Hi, I'm Charis and I'm in recovery

[charis]

Hi,

I identify a lot with Vyckie and Laura and my favorite thing about their blog is meeting others who understand and express so well the experiences which are so very familiar to me. I remain a fundamentalist Christian, still married to my husband of 27 years (in Oct). Our Quiver has 8 children who are 25-d, 22-s, 21-d,16-d, 14-d, 11-d, 9-s, 6-s and I think I am past childbearing years now (whew!)

Almost 5 years ago now, after 22 years of marriage, I began the process of recovery from a MISunderstanding of the biblical concept of wifely submission.
Confession: I did it wrong for many years.
But God is enlightening me and exchanging beauty for ashes.

Once I really started digging deeply into God’s Word, I realized that some teaching which passes for “biblical” is fatally flawed in a way which proves destructive and counterproductive, and serves only to undermine marriage, hurt people, and keep them captive.

[lectio]

Charis, you've been such a big help to me through my own journey. I'm so glad I bumped into you online when I did.
(((hugs)))
Thanks for being such an amazing woman.

[aimai]

Charis,
I, too, have already benefitted from your wisdom and experience. I've really enjoyed getting to "know" you online and I look forward to reading your comments on other threads. I think one thing I take away from your life story, as you've told it to us here, is that (in the words of the Grace Paley story of the same name) "Many great things at the last possible minute." In other words--its never to late for us to start a new life that works better for us than the old life. Its never to late for any of us to re-examine our lives and our relationships. I so admire you for having the strength to work through all that you are working through for the sake of yourself and your children. I really look forward to seeing what you do with the next few years.

aimai

[tapati]

Hi Charis, I've been reading your story with interest via the blog comments. I'm glad that you have been able to make changes for the better from within the beliefs. Perhaps you will inspire many other women to do the same as they see it working so much better for you.

I look forward to learning more.