The Lies that Bind: And the Truth that Sets You Free

By Dr. Deborah Waterbury

We are often bound by lies, lies about who we are and who God is and lies about what that means in our lives. Those lies start when we are young, often having their beginnings with a word or an action or a deed, and those lies are insidious. We don't realize that our very identities are being built on a foundation of illusion, but that's

• Language: English
• Publisher: DebWaterbury, Inc.
• Release date: Jun 5, 2017
• ISBN: 9780998920894

Book preview

CHAPTER ONE

LIE #1

You Are Worthless

Don’t Forget the Softball Game!

Go on home now, Debbie.

I was still lying on the couch, my jeans and underwear still bunched up at my ankles. Slowly, the hands that had been keeping my shoulders pinned to the scratchy tweed cushion released their hold. Within seconds, I was left alone there, as my would-be friends walked into the kitchen for something to eat. I was afraid to move. Confusion and loathing and pain were all I felt, and I wasn’t sure what I was supposed to do.

You still here? asked the oldest boy as he came back into the living room with a half-eaten sandwich still in his hand. I thought I told you to go home. We’re done; can’t you see that?

His younger brother, who was the same age as me, walked in right after him. He took one look at me still lying exposed on the couch and burst out laughing. You look stupid, Debbie!

More laughter. I mean, I wish you could see how stupid you look lying there with your stuff all hangin’ out!

It was then that I realized my panties were still down around my feet. Quickly I reached down, trying unsuccessfully to pull them up. In my haste to cover myself and stop looking stupid, I couldn’t seem to get them past my heels and then my knees. In the background, I could hear the younger brother still laughing at me as I struggled. I had never liked him much. He was always mean to me.

But the older brother was a different story. I was so confused about what he had done to me, how he was treating me. I’d always had a crush on him, kind of looked up to him more than all the other kids in the neighborhood. He was never particularly nice to me, but he was never unkind either. What had just happened that morning at their house was a mangled blur of confusion, and I still couldn’t quite seem to get my panties back