by Raegan Smith | Jul 24, 2024 | Hearts Restored, Pregnancy, Restoration
Clarity’s Hearts Restored team had the opportunity this spring to partner with Haley Potter, a local 2024 senior, for her senior project! Haley had been personally impacted by the way her aunt grieved her own miscarriage. She wanted to honor her aunt’s loss, which led her to Hearts Restored. She decided to craft memory boxes for women who have experienced reproductive loss. Since Haley is a member of a Clarity partner church, she appealed to her church’s mission team to underwrite the costs for the project goal of 30 boxes.
Each special keepsake box contained a teddy bear, pink and blue beaded bracelets with a foot charm, a journal, pen, chapstick, tissues, and a copy of “I’ll Hold You in Heaven” by Jack Hayford. The boxes also included a hand painted rock by Haley and her family, a personal letter from Haley, and information about the Hope After Reproductive Loss care group. During Haley’s project presentation, one of the panelists praised Haley and stated she so appreciated the thought and care behind the boxes. Openly weeping, she shared that she had herself experienced 5 miscarriages. At that moment, Haley and Hearts Restored Assistant Director, Karen Riley, had the opportunity to minister to the panelist and present her with one of the boxes. She was so moved and appreciative that she had to excuse herself to regain composure.
Since Haley’s presentation, they have given 12 boxes to two different funeral homes. One of the funeral homes asked how they could get more of these boxes! They also have a meeting scheduled with the CRH Bereavement team to share the memorial boxes. Realizing the opportunity for connection and healing that these boxes have opened, Karen spoke to one of the Senior Project coordinators about future seniors helping with this new Legacy Project. An upcoming senior may utilize the project but put their own creativity into it. That way, a community need is still being met and affords the student their individuality and creativity. Our Hearts Restored team looks forward to mentoring more seniors with this project. If you have an interest in helping with this project, please reach out to Karen Riley at 812-341-5114 or karen.riley@claritycares.org.
by Clarity Cares | Dec 4, 2019 | Abortion, Hearts Restored
A woman who had an abortion when she was a teen recently said
, “All of this social media hate-talk about women who chose abortion has triggered my self-condemnation again. They don’t know my story…why I thought I had no other option”.
Do these words sounds familiar? Are you or a friend triggered by the shaming of others?
There is so much in the media today with lawmakers debating about abortion. People are talking about the recent popular movie, Unplanned, that highlighted the truth about abortion procedures inside clinics.
We can’t escape the topic.
For many years, you may have stuffed away those memories of your past. All the details may now surface and your anxiety heightens. Now, what do you do? You have a choice.
- Work extra hard to run from the thoughts and feelings.
- Allow the emotions to come, and contact someone who understands and cares.
Fear of rejection and shame may have kept you silent for years, but there are safe and caring women who will embrace you.
Your secret is safe within a Hearts Restored support group. Everyone shares the same secret and commits to confidentiality for each other.
The “me too” about abortion can be a welcoming sound. You know you aren’t alone. You know someone gets what you are going through.
Contact Sue Ketchum by phone at 812.567.3150 or by email about the next Healing After Abortion support group.
Men need healing, too. Contact Don Stuart by phone at 812.720.0802 or by email to meet one-on-one.
**Due to the current COVID-19 restrictions, Hearts Restored group studies are not meeting in person at this time. Please contact Sue at 812.567.3150 to learn about connecting with an online support person or group.
by Clarity Cares | Nov 7, 2018 | Hearts Restored
“I never knew how much the sexual abuse in my past impacted so much of my life. I can now see how my false beliefs from that trauma influenced decisions that I made. Relationships were difficult – I never wanted anyone close enough to learn about the shameful things that happened to me. I never felt worthy of being loved and cherished. I always felt damaged and used – dirty and abused.”*
Clarity’s support group studies, offered through Hearts Restored, help women and men realize the possibility to heal from the burden of shame and pain of sexual abuse. Past participants testify to feeling freedom after carrying the burden of their secret for so long. Others grieve their innocence lost, yet find healing and peace. Depression and anxiety lessen, as joy creeps back into wounded hearts.
“I appreciated the confidentiality that the group offered. My privacy was protected, but I loved getting to know others that shared common fears, confessed similar ways to cope, and expressed the same feelings.”*
Whether you have experienced childhood abuse; teenage date rape; sexually inappropriate verbal, physical, or visual exposure; or coercion from a partner or spouse – all of that and more is called sexual abuse and misuse. Many men and women tend to minimize or deny the effect of the incident(s). It is time to stop burying the feelings, suppressing the anger, and hiding the truth. There is freedom, when truth is revealed. You are not alone! Compassionate facilitators have walked in your shoes and understand you.
Hearts Restored: Overcoming Sexual Abuseis a recovery study and support group for women. Make a confidential call or text to Sue at 812.567.3150 or by email. New groups will begin in February – daytime and evening hours.
Hearts Restored: Overcoming Sexual Abuse is for men, too. Don can lead you through the healing study one-on-one. Make a confidential call or text to Don at 812.720.0802 or by email.
*past participant in a women’s Overcoming Sexual Abuse recovery study.
