Healing from Childhood Abuse Through Faith, Reflection, and Hope
My memoir, The Secret Darkness, and Abuse Journal, my faith-based resource for survivors, help readers understand the lasting effects of childhood abuse and domestic violence, explore healing through personal reflection, and discover 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 understanding to recognize how childhood abuse, neglect, and domestic violence have shaped our lives. That understanding becomes the foundation for personal growth, 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. Through that process, I began discovering lessons, biblical wisdom, and hope that I now share with other survivors.
The Lesson Learned By Being Wrong
Admitting your wrong can be difficult, mainly when your own words speak the truth back to you. But being wrong is not bad if you learn a lesson. I wrote a letter to a friend in June 2018. I opened a saved copy yesterday to reread the contents, and the words of truth spoke to my heart. I’ve been doing the same thing, going in…
Humbling Lesson Learned About Being an Abuse Victim
Dear Reader, I started writing after a powerful realization about the abuse I had faced for years. I experienced child abuse, sexual abuse, and domestic violence, which clouded my thinking. My spirit was restless, and my heart was filled with fear.
The Danger of Keeping Family Secrets
After years of suffering, I learned that keeping secrets from the public eye was a grave weakness. Secrets prevent you from moving forward in life. My Father spoke in riddles, making you think one minute and confusing you the next. Like the baffling statement, “You can’t start life with a broken garden hoe,” made days before my wedding, it confused me for twenty-eight years.
The Benefits Of Understanding Your Life Story
I’ve learned to understand your life story. Your life narrative requires deep self-reflection. Reflecting on times of suffering, you explore memories for answers. As you ponder, afflictions experienced and unacknowledged grief come to light. The more in-depth you examine and uncover and are willing to reveal, the more you understand yourself. Deep in thought, you distinguish people who let you down or lead you astray…
The Importance of Being Your Authentic Self
I discovered the risks of imitating another artist’s creations and the importance of being authentic in art class. He dressed in bright pastel shirts, ornate ties, brown or black creased pants, and polished shoes like an artist’s work. Thin silver bracelets swayed, and square-ish rings were a signature. Teaching students the principles of Fine Art was more than a profession. Mr. Geraue taught you how…
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