Wounded yet Not Destroyed

By Stacy Y. Whyte

Julene grew up in a prominent family with godly virtues but when tragedy struck it tore them apart. She became a victim of physical, mental, and sexual abuse. Even though she was elevated to stardom that did not heal her severed heart, she learned that the cure to her crisis was not the money or the men but rather it is God.

She discovered that God is the healer who mends everything that is broken and breathes life into everything that is dead. He gave her a reason to keep on living, and looking beyond her past failures and moving into the victories that He prepared for her.

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse
• Release date: Jan 16, 2013
• ISBN: 9781452081809

Stacy Y. Whyte

Stacy Y. Whyte is a Motivational Speaker, Author and Ambassador for the kingdom of God walking in obedience to fulfill the call of God on her life. She is bringing hope to the hopeless and spreading the love of God to the people across the nations through His word and outreach programs. She continues to encourage others to walk in their God given authority with tenacity and boldness.

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© 2010 Stacy Y. Whyte. All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author.

Published by AuthorHouse 1/14/2013

ISBN: 978-1-4520-8178-6 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4520-8179-3 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-4520-8180-9 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2010914350

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models,

and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Thinkstock.

Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Contents

1    The Vacation

2    Returning to School

3    Season of Sadness

4    The Tragedy

5    The Unpredictable Pain

6    Innocence Lost

7    New Beginning

8    New Found Love

9    The Pageant

10  The Crown

11  The Moment

12  Outreaches

13  Moving On

14  The Shock

15  Risen From Death

16  The Reunion

17  Celebration Time

18  The Interview

19  The Anniversary

20  Returning to the Fold

21  The Visit

22  Preparation

23  The Wedding

24  The Honeymoon

25  The Move of God

The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way. Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the LORD upholdeth him with his hand. Psalm 37:23-24

Dedication

To my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ who has shown me love and grace. Thank you for your unfailing love towards me Lord and for giving me the insight to write this book.

My late sister Khadine who died from brain tumor is the inspiration behind this project.

Acknowledgement

Special thanks to my family for your love and your support. My princess Giovanna you are so precious to me, I love you. To my mother Therisa your sacrifices and unconditional love towards me is unmatched. My dear sister Carol you give me a reason to smile everyday with your unwavering enthusiasm and encouragement. To all my siblings thank you for your support, I love you. Edna you are a wonderful addition to the family, thank you for thoughtfulness and prayers.

To the Elect Intercessors of Christ thank you for keeping the prayer line open and believing in my vision.

To my Pastors Bishop Merton and Sebrena Clark you have always believed in my vision, thank you for speaking hope and life over it even when it seemed hopeless.

To Doreen Lovell and Valerie West your help with this project is truly appreciated, thank you for your care and compassion.

Special thanks to Barbette Williams and Crescent E. Reid you are truly women of inspiration and integrity.

Thank you Sophia Edwards you did a great job on the cover photography.

Finally, I express my sincere thanks to the readers who have taken the time to share in my dream. God Bless You.

1

The Vacation

It had been a long time since I had seen my Mom’s sister. She had joined us on our vacation after an exhausting ten-hour flight from London. Growing up for a time on the island had been especially pleasant for me. Beautiful seas and warm smiles surrounded us, so it was destined to be a memorable vacation for everyone.

Being back in Antigua brought back many good memories of my younger years. Antigua is a tropical paradise with superb beaches, beautiful sunsets, cooling trade winds, and friendly faces—it’s a place like no other. It’s definitely somewhere you can enjoy the art of relaxation and fun, and we certainly did that in our secluded villa nestled amid a well-manicured lush garden. We had a panoramic view of the harbor from the rooms and we were right on the beach.

Auntie Geneviève was as beautiful as ever! Even though she was influential and known globally, she was filled with much humility and love for others. Her face was a picture of perfection, without any sign of wrinkles. Then there was her charisma and her slim waistline. She hadn’t aged one bit; the only thing different was her hair—it was much longer. It was like a stream flowing down her back.

My parents were the owners of the seven-bedroom villa where we stayed. It had a private pool and a magnificent view. My brother Justin carried our aunt’s bags to her room. We talked for a while, and then went out to dinner at an exquisite restaurant in town. The adults had Chardonnay to commemorate the reunion, while we toasted with our fruit punch. We continued to chat after dinner and ended up losing track of the time. It was 12:45 a.m. when we got back to the villa. Aunt Geneviève said she was tired. She retired to bed, and the rest of us quickly followed.

It was amazing how accomplished she was in her life. I still can’t believe it! She was the Chief Executive Officer for an international corporation but she never bragged nor boasted. Instead, she was filled with a spirit of meekness.

I woke early the next morning and surprised everyone by making breakfast. I quietly went upstairs to my aunt’s room with a breakfast tray and surprised her, too. It was Sunday morning, so I told her we would be going to church and that the service started at 10:00 a.m. After I left her room, I headed to the bathroom and got dressed. It was quite a shocker to see everyone dressed and ready to go, especially my sister Annalisa, who was well known for being tardy for absolutely everything.

We arrived a few minutes before church began, which meant that we ended up sitting close to the front. We had the best time at church and Auntie Geneviève had the opportunity to hear my sister Julia sing with the choir. Whenever we were on the island, Julia took on the role of lead singer in the choir and she got a standing ovation every single time.

Growing up in a Christian household, I developed a personal relationship with God. Oftentimes, when I felt alienated by my peers, I would turn to God in prayer. After church concluded, we greeted the congregants and then left. On our way back to the villa, Auntie Geneviève saw a homeless man lying on the side of street. She quickly stopped the vehicle, walked up to the man, and blessed him with all the money she had in her purse. She was a true philanthropist, always going the extra mile to help others. Upon returning to the car, she complimented Julia on her singing.

Julia replied, I am thankful for this wonderful gift, so all glory, honor and praise goes to God.

It was our fourth day on the island. Our butler, Thomas, made us a variety of dishes based on the island cuisine. He created a fusion cuisine, mixing tropical ingredients with international dishes. It was very tasty, especially the rum punch that we drank behind our parents’ backs. Afterwards, Annalisa and Julia complained that they weren’t feeling well, as they both developed headaches. I couldn’t blow the whistle on them since I had also participated in the act of drinking the forbidden beverage. I stayed quiet because I wasn’t about to spoil the family vacation. Even though they were experiencing some discomfort, I wasn’t overly concerned because I knew they would feel much better in the morning.

It was one week since our arrival in Antigua. Auntie Geneviève was consistent in being the first one to wake up every morning. She was up at 5:00 a.m. working out in the fitness center—as if she had something to lose. Once she finished breakfast, she took her racket and headed straight to the tennis courts. She was very active and into her physique. She constantly found something to do to prevent her from packing on the pounds and to help her to burn calories. Since Justin was also very conscious about his body, they were always going at it head-to-head. While they played tennis, Dad went parasailing and Mom went snorkeling. Annalisa, Julia, and I went for a stroll on the oceanfront, and then we went horseback riding. We had so much fun; I couldn’t remember the last time I had laughed so much. I really had a great time bonding with my sisters.

It was always so much fun and so exciting to experience the sights, the people, and the culture, during all the excursions. Soon, our stay in Antigua was over! I dreaded going back home to LA. I knew I would be going back to being bullied every day in school.

We enjoyed our last night, watching the sunset and listening to our parents tell us stories of their childhood. I reflected on my past and wondered if life would have been different for me if we hadn’t moved to the States. The time that I had spent in school in Antigua had been so much fun. I hadn’t had to worry about being different because everyone was the same. At school in the States, some students considered me an outcast because of my accent and culture.

Julia, my identical twin sister, was two minutes younger than I was. She was very sweet in nature. The only way people could tell us apart was by our personality. Julia was more of a free spirit. She did whatever she wanted to do. I, on the other hand, was more studious. I was into my books and making good grades. We had the same long legs with broad hips, honey brown eyes, cherry lips, a deep brown complexion, and our Dad’s nose. Annalisa was the eldest of the four. She was the exact replica of our Mom: beautiful, with a slender build and long black hair. Justin, the only boy, had the characteristics of both parents. He was charming, fun loving, and very charismatic.

While attending middle school, I had very few friends and the ones I thought were close to me turned out to be totally phony. In my final year, right before the summer break, I was beaten severely, which left me with bloodshot eyes and bruises all over my tiny body. To make matters worse, I was left unconscious in the nearby bushes. Hours went by until a passerby driving a cab rescued me. When I regained consciousness, my backpack was missing. I looked around, hoping to find it, but it was nowhere to be seen. By the time I got home, I was covered in blood and almost breathless. Roxanne, the biggest bully of them all, greeted me. She lived only two houses away from me. She made faces at me while she jeered. She mocked me so much it brought me to tears.

Alexis, my mother, was sitting on the front porch. When I walked up to her, she was dumbfounded for a few seconds and then she embraced me. She asked, What happened to you, Julene? I stuttered my words, then Mom said, It’s okay, my love, Mama’s here now, I won’t leave your side. She made me a cup of my favorite peppermint tea and then I went to bed.

My face remained emotionless as I lay in bed; my big brown eyes were ringed and bloodshot as I buried my face in the pillow. That night, I didn’t have dinner. I was too shaken up to eat. As I lay in bed, I wondered why everyone hated me so much. I cried even more and I don’t remember when I fell asleep.

It was 6:00 a.m. the next morning when Annalisa came to my room and woke me up. At first, she stared at my bruised face, then she said, You’ll have to do one of two things when life gets tough—you’re either going to become bitter or you’ll be stronger because of what happened and stand up for yourself.

I took a deep breath, and then replied, I’m an idiot for always allowing people to hurt me.

Annalisa smiled, and then said, Sis, you are not. You’re smart and beautiful. You just need to be more cautious of the people around you.

Then she reached over, patted me on the back, and said, You better get dressed. Mom’s waiting for us.

Twenty minutes later, I was dressed. I met Mom in the living area, then we left for the doctor’s. Even though we had an appointment, to my surprise, we waited for almost two hours before I was seen. After I was evaluated and tested, we had to wait another two hours, and then the doctor came back with the prognosis. I had no broken bones, but the doctor placed me on bed rest for a few days.

On the weekend, we spent some quiet time together as a family at a local resort. Everyone reassured me that everything would be back to normal when I returned to school, but in my heart, I was afraid to face those that had inflicted pain upon me. We enjoyed sailing in the daytime and formal dining by night; that helped somewhat to ease the jitters I felt.

Monday morning came and it became clear I wasn’t ready to return to school. I told my Mom I had a migraine; she gently rubbed my forehead and gave me pain medication. An hour later, Mom asked how I felt. I didn’t want to lie about being sick anymore so I told her I was much better and she accompanied me to school. While I went to class, my Mom met with the principal. The girls who had hit me were all called to the principal’s office. That brought trembling to my bones and I prayed that they wouldn’t take any revenge on me because, God knows, I couldn’t take another beating.

Thirty minutes later, I was also called to the principal’s office. He advised me that if anyone attacked me again I should not hesitate to let him know. He stated that he had a zero tolerance policy for violence in the school. Later in the day, I learned that the girls had been suspended and ordered to apologize to me. I accepted the apology with tears in my eyes and I shook my enemies’ hands. As they placed their hands in mine, I remembered the scripture that says, "I will make your enemies become your footstool." (Luke 20: 43)

For the next few weeks, my life was back to normal without the bullies. I studied for my finals and frequented the library, where I did all my research papers. The excitement of having the exam results overwhelmed me because these grades would determine the high school I’d attend. Three days later, I checked the mailbox and there was a letter from the school, addressed to my parents. At that time, Mom was out running some errands. The moment I heard the door open, I did not hesitate to give my Mom the letter. After reviewing the letter, my mother congratulated me for achieving mostly A’s, with only one B. Eight weeks later, I would begin high school. The family would prepare for that by purchasing new clothes, books, and accessories.

Two weeks later, to reward my academic achievement, my parents flew the family to Disney World in Orlando, Florida. It was approximately 4:30 p.m. when we checked in at the hotel. The desk clerks were very courteous and professional. Even though they had a no tipping policy, we had to slip a few dollars in an envelope for them. When we entered the suite, it was sheer luxury; no wonder they charged so much money to stay there! My goodness! We dined at a couple of the restaurants and the service was exceptional; not to mention the food, which was just delicious.

In the daytime, my siblings and I would go to the park; we had so much fun on all the rides. It was SOOOOOO GOOD! This was the best vacation ever! Not only was the staff great, but the food was good and we stayed at the most beautiful hotel. The overall experience was wonderful. By the time we got back home, it was only a few days before I’d start high school. The excitement overwhelmed me.

A few days after returning from our trip, our home was burglarized. The perpetrators stole appliances, jewelry, and clothing; as a result, there we had no movies or music. To add more pain to the frustration, my computer was also gone! Wow, so boring! I tried playing chess, but even that could not take my mind off what was happening around me. The only thing that relaxed me was reading a great novel. Thank God, I had a Terri McMillan book on hand! The detective in charge of the investigation stopped by and informed us that he would be following up on some leads but nothing concrete had turned up yet.

Every night, I lay in bed and tried to sleep but could not; every sound I heard drove fear inside my heart. As I lay there, I began to mediate on the Lord. Then, I remembered Psalm 91, which says, "He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I said to the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust. Surely, He will save you from the fowler’s snare and from the deadly pestilence. He will cover you with His feathers, and under His wings you will find refuge; His faithfulness will be your shield and rampart. You will not fear the terror of night, nor the arrow that flies by day, nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness, nor the plague that destroys at midday. A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you." Those words surely brought me comfort and peace. The family was very distraught over the situation. This community was so quiet; in fact, it was one of the best. All the neighbors were talking because nothing like this had ever happened