No One to Tell: (A Story of Hope for the Abused)

By Barbara L. Thorick

Abused children carry the emotional harm which was done to them into their adulthood. It stays with them even though the abuse stopped many years before. This book is a real-life journey of how the abuse affected Barbara into her teen years, her marriage, and most of her relationships. If it had not been for her mother’s faith and the people God placed in Barbara’s path, she would not have survived. How could a father do harm to a child he is supposed to have loved? You will feel her roller coaster emotions as she battles her well-kept secret that still lived in the back of her mind. It had to be kept a secret; after all, there was no one to tell. That secret crept forward from time to time, causing anger, which eventually turned into hate. Her life was full of insecurities, bad choices, and faltering faith. She had a strong faith, but it began to quiver. God threw her many lifesavers. She survived by grabbing on, one after another, until she stopped reaching for them. She began to sink. Sometimes, we have to sink low before we reach for the true lifesaver, Jesus Christ. He will reach down to us. We only have to grab his hand.

“I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “Plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

—Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV)

• Language: English
• Publisher: Covenant Books, Inc.
• Release date: Sep 27, 2021
• ISBN: 9781644687826

Book preview

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No One to Tell

(A Story of Hope for the Abused)

Barbara L. Thorick

ISBN 978-1-64468-780-2 (Paperback)

ISBN 978-1-64468-781-9 (Hardcover)

ISBN 978-1-64468-782-6 (Digital)

Copyright © 2021 Barbara L. Thorick

All rights reserved

First Edition

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods without the prior written permission of the publisher. For permission requests, solicit the publisher via the address below.

Covenant Books, Inc.

11661 Hwy 707

Murrells Inlet, SC 29576

www.covenantbooks.com

Table of Contents

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

In memory of my mother, who lived her faith. She relied on God to get her through some real hard times. She taught me that God was always with me.

Dedicated to the teachers, clergy, neighbors, and others who now listen and give the abused someone to tell. They change lives.

Thank you to my Agape Clown Troupe, who listened. Thank you to the people God placed in my life to help me on my journey. A special thanks to Donna Gregger, Joe Leombrone and Pastor Bob who encouraged me to have No One to Tell published so others can start healing.

Foreword

I met Barbara the first day she attended our small United Methodist Church in Florida. Barbara’s outgoing personality drew me to her, and it didn’t take long for us to get to know each other well. This woman has come to mean the world to me. I can talk to her about whatever I am going through. Barbara has been here for me as a friend, counselor, partner in ministry, teacher and whatever else I have needed along the way. We have many things in common, including our love of the Lord, scripture, the church, our ministries, our families and Ford Mustangs. My husband Tom and I owned Mustangs, and Barbara did as well. We laughed about our three Mustangs parked behind our church every Sunday and called it Mustang Row.

I knew some of Barbara’s pain and struggle, but not all the details, until I read No One to Tell. I was heartbroken to learn of what this amazing, strong woman had gone through—was still going through. I could never have imagined that this accomplished woman, who joined our little church, might have experienced the trauma of abuse in her life. Her willingness to serve the lord with her knowledge of the Bible, the ministries and workings of the United Methodist Church, musical talents and spiritual gifts were a blessing to our small church.

No One to Tell is a personal, true story of one woman’s struggle. She shares that it is only by the acceptance of God’s grace and mercy, and the gift of eternal life in Jesus Christ, that we are saved. Knowing this enabled Barbara to begin to heal and come to peace with her struggles.

I now understand that Barbara kept a lot inside, and I could see why from the title of the book No One to Tell. I am so proud of her for sharing her story, which is filled with healing Bible verses and her prayers, which will encourage and help others who suffered abuse and struggle with unforgiveness or anger.

I decided to read the book for a second time when I was asked to write the foreword for No One to Tell. I was touched, once again, when Barbara talks about tears being healing. My own tears began to flow again, which reminded me of the healing that I need in my own life.

This work of love is Barbara’s attempt to give hope to those who have experienced any type of abuse or pain. I hope that you will start to heal as you read her story, her prayers and the scriptures that strengthen her. I am so thankful to be even a small part of Barbara’s journey. I don’t believe it is the last of her story that she will be telling. She has much more that the Lord wants her to share with her readers. I know because of all the value and insight she has shared into my life over the years.

I encourage you to open this book and get to know Barbara as I know her. My hope is that you will see how she is sharing a deeply private, personal part of her life so you also may experience the peace and joy of healing through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Blessings,

Donna Cregger

Blogger & Online Marketer

Introduction

Therefore, since we are justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through him we have obtained access to this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in our hope of sharing the glory of God. More than that, we rejoice in our suffering, knowing that suffering produces endurance and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured