I Am Rahab….The Abused

Abuse is not love, no matter what you say.

Written by Evangelist Janice Alston 2011

Abuse is not love, no matter what you say.

I tried hard to get away, time and time again he’d hurt me then beg me to stay. Said it would never happen again, he told me I was his lover and his friend.

I wanted to believe what he told me, he promised he would show me, he put me in his arms and held me.

The pain soon went away, and the physical scars yes they healed, but each time he abused me another piece of my self-esteem was peeled.

I lost my pride and my self-worth, I felt utterly defeated by the way I was treated.

Time and time again he told me how much he loved me and would never let me go. Said I belonged to him and he wanted the whole world to know.

I wanted to believe him because now I carried within, a child that together we conceived.

But it happened again, and this time it was worse, the child I carried within he began to curse.

Abuse is not love, no matter what you say.

Yes, the hurt and the pain will go away but the memories they will stay…

Abuse is not love, no matter what you say.

It will surely happen again, another night another day.

So, I decided to leave and make a brand new start

Sadly, I still love him, deep in my heart.

Abuse is not love, no matter what you say.

It was time for me and our child to flee.

With the help of my God, I’d take care of my child…and me. My life, I have realized, is mine and I hold it dear. My child doesn’t deserve a life filled with fear.

It’s my duty to protect this child from hurt and harm, I will no longer be seduced by sweet words and machismo charm.

Abuse is not love, no matter what you say…

Goodbye, my abuser, I have found a better way to live my life without fear every day.

Abuse is not love, no matter what you say.

I stayed because you said you loved me and would not hurt me again, but you lied, my former lover and friend.

I let my self-worth sink to the bottom of the sea, forgetting who created me.

I am leaving and I will not return, abuse is not love, a lesson well-learned!

I have forgiven, but I will not forget,

MY God made me to be loved, not to be hit!

Abuse is not love, no matter what you say!