It starts in a “tension-building” phase where something doesn’t seem right and they’re tiptoeing on eggshells to avoid arguments. Next comes the “explosion” phase, where their abuser threatens and attacks. It’s inevitably followed by a “honeymoon” phase of apologies and promises that the bad things will never happen again, but after a short time, the tension is back.
We hear of this cycle again and again at Sheltering Wings. The type of abuse may differ, from verbal, to physical, to sexual or other types,
but the cycle is sadly predictable. The women want it to end, but lack the resources to escape. Some erroneously convince themselves that it’s really their fault, or that he’ll change. The reasons often vary, but the cycle rarely does.
So we help the victims find their voices. We help them develop the skills and resources they need to build stable and independent lives. We let them know they don’t deserve to be abused, and show them that there is a way out. And we educate the community so people like you know what to do when a friend, relative, neighbor, or co-worker is trapped in the cycle.
We created this special edition of our newsletter as a resource we hope you’ll keep. Perhaps you know someone who needs help. Perhaps that
someone is you. In any case, don’t let the cycle continue. Find your voice. Be a listening ear. And contact us.
