love your poem… navigating the church after leaving a psychologically abusive marriage is more complicated than I ever imagined. My voice, my opinions & my personhood were so suppressed on covert ways… I’m not sure how to exist in a place where I am more invisible than I ever imagined as a divorced woman in the church. Wish I could go back and offer different support to others at church who were divorcing- my opinions & insights are valuable IMO but no one wants to hear them… especially at church
Ah, Jennifer, thank you for sharing your experience. That sounds so isolating… I feel for you. I hope you’re able to strengthen your sense of self, and I hope you can stand for those who are in a similar situation to you. It’s interesting how going through hard things helps us be more equipped to support others.
My voice is on insta/ FB telling my story and hoping it helped women feel validated. @refinejgardenofhealing (private) and @that_isnt_love public. It one place other survivors validate my experiences and those supporting friends or figuring out their own “ hard” marriages can get information.
Thank you. I enjoyed reading this today. I agree that women suffer when we are told that our power lies outside of ourselves. Such a great statement that I resonate with.
Thank you for reading Jamee!! That’s something I have really leaned into the last few years — trying to discover my power and how to honor it! I am glad that part resonated with you 🤍
I appreciate you sharing more context about this. Since I'm no longer heavily involved in conversations about the church, I was confused by random comments I saw on social media. I really resonated with this: "Here’s what I think: I think women suffer when they are told that their source power lies outside of themselves. If we are constantly looking to a source (like the church) for answers to our questions, for validation of our worth, we will be left hungry and wanting." So true and well said!
Yes, that’s an idea that is really pressed on my mind recently — also seen over and over in Women Who Run With the Wolves (which I still need to finish!!)
love your poem… navigating the church after leaving a psychologically abusive marriage is more complicated than I ever imagined. My voice, my opinions & my personhood were so suppressed on covert ways… I’m not sure how to exist in a place where I am more invisible than I ever imagined as a divorced woman in the church. Wish I could go back and offer different support to others at church who were divorcing- my opinions & insights are valuable IMO but no one wants to hear them… especially at church
Ah, Jennifer, thank you for sharing your experience. That sounds so isolating… I feel for you. I hope you’re able to strengthen your sense of self, and I hope you can stand for those who are in a similar situation to you. It’s interesting how going through hard things helps us be more equipped to support others.
My voice is on insta/ FB telling my story and hoping it helped women feel validated. @refinejgardenofhealing (private) and @that_isnt_love public. It one place other survivors validate my experiences and those supporting friends or figuring out their own “ hard” marriages can get information.
love the poem and you are not alone… learning along with you!
We are all in this together!! Thank you for reading and taking time to respond. 🫶🏽
Thank you. I enjoyed reading this today. I agree that women suffer when we are told that our power lies outside of ourselves. Such a great statement that I resonate with.
Thank you for reading Jamee!! That’s something I have really leaned into the last few years — trying to discover my power and how to honor it! I am glad that part resonated with you 🤍
I appreciate you sharing more context about this. Since I'm no longer heavily involved in conversations about the church, I was confused by random comments I saw on social media. I really resonated with this: "Here’s what I think: I think women suffer when they are told that their source power lies outside of themselves. If we are constantly looking to a source (like the church) for answers to our questions, for validation of our worth, we will be left hungry and wanting." So true and well said!
Yes, that’s an idea that is really pressed on my mind recently — also seen over and over in Women Who Run With the Wolves (which I still need to finish!!)
"There is something ironic about begging male leaders to get revelation about a Divine Feminine being, or asking them to help us have more power."
This is so true. I love your thoughts and your poem, all very well said!
Kandis!! Thank you so much for reading my thoughts and my poem, and for taking the time to share which part resonated with you. 🤍