John Zehring

Did He Hit Her? John Zehring

Did He Hit Her tells the story of a woman who became entangled in an abusive relationship later in life with a man whose jealous and controlling behavior drained her of her vitality, happiness and health. Did he hit her? No, not physically, but he hit her with a two-by-four timber of emotional abuse. Would physical violence have been more abusive than his narcissistic pathological need to control which thrust its jealous hand into her soul and cupped it over her heart, smothered it, denied it breathing space and crushed its joy until it just could not beat another beat? He knew her vulnerability and her need and he exploited it. Emotional abuse is domestic violence. Around the world, at least one in four women has been or will be physically or sexually abused during her lifetime. Far more will be emotionally abused. Domestic abuse does not care about how much education you have, how well raised you were, how much money you've got, how successful you've been, what kind of person you are, where you live or where you go to church. This booklet suggests resources where women may find help. The faith crisis and spiritual challenges which can result from abuse are addressed in a compassionate Christian affirmation. Sometimes the Bible is taken out of context and misused to justify abuse or rationalize the inequality of women. The book also encourages women in an abusive relationship to affirm their rights as human beings.