Finding Wisdom, Healing and Freedom After Childhood Abuse
My Memoir, The Secret Darkness, and Personal Blog, Abuse Journal, help survivors understand abuse, begin healing, and find lasting hope through biblical wisdom and God’s grace. L.M. Carleton – Rescued by Grace
I’ve learned that acknowledging the past does more than uncover painful memories.
It gives us the wisdom to understand how childhood abuse, neglect, and domestic violence have shaped our lives. That understanding becomes the foundation for healing and the freedom to choose differently.
At forty-eight, an unexpected encounter with my estranged husband on a dating website became a turning point. God used that moment to stop me from running from the past.
I began writing as a way to release years of pain and unanswered questions.
As I reflected on my childhood and the years I spent in an abusive marriage, hidden memories surfaced. I wrote honestly about childhood trauma, domestic violence, and the long-lasting effects abuse had on my life.
Parental Rejection – Why My Mother Rejected Me
Parental rejection is difficult for a child to understand, and the effects of a parent’s rejection can be long-term. Perhaps my story will help others to understand their own parent’s rejection. My Story of Parental Rejection As a child and young adult, I could never understand why my mother rejected me and never showed her love towards me. She always seemed distant, callous, and cold-hearted. She…
What Kind of a Mom Were You?
A unique blog post for my daughter Breyann to answer her question, “What kind of a mom were you?” My heart broke into a million pieces after losing you and scattered on the ground. I became numb to feeling anything for a long time. Suffering from abuse and domestic violence prevented me from bonding with you and your brother. I lost custody of you and your…
Making Better Choices for An Abundant Life
Change begins with making better choices for an abundant life. Your choices are often the result of parental guidance or the lack thereof. Parental supervision and your physical environment influence your mindset and dictate your decisions in adulthood. My choices and decisions created severe pain and anguish. In my early twenties, I was flat broke, eating at soup kitchens and city missions in Oakland, California.
Make a Difference in the Lives of Others
Helen Adams Keller discovered the power of touch as a child, and she demonstrates you can overcome life’s struggles and make a difference in the lives of others. Helen Keller was born on June 27, 1880, in Tuscumbia, Alabama. She was one of the most remarkable and influential people in American history. Helen contracted an illness at 19 months old, described by doctors as “acute…
The Transforming Grace of God Changes Your Life
This is a follow-up post to proclaim God’s transforming grace. The previous post, “Proclaim the Grace of God,” ended with me saying, “I must share what God has done for me.” After deep thought, I selected one glorious thing God has done for me. I believe this “one glorious thing” is the most misunderstood; nothing in life would be magnificent without it. The one glorious thing is;
About
I have lived through childhood abuse and domestic violence, and I write about the wisdom that can emerge through the journey of healing—what we can understand, reclaim, and ultimately transform from what we have survived.
Start Your Journey
Childhood abuse can leave wounds that shape the way we see ourselves, our relationships, and the world around us. Our past, however, does not have to determine our future.
Through personal stories, faith-filled encouragement, practical insights, and honest reflection, Abuse Journal offers hope for adult survivors seeking healing and freedom.
More than a memoir, The Secret Darkness invites every survivor who wonders if healing is possible. It is a story of resilience, redemption, and the life-changing hope that your past does not have to define your future—and that freedom can be found beyond yesterday’s shadows.
L.M. CARLETON
Rescued by Grace