Posts by Tammy René
Healing Emotional Trauma and Building on the Light
Emotional trauma has a way of twisting reality, making it hard to see our way to healing. The pain and fear gets a strangle-hold on our hope, blinding us to the very light that can sustain us through the hardship. Trauma has a way of sneaking up on most of us. For some it is…
Read MoreHealing Truths
Childhood abuse resulted in most of my energy being used to fight feelings of worthlessness and despair. At one of my lowest points as a teenager, a leader in our youth group reached out to me for help with a project. Her “needing” me planted a seed of hope—maybe there was something inside me of…
Read MoreTo Friends of Abuse Victims
Things for friends of abuse victims to understand: When you have been a victim of any kind of abuse, one of the hardest things to do is to admit to yourself and others that you have been deeply hurt by those who should love and care for you. Whether you are an abused child or…
Read MoreFeast on the Light
Encouragement to feast on the light from my friend, Cindy: “Don’t view all that you experience in life through lenses darkened by the scars of abuse (or addictions). There is so much in life that is beautiful. Open the windows of your heart and let the love of the Savior in.” (Richard G. Scott) I…
Read MoreWhen the “Why” Can’t Be Answered
A few years ago, a friend shared the heartbreaking story of 3 year-old Sarah facing the dreaded enemy—cancer. My friend talked about the courage of Sarah and the steadfast love and attention of Sarah’s mother, Adriana as they struggled to find peace. As the month’s passed, the grief of the little girl’s suffering weighed heavily…
Read MoreIn My Arms
The joys of being a mom can be dimmed by heartache and the wounding loss of a baby before he is ever held in your arms. My daughter-in-law, Krista, shared this story with me— My husband and I were overjoyed when we discovered we were pregnant with our third child. After almost a year long…
Read MoreLessons from a Second Father
A father’s influence is something that can be felt for generations. For good or bad we carry with us the lessons learned by their actions and how they lived their life. While my biological father’s influence was not a good one, I was fortunate to have lessons from a second father, Lane. Lane was my…
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