Several weeks back I shared a few thoughts relating to a two-day broadcast we were airing. It was about the sexual abuse many women suffer in childhood, and the pain that follows them into adulthood.
But sexual abuse isn’t a trauma only girls face. It’s also common to boys as well — and it’s terrible for every victim.
Boys are told they shouldn’t cry. Men are supposed to be tough. They’re strong; they’re conquerors. But what do those messages imply to a boy when he has been overpowered and victimized?
It often strikes at the core of a boy’s identity. Many believe, “This would have never happened to me if I was tough enough, strong enough, man enough, or _____ (fill in the blank).”
Frequently, the result is intense shame, years of denial, and a conspiracy of silence that traps the boy/man in his pain.
On today and tomorrow’s program, our guests, authors Gary Roe and Cecil Murphey, will join us for an open and straight-forward conversation that speaks to the heart of men who have been abused.
We’ll talk about how a man can deal with the guilt he feels even though he bears no responsibility for what happened to him. We’ll also have a candid discussion about where God was in those moments when the abuse occurred. And we’ll talk in practical terms about how to invite Jesus into painful memories to begin the healing process or to deepen the restoration that’s already underway.
This can be an uncomfortable topic for many people. I understand that. But it’s important that we address it. Statistics indicate that most of us will likely know someone who has endured sexual abuse. In fact, our counselors have told me that childhood sexual abuse and its aftermath is one of the most prominent subjects about which people contact their team.
Our conversation will be candid, so if you have kids, keep that in mind when you tune in. Men, if you’ve been sexually abused (or, ladies, if your husband has suffered abuse), I encourage you to join us for this two-day program. Listen on your local radio station or online via our free, downloadable mobile phone app.
And don’t forget, if memories of your abuse have been weighing you down or feelings of shame and guilt are impacting your relationships, please consider calling our counseling team at 800-A-FAMILY. We’d love to be that listening ear you need and to guide you toward helpful tools and resources. In the meantime, tune in to “Helping Your Husband Overcome Sexual Abuse.”
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