Transcending Heights: Journey to Freedom

By Sylvia Hill

Transcending Heights: Journey to Freedom is the first published work of this author. This journey explores desires to be accepted, engage in fulfilling relationships, finding self, and the various lessons that are learned throughout the journey about truly finding love, self-respect, and self-worth before even engaging in intimate relationships with others.

Furthermore, the awareness of domestic violence through the lens of the author is shared with readers to provide insights into healthy versus unhealthy relationships, signs that are often ignored in abusive relationships, the importance of rehabilitation for batterers, services for survivors, and the importance of informing young people of healthy relationships and boundaries.

Furthermore, the impact that domestic violence has on society is highlighted in this story. Throughout the journey of transcending heights and arriving at the point of freedom, there will be more obstacles to overcome, goals to set, and purposes to fulfill. The author allows readers to peek inside the journey that she and her family endured as she realized that everything that she ever needed to serve God's purpose was right before her.

After her near-death experience, she still faced other struggles and challenges; however, God placed angels in her path that were able to continue to assist her on the journey to freedom.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Christian Faith Publishing, Inc.
• Release date: Aug 4, 2021
• ISBN: 9781098087616

Book preview

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Transcending Heights

Journey to Freedom

Sylvia Hill

Copyright © 2021 by Sylvia Hill

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods without the prior written permission of the publisher. For permission requests, solicit the publisher via the address below.

Christian Faith Publishing, Inc.

832 Park Avenue

Meadville, PA 16335

www.christianfaithpublishing.com

Printed in the United States of America

Table of Contents

Lessons Learned

TJ’s Drowning Accident

Future Accomplishments

Establishing a Strong Support System

In loving memory of Renee

Disclaimer: Some names have been changed and details of events have been omitted to protect confidentiality of others that were involved whose identities will remain anonymous.

Preface

I went through my life feeling as though I needed to be in an intimate relationship with someone to feel complete. I remember hearing stories of women being abused by their partners. I never thought that I would fall victim to domestic violence. This book goes out to all the survivors of violence. Additionally, I want to thank God; my dad, Ralph Hill Sr.; my mom, Amy Hill; my four beautiful and talented children; my brothers and sisters; my pastor and first lady (Greater St. Luke, Missionary Baptist Church, Arcadia, La.); my former counselor; and my family at work for supporting me, loving me, and teaching me how to be free and live life to the fullest.

Chapter 1

Evolution of Domestic Violence

Before I begin telling you my story, I think that it is important to break down the various and complicated elements of domestic violence. Domestic violence can be defined as any form of abuse (physical, mental, spiritual, or emotional) that occurs in the home between intimate partners. Some people think that only women are victims, but there are some male victims.

Most abusive relationships start off as normal as any other relationships. Two people meet, and they begin to spend time with each other. Of course, both people are trying to impress each other, so they try to be respectful, courteous, and perfect. However, the more time they spend together, their true colors will be revealed.

Usually by the time a person realizes that he or she is involved in an abusive partnership, he or she may have had children with their partner, or he or she may have developed extraordinarily strong feelings for the person. In these situations, it may be difficult for the victim to escape the violent situation. Now the victim is a prisoner in his or her home and is confused about what the next step should be.

Why do people become abusers? This is a question that I am sure many people want to know the answer to. In some situations, children witness violence during their upbringing. Some of the children will make a special vow to refrain from becoming like their abusive parent. Some of the children will internalize what they have witnessed, and they become abusers.

In some situations, abusers may have been involved in some bad relationships in the past. This has caused them to have major trust issues, and it is difficult for them to develop healthy, trusting, and loving relationships with anyone. Regardless of why people abuse, it is apparent that this phenomenon affects everyone in society whether they realize it or not.

Although people may think this will never happen to them, I am here to tell you that it happens to people all over the world every day. You can raise your son or daughter in a loving environment, and he or she may end up in a relationship with a young man or young woman down the street who has witnessed severe physical and emotional abuse all his or her life. The best thing that we can do as parents is provide our children with a loving home. In this loving home, we must be as honest as we can with our children about relationships. We should set the example of what healthy relationships are.

Although you may provide your children with the most loving home possible, he or she may still fall in love with someone who is dangerous. With that being said, it is important that we keep an open line of communication with our children. They should feel comfortable with talking to us about anything.

Now if your children are anything like I was, they probably still will not tell you. I never wanted for my parents to worry about me. I hid the domestic abuse that I was experiencing for years. Even though I did not disclose this information to my parents, they prayed for me constantly. That brings me to my next solution: we should always pray. Our children will meet people who are not out for their best interests. Our