Last week I invited my sister, Gladys Rutledge, to join us on Rhythm and Praise to share her story of surviving a physically and mentally abusive relationship (audio interview above). The interview left me teary eyed. Gladys is my big sister and we communicate daily. So why is it that I'm JUST learning about this heartbreaking season of her life that happened 10 years ago? Little did I know, THERE WAS MORE…SHE WASN'T FINISHED.
Gladys realized she had more to say…she wanted to be a bit more transparent. She emailed me her raw story to share with YOU. Ladies, I want you to read this story for yourself and realize THIS is NOT a promise of God. He promises us life more abundantly, an unexplainable peace and plans of prosperity, not harm. If any one is in this position today, please reach out. This doesn't have to be your life.
We met in a shopping center plaza in Spartanburg SC in 2007. We went on a spontaneous outing within hours of us meeting at a nearby restaurant. By the end of the night we was setting up our next date. After a few dating encounters we decided that we wanted a exclusive relationship. After a few months of being together, and me feeling as if I was in love, I invited him over to my apartment that me and a male roommate shared. He quickly became comfortable in being there. He purchased groceries for us (including my roommate) and started staying over. One night (I’m not really sure how to say it) but he forced him self on me, not in a regular missionary style but where he forcefully turned me over and had his way with me anally. I tried my hardest to stop him but he held me down forcefully where at one point it was hard for me to breathe. I felt paralyzed, I couldn't’t find a voice to yell, scream for help or anything. His actions was truly by surprise. I was in such a state of shock I remember just laying there on my stomach once he finished just shaking – my entire body shaking. I was still unable to speak and had tears in my eyes crying silently. He asked me what was wrong and I was still unresponsive. He then said I may have to take you to the hospital as your butt bone could be cracked. I still remember just being in total disgust of what had happened. He then began to apologize profusely saying it was an accident and if I would forgive him, it would never happen again. It was at that point I should have realized something was wrong with him, his entire personality changed within 30 minutes. Of course that wasn’t the point that I left. As time went on I eventually moved into my own apartment with a cousin. I was working on 12-hour shift rotations at a production facility so there were times where I could not answer my phone for 12 hours. He called me the following morning after I got home and cursed me out calling me literally everything
