While doing research for my thesis, I found this tweet I had screenshot. If you have been following me at all for the last 5 or so years then you have probably gotten tired of hearing about my sexual assault in 2011. St. Patrick’s Day is the last day that I remember the date for. I was 19 and still trying to figure out where I stood in the world. Victim of sexual assault. That is where I stand. Or at least it’s where I have for the last 11yrs. I am stuck. I am afraid. How do you keep what occurred in your past while also letting go of the hold it has on you? How do you live a different way than you have? I was doing a Bible study and in it the lady said, “who is the devil using to still steal your peace?” I knew the answer. I have had conversations with family and friends about this “victim identity.” I’ve been told that it is either or. Either I am a victim or I am not. How do you choose when a crime was committed against you? How do you choose when there was no justice and no closure? Can I not be a victim who is no longer ruled by my victimness? In my thesis, I conclude that it is ok to keep the victim identity bc a crime was committed against the person. They. Are. A. Victim. To say otherwise is to dismiss their experience and their hurt. To say otherwise diminishes the crime committed against them. Something sexual assault survivors hear often. In my thesis, I conclude that image bearer of God should be put first and how the victim sees themselves. You are a child of God who is also a victim of a crime. So how do you let go of your identity? How do you let go of the only control you’ve had since your was taken away? How do you distinguish the “truths from the almost truths?” How? #11years #needpeace #victimidentity #ImagebearerofGod #doyouknowwhatyouareaskingmetodo #scaredtoletgo https://www.instagram.com/p/CbOJr-KLryUxBp5mi0dHf2SXzfJ-a1IteuF0WE0/?utm_medium=tumblr