Beyond Brokenness: From Struggles to Strength

By Tabitha Charles

In Beyond Brokenness, author Tabitha Charles shares a powerful and uplifting message for those who have faced life’s trials and emerged stronger. This transformative guide goes beyond any single theme, guiding you through the process of finding hope amid life’s darkest moments. With the wisdom gained from her own extraordinary journey, Charles offers a path to overcoming challenges, triumphing over pain, and embracing diversity.

Beyond Brokenness speaks to those who face adversity and seek to rise above it. It offers a beacon of hope, inspiring you to discover your inner strength and to emerge as a resilient, empowered force in your own life.

Charles presents a powerful testament to the human spirit’s ability to overcome, one not limited to any specific gender or life experience. More than a self-help book, she offers a path to navigating life’s most formidable challenges.

• Language: English
• Publisher: WestBow Press
• Release date: Apr 3, 2024
• ISBN: 9798385016327

Tabitha Charles

Tabitha Charles, born on a small island in Saint Lucia, earned a bachelor’s degree in business administtration and another in spa management. A vivacious, charismatic, young professional with a fond passion for Christ, she is a spa manager at a five-star luxury getaway. Her faith is at the core of her drive, and she maintains a balance in life by exercising her spiritualty.

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BEYOND BROKENNESS

From Struggles to Strength

TABITHA CHARLES

Copyright © 2024 Tabitha Charles.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the author except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

This book is a work of non-fiction. Unless otherwise noted, the author and the publisher make no explicit guarantees as to the accuracy of the information contained in this book and in some cases, names of people and places have been altered to protect their privacy.

WestBow Press

A Division of Thomas Nelson & Zondervan

1663 Liberty Drive

Bloomington, IN 47403

www.westbowpress.com

844-714-3454

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.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Getty Images are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Getty Images.

Scripture quotations are taken from the New King James Version. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

ISBN: 979-8-3850-1631-0 (sc)

ISBN: 979-8-3850-1633-4 (hc)

ISBN: 979-8-3850-1632-7 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2024900388

WestBow Press rev. date: 04/02/2024

To you, cherished readers, who hold this book in your hands and discover fragments of your own souls woven through these very pages. I extend my heartfelt gratitude for embracing my book with an open heart. Your willingness to embark on this journey imparts profound meaning to my efforts.

To my own perseverance, which prevailed even in the face of adversity, when surrender seemed tempting. A tribute as well to the woman I was at the inception of this literary venture in 2020 and to the person I had evolved into over the course of this transformative odyssey. Here’s to the juncture when this book existed merely as a reverie and to each instance that had propelled me to this juncture.

I acknowledge the trials that have fortified my spirit and the anguish that have kindled an unwavering fire within me. Here’s to the yesteryears that have molded my essence, the present nurturing my being, and the morrow that anticipates my presence.

CONTENTS

Preface

Acknowledgments

Chapter 1 Dangerously in Love

Chapter 2 Love Is Patient; Love Is Kind

Chapter 3 Know the Signs

Chapter 4 What the Enemy Meant for My Bad, God Turns into My Favor

Chapter 5 My Time of Testing

Chapter 6 Prophecy

Chapter 7 The Journey to Your Best Self

Chapter 8 Believing in Yourself

Tabby’s Poetry

Hate You; Love You!

Someday

Gone Forever

My One and Only True Love

In the Dark

Tired

Torn between the Two

Till Death Do Us Part

Happy I Found You

Voices … Choices

For My Good

PREFACE

In the quiet corners of life where stories often remain untold, there exists a remarkable tale of resilience and transformation. This is the story of Tabitha, a young lady who, against all odds, has emerged from the shadows of adversity to illuminate her own path and inspire countless others along the way.

Life has a way of sculpting us through its trials, and Tabitha’s journey was no exception. She faced many challenges that would have shattered most spirits, yet she refused to be broken. Instead, she turned her pain into fuel and her tears into ink, using the written word as both a lifeline and a beacon of hope.

Tabitha’s introspective exploration of her experiences reveals the raw emotions, the heartache, and the triumphs that have shaped her into the person she is today. With unwavering courage, she invites us into her world, allowing us to witness the transformation that occurs when we confront our struggles head-on and rise above them.

In the chapters that follow, you will discover more than a self-help book; you will find a guide to navigating life’s most formidable challenges. Her words echo with the truth that, no matter how dark the night may seem, dawn is never far behind, and it is never too late to start over.

As you embark on this journey with Tabitha, be prepared to find comfort in her vulnerability, wisdom in her lessons, and inspiration in her triumphs. Let these pages be a reminder that our stories are not defined by the hardships we endure but by the strength we summon to overcome them.

Turn the page, and let the journey begin.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

I have been blessed to be surrounded by people who have uplifted me and pushed me to be a better person.

First, I am dedicating this to God because He has brought me a long way. My biggest strength when I am down.

My parents, Francis Charles, a.k.a. XCharles or Rodney, and Valeria Charles, a.k.a. Vorn, have always been around as support.

My husband, Alvin Joseph, always listens to me and my silly ideas. He supports me and never discourages me.

My spiritual leader Peter Stary Julien, a.k.a. Elder Stary, and his wife Julia Julien, a.k.a. Elder Julia, have always checked up on me, encouraged me to never give up, and been my true strength through my soul healing. Their continuous prayers are appreciated.

Thanks to my sister Emma Charles, who is also a best friend, and my brother Kanah Charles, whom I can call on anytime for assistance as I am away from home. Also, thanks to the rest of my brothers and sisters. Their continuous love toward me is great.

My spa director, Mrs. Helen Lugo, is the reason why I have decided to finish this manuscript. She has continuously reminded me that I have to complete this and not give up. Her famous quote is Mira Tabby, you never know!

Clever Zulu, author of Absolute Abundance, was the first person I shared this idea with. He encouraged and assisted me in putting my idea together. Thank you.

To my literary agent, thank you for making my dream come true. Thanks for the guidance, the support, and sharing your wisdom. I could not have put a wonderful story together without you.

Lastly, to my amazing Sense Spa family at Rosewood Little Dix Bay. I spoke about wanting to write a book, and the support and excitement I received from my team left me speechless. They continued to remind me and asked me when it would be done. I knew I could not fail them, and I had to do this. So, thanks to my amazing team.

CHAPTER 1

Dangerously in Love

Love Is Blind

I felt my life floating away; butterflies filled my tummy. The smell of his cologne, the way he walked and smiled seized me in the moment to the point of no re turn.

For a long time, I walked around feeling sad and sorry for myself. I put on a charade for others to prove that I had my life together, but underneath that façade was untold pain and suffering.

The weight of despair and self-pity had been a burden for far too long. At each stride, it seemed as if an unseen force was dragging down every inch of my being, making escape from the heavy grasp of sorrow impossible. For so long, I had performed a well-prepared charade, worn a mask of perfection and strength to demonstrate to others that life was all sunshine and flowers. Yet beyond that veneer was a different narrative, one laced with anguish and suffering that had gone unspoken for far too long.

It was a lonely existence, one where every day was a struggle to keep up the pretense that everything was OK. Each morning the mask was carefully put on, a façade that was carefully constructed with practiced ease. A smile here, a laugh there, all meant to hide the anguish and despair that lay beneath. It was exhausting, this constant effort to keep up appearances, and yet it was a necessary evil, a way to ensure that no one could see the vulnerability that lay within.

It all began at the age of twenty-one, at the height of my naïvety, when I got myself entangled in a romance that almost cost my life. Yes, I loved him genuinely, affectionately, and passionately. To confirm words in Eve’s song, Love is blind.

I believed that love could conquer all. It was then that I met him, the man who would become the love of my life, or so I thought. With his charming smile and charismatic personality, I was swept off my feet and into a whirlwind romance that would change my life forever.

At first, everything seemed perfect. We would spend hours talking about our hopes and dreams, laughing until our sides hurt, and exploring the world around us. I was head over heels in love, feeling as though nothing could ever go wrong. But as time passed, the cracks began to show, and the reality of our situation slowly began to dawn on me.

It wasn’t until I found myself in danger, my life hanging in the balance, that I realized just how far things had gone. I had been blinded by my love for him, unable to see the warning signs that had been there all along.

Blinded by his erotic halo, a simple hello captured me to the point of submission as I discreetly watched him approach me. I succumbed to the mystery of love at first sight. There was something captivating and intoxicating about him that had me mesmerized to the point of weakness.

I am sure he noticed that as he approached me. He was just a perfect man. He approached me slowly, deliberately looking deep into my eyes. His deep gaze shook me to the core. My imagination was ablaze in the moment, and my creative juices started flowing. I surely became the queen of cupidity instantly. His greeting was cordial and gentlemanly, but it had an undercurrent that drowned me instantly in the sea of his affection, changing my life forever.

We exchanged