Hope for the Broken-Hearted: Do Not Allow Your Past to Steal Your Future

By Crystal Buffington

Too many times we keep things to ourselves because weve been taught that what goes on in the home stays there, you dont air your dirty laundry in public. We remain bounded. That robs us of the prosperous life that is intended for us, it robs us of healthy relationships and it robs us of the ability to help others.
I know that many of you have experienced rape, incest, homelessness, depression, sickness and disease, and abuse of every kind from those who are closest to you, from those who are supposed to have your back and protect you. You have been lied to and cheated on.
But, dont look back! Refuse to be the victim any longer. Stop grudging up the past. Stop hitting rewind and replaying all the hurt and pain over and over again.
The song says, "The Sun Will Come Out Tomorrow" but it seems like tomorrow never comes. Well, you don't have to wait another day for the sun to come out. Why not make your tomorrowm, today?

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse
• Release date: Jul 31, 2012
• ISBN: 9781477251775

Crystal Buffington

Crystal Buffington is a woman who, like so many women, have many roles; mother, wife, sister, daughter, and loving her new role, grandmother. However, the role that is most important to her is as God's representative in the earth. Crystal loves spending time with her children, Sonja, Andrew, & Karen and grandson Drew, Jr. She enjoys spending time with friends, movies, and reading. She is a college student and work a full-time job. Crystal desires to encourage and empower others. She, far too well, understands the different struggles and storms that women in particular face every day. She want people to know that they don't have to wait until tomorrow for the Sun to come out. They can have the Son right now. She desires to see people as a whole but women specifically fulfill their God-given purpose and possess the irrevocable promises of God. She is an ordained minister at Spirit of Faith Chrisitian Center where she worships and serves in ministry. She is above all else a servant and want her life to be a sweet aroma to God; pleasing and acceptable in His sight.

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© 2012 by Crystal Buffington. 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 07/25/2012

ISBN: 978-1-4772-5175-1 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4772-5176-8 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-4772-5177-5 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2012913094

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.

This book is dedicated to

my Alpha and Omega, Lord and Savior

Jesus Christ

In Memory of my mother Annie Mae Haynesworth

and my wonderful husband who I love and miss so much

Craig Bernard Buffington

He loved me as Christ loves the church.

To my son and daughter

Andrew Harris and Sonja Harris

I love you both and I am very proud of the

man and woman you are. You are truly God’s Blessings to me.

To my favorite cousin/brother

Robert James Kirkland, Sr.

Thank you for always loving and supporting me.

You are one of my heroes.

I love you.

To my maternal grandmother

Louise Haynesworth

Thank you for doing the best you knew how.

I love you.

To my Pastors

Michael and DeeDee Freeman

Spirit of Faith Christian Center

Thank you for living the Word.

Thank you for loving God’s people and teaching with

such power, authority and simplicity

that has enabled and empowered me to

Be a Doer of the Word.

Thank you for moving me into my place of

Confidence and Couravge.

Contents

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Preface

Introduction

Chapter 1  The Beginning: Identity Crisis

Chapter 2  Lost Loves

Derwyn  My First Love

King  Husband #1

Starting Over

My Pride And Joy

Craig

Attachment Without Commitment

Husband #2 Marriage #1

Not Again

But God

Forgiveness

About The Author

PREFACE

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I UNDERSTAND THAT MY story is not unique but that’s one reason why I believe it should be shared. Unfortunately, there are thousands of people who have similar experiences. My hope is that others will receive deliverance from their own personal bondage through my opening up and sharing parts of my life. Too many times we keep things to ourselves because we’ve been taught that what goes on in the home stays there, you don’t air your dirty laundry in public. The enemy repeatedly deceives us in believing that we are to blame for all of the negative things that happen to us. So, we walk around for years, in some cases, it’s a life sentence of heartache and shame. We remain bounded. That robs us of the prosperous life that is intended for us, it robs us of healthy relationships and it robs us of the ability to help others.

This book is not about revenge or trying to hurt anyone. First and foremost, you have to forgive those who caused you pain. Your healing depends on your ability to forgive.

INTRODUCTION

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MY NAME IS Cheryl and for as long as I can remember, I always wanted nothing more than to feel loved. I yearned, even as a child, to be someone’s priority; to come first in someone’s life. I wanted to know that someone, anyone, truly cared about my thoughts and feelings. I always felt alone even in the midst of a crowd of people. I felt like I was an invisible member of my family and society. As if no one saw me or the pain I felt and no one cared to see or to know.

I felt like I needed to do things that I did not want to do and accept any type of treatment in order to have friends and to receive attention. When you have that mind-set, any attention, even negative attention is considered good. So, I took the negative things people did and said to me. I did and said things that I wasn’t proud of such as smoking marijuana, cutting class, and being promiscuous. I believed I would fit in but I was not happy.

People exploited my desire to be liked and accepted. I remember an incident where I was invited to the home of Missy one of my classmates. I was thrilled because Missy was popular in school and in our neighborhood. I thought, Wow! Maybe she wants to be my friend. When I arrived, her boyfriend and several others from the neighborhood were already there. After about 15 minutes of just talking about neighborhood and school gossip, they began to jone or make fun of Missy. I was sitting there very confused about the sudden