Personal Note from Linda Settles

Why do I write about abuse, incest, and recovery?

Because that is the story of my life. When I was young, I was abused. And then I fled the abusive home where I was raised in mental, emotional, and psychological captivity. Held hostage by the deprivatiy of one who should have protected me, subjected to emotional trauma of seeing my younger siblings and my mother suffer when I did not yield to the demands of a mad man. I spent the first thrity-three years of my life feeling isolated, shamed, worthless, and alone.

After sumitting one last time to the demands of my abuser, fully aware that the gun that lay loaded and ready on the table was intended for me should I resist his demands, I finally came to the point of courage, the threshold of grace, where I was ready to leap into the arms of faith and flee the state of my birth and the reach of the man whom I called father, the man who had ruled over me with ossessive anger and malignant rage from the time I was five until that moment–the moment of freedom, at thirty-three year of age.

How does one recover from such a life?

Such a recovery demands physical, emotional, psychological and spiritual change. Change that does not come easy. Change that is improbable but not impossible. Only by the grace of God and the cooperation of the survivor does such recovery happen. But it DOES happen. It is happening to me, and it can happen to you. It will not happen without your participation–you can’t disassociate (mentally and emotionally remove yourself from the moment) and accomplish recovery. You can’t deny your need for it and you can’t continue to minimize the woundings of your past–not if you are going to engage in a life of joy–a life recovered from the damage done by the ravages of abuse. Our wounded hearts can be restored–our treasures can be redeemed, by only by surrendering to the Power that is greater than ourselves, greater than the abuser, and greater than the mess we have made of our life. 

How I came to that point, and the excruciating pain that I endured, what brought me up out of the pit, and set me free–it is all wrapped up in the pages of my latest book, Redeeming Our Treasures, Finding Joy in the Shadows of an Abusive Past. 

Twenty-seven years after I boarded a plane bound for Michigan and watched the earth fall away beneath me, I am a happy wife (of twenty-two years) mother of two wonderful daughters, and friend of many. I have earned my MA in Christian Counseling and am working on my Phd. Life is wonderful. Abundant. And yet, there is a darkness that haunts me at times, things that unexpectedly make me cry. 

When someone tells me that they have previewed my upcoming book and it has helped them, I cry then too. But those tears are tears of joy. Tears of gratitude to the One who led me out of the pit, my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, and the One who has empowered me to tell my story. The one who has gifted me with insights that will help others find joy, freedom, and abundant life as well.

Some have asked me, “Why do you do this work? You are financially successful and your life is wonderful.  Don’t you think you deserve to rest awhile?”

My answer is this: “I am compelled to reach out to those who suffer still in the crucible of suffering. I am consumed with love for my Lord and his children. It is my joy and awesome privilege to be involved in the lives of those who are searching for a way out–out of their sadness and bondage.”

If my writings help you in some way, please write to me at: LindaSettles@edicthouse.com  and I will gladly respond to you.