This is an unusual book for me to choose as a review subject. While I am not someone to pretend that abuse does not exist, it is to me a very sad subject that brings up too many emotions to be an easy or entertaining read or even a book that I can read a few pages, then put the book down and go to sleep. While I feel sorry about the victim of abuse, I am more concerned with the fact that the abuser is often a person that lives in our midst, could be a colleague at work or my neighbor because domestic abuse is often well hidden and rarely is known even to close friends of the abused.
Mrs. Tucker describes in this book the abuse she suffered from a husband, who was representing Christian religion. While this shows that not even a man of the church is above domestic abuse, it also shows that abusers can be people who are held up as heroes in society, people whose character we should emulate and who are considered leaders of the community. This example by Mrs Tucker therefore underscores the real problem with abuse, both parties, the abused and the abuser, are quite adept at hiding the abuse. The abused will often feel it is their fault and believe the promises that the abuse will end and the abuser just lost it for a moment. The abuser may feel remorse until the next situation causes the anger to turn into abuse again.
This book is an easy book to read, but it is an important book. It makes you realize that dark sides can be present in some of the most respected members of the community and Mrs. Tucker is eloquently describing how domestic abuse is not a matter between a man and a woman, but a struggle that affects the community and, in this book, the church community. We all need to be aware that these things occur and need to be willing to speak up and do the right thing. It is hard to believe that a man of the church can be an abuser, but this is what makes the book so important; to raise awareness that abuse can occur in what seem like happy families and outstanding members of the community. What is the responsibility of the church in these situations? In my opinion, to assist both parties, but also to be willing to openly address abuse of any kind. Pretending it does not exist and be silent on the topic will be seen as weakness. So the church needs to acknowledge that abuse can take many forms and can be present in many forms in the church. This is one of the important messages of this book.
Disclaimer:
I received a free copy of the book in exchange for an honest review. The opinion expressed in this post is solely my own and has not been influenced by any third party.
