HWH MAGAZINE 1 | Page 21

I’d Rather Be Hit Yes, you did read that correctly. It says that I would rather be hit. I know• that took you by • surprise and you are wondering what sort of a foolish, crazy person has written this, but please, • read on.What I am referring to is, I would prefer to be hit than for you to stand there and berate • me. Yes, on the surface it sounds so crazy-let’s call the people with the funny white jackets for • the author of this! Not so fast, let me explain. See, bruises hurt and are ugly reminders, but they heal and go away. Those• mean • words–they echo in your head forever. Those words, often, are the warning• sign of the beatings to come later. Sometimes, they are the words said after the beating and• apology that explain why you caused the beating. • You tell me I’m the most beautiful, strongest woman you have had the privilege of • knowing. Then you get mad because someone compliments me on my• homemade dress at church. That’s the reason this time. We get home and now I am a whore.• Bible verse after Bible • verse is now quoted about stoning me. That you cannot become a Pastor• now because of my sins. • Friday after work you come home with a bunch of groceries and a dozen good time Charlies. You are up cooking and with a bon fire til the wee hours of the morning. You drink more than all of them combined, because you have to prove yourself a “man.” I’ve already gone to bed. You leave too many dirty dishes to count even by the sink full. When the alarm goes off, I get up to go wash them and fix breakfast. You pull me back down in the bed, kiss me and “make love” to me. Then you shove me out of the bed with “Only reason you made love to me was because you are too lazy to wash the dishes.” Why don’t you just be a “man,” shut up and hit me? The verbal, emotional and Spiritual abuse that men and women dish out to their boy/girl friends, spouses, children, parents, grand parents, etc. is so often over looked. We, as a society, don’t believe any abuse has occurred unless we see proof-I am here to tell you–the worst abuse leaves no visible proof to show you. Yet, I live it every day. The bruises are gone. Luckily there were never any broken bones. I have physical scars. Yet the worse abuse was what spewed from his mouth. The author of this article wishes to remain anonymous to protect their children. Enough harm has already come to them If you have a story you would like to share, or questions dealing with homelessness or any type of abuse. Email us at [email protected]