Falling Sparrow: Overcoming the Ghosts of Sexual Abuse

"It’s not so much that I live in the past, as that the past lives in me": Those are the painfully honest words of a young Sparrow who feared she would never fly again. Her past refused to die. As author Greta Sheppard listened to her story and saw her posture of despair, she thought of the words of Jesus: "You are of more value than many sparrows." The feathers in her young, fragile wings were yanked away early in life by her father.

There are remarkable similarities between sparrows and humans. Although the sparrow fears humans, its worst predator is one of its own, the sparrowhawk. He waits until dusk and darkness to take advantage of the smaller sparrow’s isolation in the nest. The sparrowhawk attacks the innocent bird by removing its feathers, one by one, leaving the little bird stripped and distressed--even dead.

Human children, like sparrows, share the danger of predators too. In like manner, the child's main predator is one of its own kind: another human who will sexually abuse the young victim, often under the cover of darkness. He leaves it emotionally dead, bereft of virgin innocence; its pure, child-like trust blatantly betrayed.

They, as so many of us do, suffered many losses, just like the sparrow who loses its feathers to the attacking sparrowhawk. Sexual abuse victims lose essential feathers from their wings:

The feather of Truth
The feather of Trust
The feather of Innocence
The feather of Dignity
The feather of Value
The feather of Acceptance
The feather of Destiny

We were born to fly, but sexual abuse breaks our wings.

Falling Sparrow is a book of hope and encouragement for such victims--let go of the secret and let the healing begin:

Broken wings can be mended.
Damaged wings can be restored.
Some feathers do return.
There is life after abuse.

The Sparrow will fly again... higher than it's ever flown before.

1112219413
Falling Sparrow: Overcoming the Ghosts of Sexual Abuse

"It’s not so much that I live in the past, as that the past lives in me": Those are the painfully honest words of a young Sparrow who feared she would never fly again. Her past refused to die. As author Greta Sheppard listened to her story and saw her posture of despair, she thought of the words of Jesus: "You are of more value than many sparrows." The feathers in her young, fragile wings were yanked away early in life by her father.

There are remarkable similarities between sparrows and humans. Although the sparrow fears humans, its worst predator is one of its own, the sparrowhawk. He waits until dusk and darkness to take advantage of the smaller sparrow’s isolation in the nest. The sparrowhawk attacks the innocent bird by removing its feathers, one by one, leaving the little bird stripped and distressed--even dead.

Human children, like sparrows, share the danger of predators too. In like manner, the child's main predator is one of its own kind: another human who will sexually abuse the young victim, often under the cover of darkness. He leaves it emotionally dead, bereft of virgin innocence; its pure, child-like trust blatantly betrayed.

They, as so many of us do, suffered many losses, just like the sparrow who loses its feathers to the attacking sparrowhawk. Sexual abuse victims lose essential feathers from their wings:

The feather of Truth
The feather of Trust
The feather of Innocence
The feather of Dignity
The feather of Value
The feather of Acceptance
The feather of Destiny

We were born to fly, but sexual abuse breaks our wings.

Falling Sparrow is a book of hope and encouragement for such victims--let go of the secret and let the healing begin:

Broken wings can be mended.
Damaged wings can be restored.
Some feathers do return.
There is life after abuse.

The Sparrow will fly again... higher than it's ever flown before.

2.99 In Stock
Falling Sparrow: Overcoming the Ghosts of Sexual Abuse

Falling Sparrow: Overcoming the Ghosts of Sexual Abuse

by Greta Sheppard
Falling Sparrow: Overcoming the Ghosts of Sexual Abuse

Falling Sparrow: Overcoming the Ghosts of Sexual Abuse

by Greta Sheppard

eBook

$2.99 

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Overview

"It’s not so much that I live in the past, as that the past lives in me": Those are the painfully honest words of a young Sparrow who feared she would never fly again. Her past refused to die. As author Greta Sheppard listened to her story and saw her posture of despair, she thought of the words of Jesus: "You are of more value than many sparrows." The feathers in her young, fragile wings were yanked away early in life by her father.

There are remarkable similarities between sparrows and humans. Although the sparrow fears humans, its worst predator is one of its own, the sparrowhawk. He waits until dusk and darkness to take advantage of the smaller sparrow’s isolation in the nest. The sparrowhawk attacks the innocent bird by removing its feathers, one by one, leaving the little bird stripped and distressed--even dead.

Human children, like sparrows, share the danger of predators too. In like manner, the child's main predator is one of its own kind: another human who will sexually abuse the young victim, often under the cover of darkness. He leaves it emotionally dead, bereft of virgin innocence; its pure, child-like trust blatantly betrayed.

They, as so many of us do, suffered many losses, just like the sparrow who loses its feathers to the attacking sparrowhawk. Sexual abuse victims lose essential feathers from their wings:

The feather of Truth
The feather of Trust
The feather of Innocence
The feather of Dignity
The feather of Value
The feather of Acceptance
The feather of Destiny

We were born to fly, but sexual abuse breaks our wings.

Falling Sparrow is a book of hope and encouragement for such victims--let go of the secret and let the healing begin:

Broken wings can be mended.
Damaged wings can be restored.
Some feathers do return.
There is life after abuse.

The Sparrow will fly again... higher than it's ever flown before.


Product Details

BN ID: 2940011415876
Publisher: Greta Sheppard
Publication date: 07/19/2011
Sold by: Smashwords
Format: eBook
File size: 195 KB

About the Author

Greta Sheppard is a wife, mother, great-grandmother, accomplished communicator, and author. She’s a mature woman who hasn’t forgotten what it’s like to be young.

Her life’s journey has taken her to 55 countries. She has addressed and counseled thousands in marriage seminars, retreats and colleges around the world, alongside her husband, friend and mentor of 60 years, the late Dr. Rev. A.E. Sheppard.

As a mother of three, grandmother of six, and great-grandmother of three (with another on the way!), she is loved and respected for her nurturing and honest manner. Many whose lives her words have touched view her as a woman with courage to face the pain of the past, the reality of the present and the hope that tomorrow brings.
For more on Greta, visit her website and blog at http://www.sheppardministries.com.

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