Christian help for sexual abuse and teenage rebellion.   

Make Your Family a Stronger Unit

with Tips from Our Parents' Handbook

Improve your relationship with your children with the aid of Kalyn's Secret. This invaluable parents' handbook features the story of mother and daughter Lisa and Kalyn Cherry. Although it details their hardships, any parent who has struggled with his or her child's teenage rebellion will benefit from it. Read our parents' handbook and build a stronger bond with your child using advice from our authors in Carbondale, Illinois.

It Happened to My Daughter

                                                                                                by Lisa Cherry

       My first reaction when "it" was discovered? I was shocked. We had always been so careful with our kids and so close to their hearts. Nothing like this was ever supposed to happen! Overnight we were thrust into a world of teenage problems in the aftermath of the abuse: rebellion, depression, anger, shame, and suicide threats.

          In our case, we had caught the abuse before it developed into serious physical contact. So why was our daughter experiencing such extreme emotional and behavioral changes? It took us months to understand that any sexual exploitation of children or youth, can leave a wake of soul destruction that the child or youth and often the family are ill prepared to understand.

        With my own mother's heart wounded, I began to cry out to my Heavenly Father for answers: answers as to how to help my daughter, answers as to how to heal my own anguish, anger, and pain. Through it all, His amazing, healing love began to pour into my own damaged soul and then piece by piece and day by day he began to show us the path for Kalyn's healing.

        I can testify today that God's word absolutely works. His promises to our children are sure. God's word had been planted in our daughter's life at a young age and when she needed His power to bring her out of a pit, He came through for her and for our whole family!


A Note from Lisa...
        Perhaps you have lived through the nightmare of sexual abuse, or you know someone who has. Remember: Sexual abuse is never the victim's fault. The responsibility is always that of the abuser. Perhaps some other kind of wound has injured your heart. Whatever your pain, I encourage you to call upon the Lord Jesus Christ. He loves you, He sees your wounds and He died on the cross to carry your sorrow and bear your shame (Isaiah 53). Knowing what it feels like to suffer, He gave his life that you might be healed. Don't let the guilt of your own life sins and failures keep you from the one who loves you and wants to heal your life! Come to Him today. He is your hope. Receiving is your first step toward healing!

       You can pray this:

            "Dear God, My heart is broken, and I need you! I come to you with wounds, pains,fears, and failures. I confess to you that I am a sinner, having broken your holy laws. I ask you to forgive me. Cleanse my heart and mind. Jesus, I believe you died on the cross for my sins and for my healing. I believe you rose again that I might have new life. Be my Lord and my boss. I give you my life. Heal me, I pray. Restore what has been lost and set me on a new path of life. Amen."