If you sincerely say “This should never have happened” to a survivor, you’re communicating a lot with five words.

You’re saying “It was wrong for a child to be hurt, and it was not your fault. Adults were responsible for keeping you safe.”

You’re saying “It is never God’s purpose or plan for innocent people—including children—to be hurt.”

You’re saying  “No one should ever have to bear the kind of pain that you experienced as a child, and that you still live with.”

You’re saying “I am so sorry that you have to go through this.”

All of this will help survivors begin to feel that you see them, hear them, believe them, and care about them. And that’s a great start.

Thank you for being interested in doing this work. I’d love to hear your thoughts. Please email me, any time: Mary.Brown@SilenceBrokenNow.org.

Your words and attention can help survivors heal.
Photo by Priscilla Du Preez 🇨🇦 on Unsplash