Our Gratitude Journal 

As we approach the end of November 2011, it seems like a good time to consider the journey of Mary's Hope. We have come a long way from our humble beginnings, sitting under a tree in Brighton, Colorado, imagining a world where survivors know they are beloved by their creator.

We are thankful that the WINGS group asked Diane and Sherry to come do an in-service for their volunteer peer supervisors... the very first presentation. Before we could catch our breath, we were off to do presentations for the annual conferences of the Nebraska Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence Coalition, the Ohio Attorney General's Two Days in May and the Colorado Organization of Victim Assistance. Each conference reinforced our commitment to offer spiritual healing for victims of childhood trauma.

We are thankful that our donors believe in the power of healing the spiritual wounds and continue to support the work. Without our many donors across the country, the work of Mary's Hope would be simply a memory, for it's the donors who keep the fire burning.

Along the way, we began to realize that our biggest gratitude is for the thousands of survivors brave enough to do the hard work of spiritual healing. These are not tasks for the faint of heart... this is surely the hardest work anyone will ever do.

As we have traveled throughout the west, we have watch healing take root in so many folks: 

•   The chaplain who found hope for her own soul 
•  The mother-daughter who found common ground in their similar abuse stories
•  The pastor at last able to accept that forgiveness could come
•  The church community willing become known as a safe and healing place
•  The foster mom who learned the right words to help her daughter find peace
•  A husband and wife who discovered intimacy in the healing journey

Each story... and there are many throughout the 6000+ people who have attended workshops... is a masterpiece in itself. Each story is ongoing, just as spiritual healing is ongoing. Hopefully, though, each story reflects the belief of Mary's Hope that the God we know did not intend their abuse to happen.

 Diane and Sherry 

Dragons Don't Die of Old Age

They don't get cancer or lose their mind

their hearts don't fail, they're not deaf or blind.

They never get tired though they stay up late

They get up early and rarely wait

for an opportunity to spew and blow

Their sulfur smoke and fiery show.

And I who sense when a dragon's near

Unknowingly feed him his favorite food - fear.

My reflexes, habits, have grown through the years

To appease the dragons on old and new fears.

It's hard to believe it but dragons can die.

And behind them stand folks I know wondering why

I seem so defensive, so nervous or shy.

They can't see dragons, but Oh man! Can I!!

If I notice I'm fearful of what I must do

If I batten my hatches to see the job through,

I starve that old dragon who feeds in my fear.

He loses his power and dreadful career.

So it's worth it to notice a dragon's rampage

You must starve 'em to death - they won't die of old age.

Peggy Godfrey

 Stretch Marks