My trauma does not define me, it reminds me
It reminds me of the sacred duty I have to heal my body, mind, and soul.
It reminds me that those who harmed me are not responsible for my healing.

That choice is mine. That right is mine.

And that assignment — tailor made — comes from my Heavenly Father.

Yes, I survived. But survival is not the end of the story. This has been the beginning of testing and shaping my humanity.

I recognize that I, too, am human.
It could have been me who caused harm.

It could have been me who was misunderstood, falsely accused, or locked away in silence.

So I ask:

Is anyone truly FREE from the capacity to harm? Is anyone truly safe from the silence of injustice?
We are all living in the tension between what was done to us, what we’ve done, and what we are becoming.

And, that sacred space is where healing begins.

Those who harmed us can’t heal us. We get that power back by choosing to Heal beyond our traumatic and violent experience; it’s how we choose. I chose to give back.

Love and Courage
Enako Jefferson
Crime Survivors Speak
Jireh Shalom Foundation