Comments on: Freed from Shame to Live In the Fullness of God’s Grace http://www.sisterfriends-together.org/freed-from-shame-to-live-in-the-fullness-of-gods-grace/ An online community sharing our lives and faith within a place of grace Thu, 22 Dec 2011 05:29:07 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3 By: Denise http://www.sisterfriends-together.org/freed-from-shame-to-live-in-the-fullness-of-gods-grace/comment-page-1/#comment-6488 Denise Mon, 06 Apr 2009 00:36:14 +0000 http://www.sisterfriends-together.org/?p=2890#comment-6488 I identify with a lot of what you wrote, and thank you for writing it. I was sexually abused by a relative when I was 7-9 and around that time also started reading my father's Playboy's obsessively. Those early experiences led to a chain of situations as I grew older that have cumulatively resulted in a great deal of shame, shame I've only recently allowed myself to acknowledge. The shame has kept me from really having a relationship with God because I thought I was too unclean to even be in a church. I'm realizing that's not true and I've found a great church, but I even feel shame for all the time I've wasted feeling shame (isn't THAT crazy). This shame has also led to depression, but I'm trying through prayer to start to heal. Again, thank you for your candid story and I wish you all the best. I identify with a lot of what you wrote, and thank you for writing it. I was sexually abused by a relative when I was 7-9 and around that time also started reading my father’s Playboy’s obsessively. Those early experiences led to a chain of situations as I grew older that have cumulatively resulted in a great deal of shame, shame I’ve only recently allowed myself to acknowledge. The shame has kept me from really having a relationship with God because I thought I was too unclean to even be in a church. I’m realizing that’s not true and I’ve found a great church, but I even feel shame for all the time I’ve wasted feeling shame (isn’t THAT crazy). This shame has also led to depression, but I’m trying through prayer to start to heal. Again, thank you for your candid story and I wish you all the best.

]]> By: Andrea http://www.sisterfriends-together.org/freed-from-shame-to-live-in-the-fullness-of-gods-grace/comment-page-1/#comment-6400 Andrea Thu, 02 Apr 2009 13:42:13 +0000 http://www.sisterfriends-together.org/?p=2890#comment-6400 Cristi, Thank you for having the courage to share your story. Hearing about your sister and the strained relationship struck a chord with me, and I'm so sorry you're having to deal with that. Don't let her make you doubt God's love for you, though. I have come to the realization that EVERYONE is human...and we can't rely on the ideas/thoughts/opinions of humans, even those we love and respect and admire, to shape who we are and how we feel about ourselves. Because God's love is the only unconditional love. That's the love you need to be sure about. And just let God's love shine through you so that your sister and everyone around you can see the light. Best wishes to you and M. Andrea Cristi,

Thank you for having the courage to share your story. Hearing about your sister and the strained relationship struck a chord with me, and I’m so sorry you’re having to deal with that. Don’t let her make you doubt God’s love for you, though. I have come to the realization that EVERYONE is human…and we can’t rely on the ideas/thoughts/opinions of humans, even those we love and respect and admire, to shape who we are and how we feel about ourselves. Because God’s love is the only unconditional love. That’s the love you need to be sure about. And just let God’s love shine through you so that your sister and everyone around you can see the light.

Best wishes to you and M.
Andrea

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