Broken Promises & Shattered Dreams, by Ashley

From page 53 we read, "How can you help me, Dr. Chandler? You think I'm crazy. Nobody believes that I have a family. Every time I mention my grandmother or talk about my Papa people look at me and shake their heads. What do I have to live for? I belong to the State of Washington. Is Washington State my mama and daddy? I have been raped, beaten, burned and made to stand out in the snow butt-naked! I have had guns pointed at my head because I don't like oatmeal. My mother ran off with a man when I was a year and six months old. On my seventh birthday my grandfather died and a man ripped off my clothes and had his way with me. I have lived with my aunts and uncles but they don't want me either. My grandparents sent me to live with the Devil himself and I'm not even thirteen yet. Now you tell me what do I have to live for?"

Billie Jean (or Wisk, as she is called by her family) had gotten to the point where she felt God just left her and as far as she was concerned, He did not exist. Marrying at a tender age she had to endure physical and verbal abuse times over. But through God's unseen hands working in her life, she overcame the hurtful and dissapointing blows life kept throwing her way, to move on to a blessed life. Billie Jean writes: "Even when I cursed God and should have died, He was preparing me for this day. He wanted me to give up and let Him have full control of my life. I remember Dr. Chandler told me that I would have a lot of broken promises and shattered dreams in my life and I have. But they only made me stronger in my Christian walk. All I had to do was let go and let God."

This is a great read for adults, church leaders and people who work with abused kids. Some parts are too graphic for the younger audience.