Will you help?
A Facebook friend posted a plea for financial aid and prayer help for a local mom with whom she goes to church and she has known for many years. Michelle and the children fled their home the evening of the assault and spent the next three weeks in a domestic violence shelter. During that time, an order for protection was filed against her husband. She is now back home with the children.
Of course, I began private messaging information that I thought might be useful and important during this time of financial and legal need for her friend.
Mid-week brought an opportunity for me to talk with and pray for this abused mom, Michelle. I’m overwhelmed for her! Michelle has multiple sclerosis so she obviously battles health issues. Michelle has nine children and is in a high risk pregnancy with number ten on the way. Put that combination together and imagine how a woman who has been a stay-at-home mom the last nine years is going to find a job to support her family when she isn’t capable of working during this pregnancy; plus not many employers will be thrilled to find out a new employee will need time off for MS health issues, and/or time off for taking care of sick kids when they come home from school with the latest virus.
There is a common thread woven through Michelle’s abuse that I often refer to on my blog under Toxic Tuesday posts. It’s a common factor (term/diagnosis) I hear of over and over by abused women.
I’m not able to go into details about the attack against Michelle for legal reasons, or about what is taking place in the courts. I can tell you that she is optimistic, hopeful, joyful, and is living day by day trusting in God…and praying…and keeping scriptures printed out and in front of her to help through difficult daily moments.
I’m asking my readers to go to the below YOUCARING link and make a contribution to help Michelle purchase groceries and take care of immediate financial needs for her family.
Please pray for Michelle, and for her kids. Obviously, when abuse happens with children in the home the children are also traumatized.
Thank you in advance for your compassion.
Hebrews 13:16 “Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.”
I can tell you, with absolute certainty, that this unfortunate woman is about to take the ride of her life, though the family courts. She and thousands, maybe millions of women like her can expect NO support from the legal system. The judiciary in Missouri has bastardized the statutes that protect women like Michelle, and others who have chosen to sacrifice personal growth through education and career advancement to stay at home and care for children and husbands, and created “case law” in direct conflict the intent of legislation that supports and values their sacrifices. There has been a trend, that has been reinforced over decades of family court judges legislating from the bench to weaken the value and contribution of women in the home. It is VERY unlikely, when the smoke clears, that she will little, if any, support from the father of her children as courts have all but eliminated responsibility of men to provide financial support to women after divorce, progress is also advancing in eliminating child support too.
And it’s not just happening to women, the courts are ruling against responsible fathers in cases where the mother is deficient.
It’s not about men against women, women against men, It’s about an agenda to destroy the “family” foundation of our culture. And people need to stand up and support these women/families as much as possible, not only with their money, but with their voices.
Judges are influenced by public outcry. Most family court issues are played out in the darkness of a judges chambers and never see the light of day.
Maybe it’s time for things to change.
I too am concerned about this. Court needs to be more public as to hold the judges accountable; if that’s possible. The only way that I can see this happening is for large groups of friends, family, and invited media to show up at the court dates in support of the healthy parent. I’m not saying all divorces are one sided, but where abuse is concerned the courts need to listen to the victim. I’m in favor of changing the guardian ad litem system too. The lowest on the totem pole lawyers who the court throws cases to to help them stay in their profession, or to help them build clientele needs to go. I’m not certain what the answer is but I believe a child psychologist would better serve these children. After all, G.A.L. lawyers have no background in child abuse, domestic violence, and/or personality disorders—and many abusers have personality disorders. The system will never be perfect, I understand that, but it can be improved.