First Fruits Friday - Domestic Violence

Not long ago, we had the chance to help out two of our clients who had recently given birth. Their children were saved from abortion. God's grace allowed these parents to enter Seneca and begin receiving services. They have both come a long way in education and employment. However, they are still trapped in abusive domestic circumstances.

Both were offered maternity homes early on and each declined. Now, one says she wishes she would have accepted this lifeline and had left the abuser then. Tragically, it is not unusual for women, like our clients, to feel tied to their abusers due to a suffocating control of all aspects of their living arrangements.  All too often this results in a highly toxic codependent relationship. On average, it takes a person seven attempts to leave before they are successful at moving away from this type of evil. 

The men have taken the cars and/or will no longer help with the car payments. Both Seneca clients will now be without cars, which will drastically affect their work situations.These men also object to these women working at all. They also will refuse to pay bills and have threatened to take the children from their mothers. At times, these abusers struggle with their own addictions.

Our goals in case management are to ensure that our clients are safe, healthy and self-sustaining. If they are not safe, we take steps to get them and any children into shelters. Sometimes, it can take years of abuse before the women are willing to leave. They have been beaten down to the point they think that they don't deserve better. Yet, when we ask the clients, "Are his wants more important than your needs?" The answer is always no.

Getting our clients to truly and fully believe that and then take steps to live the life of abundance that God has in store for them, is the key to everything.  Lasting solutions for victims of abuse and their children are only possible when these two elements are in place.  Seneca stands ready at all times to guide, comfort, and encourage these women.  

And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.