Life goes on, even after sexual abuse. Victims of sexual abuse strive to live as “normal” a life as possible. But unless the abuse has been processed and healed, the venom of abuse left in the victim continues to infect the victim and his or her and relationships.  Now back to the story of Zohara…

Soon after, Zohara became pregnant. When the time came close for her to give birth, the jeweler took Zohara to his mother’s house so that she could watch over Zohara and help her care for the baby. Before returning to his work, the jeweler said, “Mother, send for me when the baby is born.”

Alone with her mother-in-law and father-in-law and sister-in-law, Zohara felt their coldness and hatred. The two women were disgusted by the way Zohara looked, and they often insulted and shamed her. They called her “the half-woman” and other terrible names. Worse, they tried to harm her and treated her like a wild animal, without any concern for her feelings.

One day soon after, a baby boy was born. But Zohara’s mother-in-law did not send a message to her son. “Did you send any message to my husband?” Zohara would ask, but no one even bothered to answer her. Instead they took her silver hand and leg and hid them. Zohara, feeling alone and fearful that they would take her child away, decided to leave. To be continued…

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Unprocessed pain, grief and anger from abuse often causes victims of sexual abuse to make poor choices in relationships. Abuse victims sometimes gravitate toward people who either continue the abuse in some way or at least enable the victim to perpetuate an unhealthy emotional state of being. It’s easy to keep blaming others for our pain. But like Zohara it’s not until we decide to take responsibility for our own lives and what is happening to us that the healing journey begins.