Warning: my bluntness and the topic of incest.
Incest: sexual activity between two people who are considered, for moral or genetic reasons, too closely related to have such a relationship.
That is the definition of incest according to the Encarta Dictionary on my computer. I decided to right click and see what words I would discover to be the synonym for incest. I was imaging words like disgusting, ugly, secretive, hurtful, sinful, etc. But when I did right click, no words appeared. Even the dictionary is speechless about that awful word.
Now, that’s another word I decided to look up the synonyms, speechless. Here’s what I found: flabbergasted, thunderstruck, astonished, dumbstruck, amazed, bowled over, etc.
This “disease” is statically alarming. (See the websites below the blog for more info. if needed.) My heart aches for all those who have suffered or are suffering with and through this sin. Yes, a sin. When I read 1 Corinthians 5:1-2b this morning, not only was I “flabbergasted”, but my thoughts went towards a loved one that has experienced this “disease”.
Here’s the scripture:
“I don’t want to believe what I am hearing—that there is sexual sin among you. And it is such a bad kind of sexual sin that even those who have never known God don’t allow it. People say that a man there has his father’s wife. 2 And still you are proud of yourselves! You should have been filled with sadness.”
See, this, at the time, young girl thought she had to be speechless when her father was performing sexual acts with her. The pain, guilt, humiliation, and suffering she carried for years were inconceivable. Years of suppressing the memory followed. I can’t imagine how these feelings and thoughts were compounded when she years later, in her thirties, confronted her mother about the past. Her mother was defensive towards her then husband. I can only envision the feel of the knife in her gut and back being twisted by the hurt she felt and her mother’s condoning. But praise God, my precious friend rose above the awful situation. She made a choice in her life. Yes, a choice. She could have accepted, suppressed, and continue with these sinful acts as she grew up. She could have incorporated the lifestyle into her own family’s life, knowing no different. But, she chose to grow closer to God, painfully forgive, and become a wonderful and godly devoted wife and mother. She allowed God to heal her.
I pray for my friend, and admire her for her strength in life to move forward. She would be the first to say that her strength comes solely from God.
Psalm 121:2, “My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth.”
Psalm 28:7, “The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and I am helped. My heart leaps for joy and I will give thanks to him in song.”
My hands are raised and face is looking toward now as I am praying to God for those who are experiencing this tragedy. I pray for them to have a voice, strength from God, and healing. I pray for the abuser. (God tells us to pray for our enemies.) I pray they will be convicted in their minds and heart to stop this sin, and to turn to God.
http://www.rainn.org/statistics
http://www.safehorizon.org/index/what-we-do-2/child-abuse–incest-55.html
Thank you for hearing what was on my heart. I pray that you will find strength today to rise above any difficult situation you bay be in. God is ready to take control of it. Allow God to heal you.
Blessings to you.
August 29, “Walking in the Word”