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This page is dedicated to poetry about abuse

The poems on this page have all been contributed by Natalie McDonnell (nee Price), herself a survivor of abuse.
In her poetry, she expresses the pain of abuse and her release from that abuse.
Through her poetry, she endeavours to encourage victims to seek the great help she has found in Christ.
Natalie,  may be contacted through this web site by using the CONTACT form.

Natalie's poems have now been broken up into multiple pages so as to reduce the size of each page.
Each page will now contain a maximum of 20 poems.
You can move from page to page by clicking on the page links to the left.

GOD’S LOVE HAS PUT A
BIG SMILE BACK ON MY FACE


True love has no boundaries
You know you’ve have it
When you’ve found peace
Material possessions
Mean very little
When your heart
Is full of content
God has this amazing way
Of showing us this
In a world full of
Greed and contempt
I pray that God leads me
In everything I do
The life I came from
Was pure misery
In what I went through
My tormented mind
Did not cope
Until I accepted Jesus
At the moment
The chains of the devil
Finally broke
I never thought I could
Ever be this happy
I never thought I could
Be at peace
I never thought I would
Ever be contented
But God’s love in me
Has been cemented
Whether I live on this
Earth or go home to
Be with my living Lord
I will always know God’s love
In Him, I will always adore
Suffering is part of life
It was through this suffering
That I found life
My painful memories
I’ve left behind
The future is glorious
It’s only in a matter of time
You’ve changed a hopeless life
By showing me what true love is
This has put a big smile
Back on my face
Thank you my heavenly Father
For your mercy and grace

© Natalie McDonnell October 5th 2011


SHE TREATS HIM LIKE A FOOL

This woman goes right off
For every little thing
It’s impossible to relax
Never knowing what
The next day will bring
All you hear is bedlam
Coming from their house
Most people are afraid
To say anything because
She throws stuff at them
As they cower down
Like a mouse
Suddenly you see
Her partner’s clothes
Thrown onto the ground
Obscene language
Is yelled at him
As she tells him
To get out and leave town
Everything they own
Is in her name
She has even threatened
To smash all he had
Before she came
Just so he would
Have nothing left
It’s like she wants
To hurt him deeply
Their little daughter
Cries as she sees
Her dad upset
This has been going
On for some time
This sort of behaviour
Would send anyone
Off their mind
It’s a wonder her partner
Hasn’t lost his cool
Every time they’re
Together she
Treats him like a fool
Her parents cannot
Stand her partner
Because of all her lies
This situation is serious
He could become suicidal
Something needs to be done
Before someone gets
Hurt and dies

© Natalie McDonnell October 6th 2011

STAMP OUT THE DEVIL

Suffering challenges
Our spirit to succeed
What comes from
These trials is wisdom
And growth, this
Is what God has
Taught me
Through every
Trial we learn
Something new
We may not like
What we go through
At the time
But one day you will
Look back and thank
God for the way he
Has kept you in line
I’ve made plenty
Of mistakes and I’ve
Paid a high price
For doing things my way
I hated listening to
What my parents
Had to say
But it’s a different
Story today
If I had of listened
To Godly advice
I may not have been
Abused for many
Years of my life
When you make a
Decision to do
Something you know
Is very wrong
There is always
A very high cost
Not only to you, but
For your loved ones too
Praise God for
Directing my path
Stamp out the devil
And all his miserable wrath

© Natalie McDonnell October 7th 2011

THESE WORDS HAVE WISDOM

You make a rod for your
Own back when you fall
Off the wagon and leave
The righteous track
I found this out very fast
The grass always looks
Greener on the other side
Until temptation
Gets the better of you by
Listening to the devil’s lies
It’s been long
Road for recovery
Years and years I might add
I was a know it all and it
Didn’t worry me that I
Did things that were bad
Boy didn’t I come down a
Peg or two when God
Saw I was getting out of hand
I had very little respect for
My parents, due to the
Abuse I suffered as a child
Rebelling was not the best
Idea because I grew up
To be pretty wild
I hated being nasty and vile
Something inside of me
Told me this is not
How I should be
I have nothing but praise
For my God and for
What he done for us
On the cross
I for one didn’t deserve
His grace, he saved me
Because I was lost
Nobody gets away
With doing wrong even if
They think they can
There is nothing hidden
That God cannot see
No matter how tough you
Think you are or strong
Your lies and deceit is
Always known, it’s only a
Matter of time before these
Things are revealed
And when you’re caught out
It’s you that will feel
Such a dishonest heel

©Natalie Price October 8th 2011

WAKE UP BEFORE IT’S TOO LATE

The love of money
Can destroy the soul
Especially if it’s the only
Thing that motivates you
To get everything
Under your control
Some people will stop
At nothing to get what
They want, even if it
Means putting on
A false front
Men have come
After me in the past
For that very reason
I didn’t have all
That much but
On their part
It was a fake liaison
I soon picked up
On their real motives
Especially when one
Was cheating on me
And he didn’t think
I would notice
Others would
Expect me to give
Them meals
Lend them money
To pay their bills
I was very rarely
Asked out on a date
All they did was
Fill my head with
Pretty words
Until I woke up
Before it was too late
Vulnerable lonely
Women are an
Easy target for
Unscrupulous men
This goes both ways
Of course as men
Cop the same thing
I often hear it
Happening to them
For me this would
Have been a big mistake
I woke up before it
Was too late
Praise God that I did
Otherwise they would
Have taken the lot
I can only thank my Lord
That they did not

© Natalie McDonnell October 9th 2011

THANK YOU JESUS
YOU HELPED ME SEE


Don’t be afraid to
Ask for guidance
It’s the first step
In the right direction
And don’t let pride
Stand in your way
From admitting
That you were wrong
Believe me, I came
From being a weak
Self doubting person
To being strong
I was always afraid
Of taking the first step
In trying anything new
Because I felt no one
Believed in me and
As a young person
I never had much
Encouragement
Even if it was due
My determination
To win came from
Years of being put down
Praise God I came through
With this fighting spirit
To fight back and win
I’ve overcome
These attacks
Because I knew
I must start
Believing in myself
Since then I feel my life
Has been enriched
So believe in yourself
We all have some gifts
So don’t keep them hidden
Have faith to believe
Because no matter what
Others think
You will succeed
God has faith in me
Thank you Jesus
That you helped me see

© Natalie McDonnell November 10th 2011

OUR MISSION

Our true mission is
Soon to begin
We’ve made a
Conscious effort
To turn our
Backs on sin
We’ve been called
To be disciples
To the lost and
Hungry souls
Who cry out from
Their desolate
Wilderness
Where their lives
Are out of control
There is hurting
And abused people
In everyplace we go
We intend to tell
Them about Jesus
Because we are
Living miracles
As we know
The love of Jesus
Just shines from
Our hearts
Both of us have
Been to hell and
Back again, but
That’s all in the past
The time is here
And people will hear
The stories we
Have to share
The reason we are
So passionate about
This, is because
We do understand and care
Our mission is to
Travel this land by
Giving hope to the ones
In utter despair
We know what its like
When some things
In life are hard to bear

© Natalie McDonnell October 12th 2011

I ONCE THOUGHT I HAD TO BUY LOVE AND ATTENTION

Life brings us challenges
Wherever we seem to go
The grass often looks
Greener on the other
Side of the fence
But honestly, do we really know
Sometimes we jump
Into things far too soon
It’s only a matter of time
When you see your plans in ruin
God has a perfect plan
For every step we take
But for some reason or other
We keep making terrible mistakes
This has happened to me
Most of my entire life
I just kept refusing to listen
Consequently my life
Was filled with strife
Bad relationships one after another
Abuse seem to consumed me
In the end, I wondered
Why I bothered
People use to tell me
These guys are using you
It was an awful experience
To go through
I once thought I had to buy
Love and attention
But to their closest friends
I was never mentioned
My heart was breaking deep inside
I tried to conceal my feelings
This was very difficult to hide
At times I hid away
So that I could have a good cry
If someone truly loves you
You are wonderfully blessed
Sometimes we walk away
Tragically our lives become a mess
In the end I started to listen
To what God was telling me
I’m now happily married
And now know what
True love really means
For the first time I felt
My life was in God’s hands
When he answered my prayer
I soon met and married this wonderful man

© Natalie McDonnell October 30th 2011

WE COULD BE LIVING ON THE RUN

Teenagers can be very
Tough to handle
Especially when
They become abusive
Threatening to use
Violence to get
What they want
My own teenage kids
Were no exception
Even though their bluff
Was just a front
I know what its like to be
Threatened with a knife
We had to protect ourselves
And our property
This often ended in a fight
Our house was like a war zone
I hated going home
I was so embarrassed to face
My neighbours
I hated being alone
My kid’s demands became
More threatening
As time went on
They knew the laws would
Protect them, even if
They were in the wrong
I often wonder what
Society will be like in
Many years to come
If this is an indication
We could be living on the run

© Natalie McDonnell October 2011

THERE IS NO NEED TO FEEL GUILTY

Why do I have to feel guilty
Living my own life
I’ve always been there
For family because
I believed that was right
Now that I’m married
My husband must come first
But the family don’t
Always understand this
But I refuse to be coerced
I haven’t stopped
Loving my family
But my life must carry on
They don’t like me interfering
When their lives go wrong
My family want control
This I do not intend to give
God is my source of strength
Where he guides me, I will live
Family can be selfish in thinking
What is only best for them
As long as I’m doing
What they want
I do not get condemned
My family are adults
They live their own lives
I know longer skip to their tune
For once I’m thinking wise
Sometimes we have to be
Tough and stand
Our own ground
There is no way I’m being
Dictated too, this only
Pulls me down
Many people put
Their lives on hold
To satisfy their
Family’s wishes
And their kids
There is no way
On earth we intend
To do this, I would
Lose my plot and
Blow my lid
Making the break
Is hard to do
But doing what your
Family wants will
Never help you

©Natalie McDonnell November 4th 2011

MENTALLY DISTURBED

This man is in
A dark place
His heart is full
Of unforgiveness
This misery is
Seen in his face
He refuses to listen
To anything we say
He constantly
Discredits us
By talking over us
Making sure things
Go his way
It’s impossible
To reason with
This man
It doesn’t make
Any difference
Even though we’ve
Tried to reach him
In trying to help
Him understand
Mentally I feel he is
Severely disturbed
Something bad has
Happened to him
Down the line
He certainly is
Showing all the signs
As far as he is concerned
Everyone he meets
Attacks him in
No uncertain terms
For the first time
I actually felt
Sorry for him
His mind is so
Messed up, its all
Over the place
I hope someone
Will help him
Before it’s too late

© Natalie McDonnell October 2011

NATURAL AUSTRALIANS
ARE LOSING THEIR HOPE AND LAND


Our leader is ruthless
Without a heart
Power has gone
To her head and
This is without a doubt
She is an enemy to the
People she governs
She might as well
Use an axe in the
Way she bludgeons
She says if we’re under stress
Her words, get over it
People are being
Forced to work
Well into their old age
It doesn’t matter
How difficult it is for them
As long as they earn a wage
Some of us find
It hard to learn
Literacy and numeracy skills
Many people suffer with
Learning difficulties
Their lack of ability
Was not their will
Yet we have a heartless
Cruel Prime Minister
Who expects us to cope
She says the workforce
Needs to be highly
Adaptable because
Of the pace and stress
It’s more like she hopes
To kill us off and
Only keep the best
This country is going broke
It’s her way of
Hanging us with a rope
She certainly has helped
Stuff this nation
People have lost
Trust in any form
Of relations
Our Prime Minister
Will have a mutiny
On her hands
She better take notice soon
Natural Australians
Are losing their hope
And their land

© Natalie McDonnell November 13th 2011

HE IS OUT OF HIS MIND

I can’t believe how
Possessive this man is
I’m sure his
Mind is twisted
He seems to
Have stumbled
Off the bridge
If only he would listen
But he cannot take
No for an answer
He’s like a leech
That sinks in
Like cancer
His presence makes
My skin crawl
You can’t reason
With this man
It’s difficult to
Reach him
I don’t think
Anybody can
Everyone he meets
His anger pushes
Them away
His world is
Full of darkness
And despair
Many times I
Have tried to
Cover him in prayer
And many times
I’ve tried to reach
Out to him, only
He becomes aggressive
And then he scares me off
The trouble with me, is
I’m too soft
His behaviour is
Is extremely erratic
Even though I’ve
Tried to be sympathetic
Now I’ve had enough
He stresses me out to the max
I can only hope God intervenes
If only our Mental Health system
Would listen to facts
He’s threatened suicide
Many times
I honestly think
He is out of his mind

© Natalie McDonnell November 2011

BEING A MUM IS NOT ALWAYS FUN

Sometimes I feel like
Running away
Life is not easy I must say
So many things
Have got me down
This darkness feels so deep
I feel as if I’ve drowned
At times it feels that
Everything is against me
It doesn’t matter how hard I try
This burden doesn’t leave
Dear God, I have to ask why
My children seem so far away
Their hearts have so easily turned
From the love I thought
Would always stay
I’m hurt because of their lack of care
I find this pain so hard to bear
This is not the way that
They were brought up
When I try to explain
They’re very abrupt
How can anyone do this
To their own flesh and blood
I feel I’ve been tramped on
And treated like mud
I’ve always been there
To encourage them and
Showed them that I cared
Now I’ve moved away
It’s like that they just don’t care
Being a mum is not always fun
They’ve loss all respect
What they’ve said cannot be undone
Once there was trust, now there is none

© Natalie McDonnell January 2012

WE HAVE NO WEAPONS

There is so much brutality going on
Horrific acts of human cruelty
You’re can’t help thinking
About your own security
Everyday this evilness
Faces us wherever we go
Most of us don’t want to know
Yet these treacherous brutes
Are surrounding us
Ready to attack
We need to be ready
To face this reality
Be ready to act
This world is so unstable
What I’m telling you
Is not a fable
We have no weapons
To defend ourselves
This government
Breaks its promises
They do that very well
Relying on them is
Out of the question
Our only hope
Let me make a suggestion
Accept Jesus Christ and
Make him your Saviour
Invite him in to sit at your table
Give him your trust
His word doesn’t corrode away
His promises aren’t full of rust
We have entered a time of upheaval
This world is in chaos
Filling up with evil
The weapons we have
Are not from this world
But they have more power
And found in God’s Holy word

© Natalie McDonnell January 2012

LOVE IS THE GREATEST HEALER

A good lover is something
I’ve never been
This has haunted me
All these years
Especially when I think
Of the years in between
I try very hard not to
Go back to that time
Now that I’m married
You would think things
Would be fine
I pretend that
Love making is
A joyful event
But deep inside
There are parts
Of it I resent
I don’t let on
That’s the last
Thing I would do
I would hate to hurt
My husband when
He is so loyal and true
Believe me I do try
Pretending to him
Is really telling a lie
I love my man
Very sincerely
He loves me too
And very dearly
So why can’t I respond
In the way that I should
It’s like those
Feelings are gone
I pray it’s not for good
Healing of abuse
Can come only one way
Learn to forgive and
Send those demons away
The devil is the destroyer
But love is the greatest healer

© Natalie McDonnell February 2012