Redeeming Our Treasures: Finding Joy in the Shadows of an Abusive Past by Linda Settles

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Synopsis

Redeeming Our Treasures is a beautiful journal of a miracle in the making. The subtitle, Finding Joy in the Shadows of an Abusive Past, hints at the milestones of growth, the progressive understanding and spiritual insights gained along the way as a survivor of abuse traverses the lonely road to recovery and finds fellowship, freedom and forgiveness in the process. There are over a hundred photos in Redeeming Our Treasures. If a picture is worth a thousand words, then this book has a lot to say about suffering, redemption and recovery. Redeeming Our Treasures will give the survivor of abuse hopehope that she can recover from the debilitating effects of physical, emotional and sexual abuse. Hope that she can recover, as well, from the "hurts, habits and hangups" that often follow the wounds inflicted by the abuser. Abuse affects almost everyone in our society, if not directly, then through our relationships with others who have suffered abuse in one form or another. This book is constructed around the story of one survivor, a woman who spent twentyeight years imprisoned by her father's violence and depravity. The eldest of six children, she was held hostage by her love for her siblings and her mother torn between the felt need to protect them and the need to escape the violation and suffering she could not avoid. Linda examines the questions often asked by those who have suffered abuse, Questions about God If God is all powerful and loving, why did he not intervene for me? Questions about herself Was I responsible for the abuse? Why did I stay for twentyeight years? What could I have done differently? Redeeming Our Treasures takes us back to the origin of our pain andteaches us to mine for treasures buried beneath the rubble of traumatic memories and broken dreams. The author has worked with therapists and other survivors to produce a book that is powerful in its message and empathetic in its approach to this sensitive subject.

Biography

Linda Settles holds a Master of Arts in Christian Counseling and is active in ministry and business, along with her husband of twentytwo years. She has trained lay counselors for church ministry, spoken at women's retreats, and written materials for children's church curriculum. She and her family reside in Virginia where they attend church and are active in small group ministry.