Love the Size of a Horse Chestnut
Deep inside my pocket, or oftentimes in the palm of my hand, I carry a horse chestnut. To all outward appearances it’s nothing more than that: a plain, simple, ordinary horse chestnut. But to me, it’s a sacred object.
It’s easy to feel unloved—and unlovable—when struggling through an abusive relationship. Victims are often told outright that they aren’t worthy of love, or the attack can come in different words but with the same meaning. Verbal abuse—phrases such as “you’re stupid,” “you’re ugly,” “you’re selfish/cold/mean” etc.—is just another way of being told we’re not cherished by our partner. An individual with covert tendencies will often say things such as “you hate me,” or play the victim in order to guilt their target into submission.
These words and actions also show a lack of empathy and love.
That’s why—for the sake of our mental health and emotional well-being—a group of understanding, supportive loved ones is so crucial. There’s a reason the LORD God declares in Genesis 2:18, “it is not good that man should be alone.” He created us as social beings, living in a social world. Isolation is a detriment to health and healing.