Beauty...

I see beauty everywhere I turn...in the blue blue fall sky...the leaves shining golden yellow, slowly drifting to the ground... scattering across the dirt roads I've been traversing. I find myself smiling in the face of such beauty...seeing the sun light up the surface of lakes and rivers, creating a reflection worthy of millions of diamonds catching every refraction.

The deer bounding across the road...the lynx casually strutting his stuff and stopping on a bank to properly inspect this strange creature...the bear, fox, coyote, grouse we see everyday.

The beauty in others...not the outward shell, no...we know from experience that no matter the outside looks, without a kind heart and compassionate soul, ugliness abounds.

I have been contemplating, ruminating over subject matter to write on each day and what came to mind was the need, the knowledge that I must go deeper.

Dear hearts...there is so much we do not talk of...the uglier components of abuse, the varying types of abusers, the reality of everyday life in the pit.

The battle to hang on to sanity in the face of insanity...

The war to hold your ground on a slippery slope...to dig in, hang on until rescue comes.

Oh my dearest treasures...our rescue comes from within.

When I reached a eye-widening epiphany it changed my thinking in such a way that every word, every abuse, every lie and subsequent betrayal became evidence in a gathering of courage to escape...to rescue myself. No one was coming to save me...God was waiting in the wings for my standing and declaring no more...but it was the broken woman, the wounded child within that had to make the excruciating decision to go..to run...to hide...despite still believing his words of uselessness and ugliness, I stood dear hearts...I stood and moved my stubbornly fearful feet and ran...and ran with nothing but me...

God pares it down...the most important part of the battle is ground zero, where your feet are planted, where you stand....you are the prize, the treasure He wants to rescue if you will allow. No possession is worth your life, your sanity...you are worthy of so much more than the filth and torment you live with each minute of every hour, every day.

Dear friends...grief comes...and it lives and breathes within us, reminding us of the one we've lost...but oh the divine grace to be found outside the circle of abuse...the peace, the joy...it pours in...it fills the heart and mind and drives back the darkness.

My heart cries out for those lost and alone...those who live for scraps of kindness, brought to the depths of despair in ever believing they're worth more than what the monster in their life brings. Dear treasures...you are worthy...pricelessly unique...do not give in to sorrow and despair..there is life, an abundant life waiting for you.

May God bless you all richly today...may you know the love of the Father and may His comfort and peace surround you, keep you....

Stand tall my friends, walk proud and carry a big stick...speak your truth with grace, with dignity, with confidence...you are worth every bit of goodness and loving kindness.