(Trigger Warning)
The mother entered the police department and stood at the front desk. As I approached her, I couldn't help but notice her emotionless face, devoid of any expression. I asked her, "Ma'am, how can I help you?" She took a deep breath and said, "I need to make a police report."
I grabbed my clipboard and headed to the lobby to speak with her. She said that earlier that day that she'd left her daughter at home with her boyfriend and their other children. She came home from work a little early and saw the cars in the driveway, but she didn't see her boyfriend.
The other kids told her that he went to the bathroom. When she asked where her daughter was, they told her that the little girl had gone to take a nap. So, she went to check on her sleeping daughter, only to find that she wasn't there. She said that she went to the bathroom and knocked on the door. She mentioned hearing rustling sounds.
She said she had an eerie feeling in her stomach, so her instinct was to get on the floor and look under the door. The way the bathroom door was constructed, she could partially see underneath it.
She said she saw her boyfriend's feet in front of the toilet as if he was sitting, and then she saw her little girl's knees on the floor, facing him. She said she banged on and kicked the door until it finally opened, and she was able to retrieve her daughter. She mentioned that her daughter lacked the vocabulary, but she was still able to communicate effectively enough for her mother to comprehend the situation.
I looked and saw a pretty little girl, playing and having fun, running around the lobby of the police department. I looked at the mom and then glanced at the little girl, silently asking if she was the precious soul she was referring to. The mother nodded yes and burst into tears. She cried on my shoulder for quite some time. I excused myself to make a phone call and inform the detective to come down. They would have to take the child to the hospital for a forensic examination.
As I typed the report, I kept thinking repeatedly that this baby, this innocent and beautiful child, did not comprehend the full extent or magnitude of what had happened to her. I could not imagine the guilt that the mother must have felt, thinking and believing that this man could be trusted. The horror she would have to live with for the rest of her life, knowing that she let her child down in this manner. I never knew the outcome of that case, but I've always prayed that both the daughter and mother received the help and counseling they needed.
In "Tamar's Scars," there is a section where I discuss the concept of innocence. There is a Satanic agenda to destroy us before we even have the opportunity to recognize and understand our identity in Christ. The adversary capitalizes on the naivety of innocence. We are most vulnerable when we are children, lacking knowledge and experience.
Think about it, the majority of people who struggle with trauma experienced their first traumas as children. Scripture says that the enemy comes to steal, kill, and destroy (John 10:9), and there is no age limit to his agenda. If you destroy a child, you interfere with their purpose and destiny, potentially preventing or hindering them from becoming the person God created them to be.
I understand that believers argue that the church already has numerous responsibilities. However, for how much longer and how many individuals will we permit to endure in the pews, trapped by their past, seeking healing, without ever introducing them to the liberation, renewal, and completeness that God can offer them in the midst of their struggles?
In the journey of life, we come across the wreckage of innocence and the scars of a broken world. But remember, our Savior was also acquainted with suffering. His sacrifice not only conquered sin but also offers the healing balm of restoration to wounded hearts. As we read stories like this, we are prompted to reflect on the vital importance of safeguarding the vulnerable, nurturing their hearts, and guiding them toward the ultimate source of healing and redemption.
Let us not remain silent observers of the pain surrounding us. Instead, let us use our hands and hearts as instruments of God's transformative grace. In the midst of trauma and despair, we have the opportunity to walk alongside those in need, sharing the truth that God's love can mend even the deepest wounds. Through our prayers, actions, and unwavering faith, let us bring comfort, strength, and hope to those who have suffered. In our commitment to supporting one another, we embody the power of God's unfailing love, guiding others toward the light of healing and the promise of a renewed future.
