Jeremiah 29:11

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares The Lord, "Plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future."



Wednesday, October 23, 2013

Whitney's Story..

Whitney Delcourt and I met a little over a year ago and quickly became friends.  We had a lot in common so it made it easy!  As our friendship grew, we realized we had more in common than we first thought.... We both had a history touched by Domestic Violence..  You see, Whitney had a sister... A beautiful 105 pound, 27 year old Real Estate Agent named Kendall Dodson.  Kendall was Whitney's best friend and at times, her worst enemy.. they were sisters. 

Notice how I am using past tense when I describe Kendall?  The sad reality is... Kendall was murdered on October 30th, 1991 by her boyfriend.  He shot her in the head.... Called 911... Admitted to shooting her, saying it was an "accident".... and got only days in jail... He literally got away with murder....

Kendall's father described her in these words at her funeral: "My wonderfull Kendall, a friendly puppy, instantly friends with anyone she met, whether executive or bus boy, beautiful, warm, witty, funny, smart with a mouth to match, pseudo-cynic, flippant, sometimes exasperating, benevolent con artist, cruise control set on 100.  She loved all others and desperately wanted to be loved in return but often constitutionally incapably of admitting it; insecure, always trusting and vulnerable, secretly frightened by a world in which ill will and meaness so often prevail.  We often silently communicated in a room full of people.  Our faults and our strengths were identical.  When we looked at one another, we saw a mirror.  She is me.  I am her.  One..."

The family saw a few signs of the abuse but as most vicitms are, Kendall was very good at explaining away the bumps, bruises, cuts, scrapes etc.. She thought her abuser was her friend...

After the funeral, the family took a bouqet of yellow roses from her grave to Women's Haven with the following note:

In loving memory of our wonderful Kendall, 27 years old, who was murdered on
October 30th, 1991.  She thought her abuser was her friend.  Her family brought
these flowers from her grave to you.  Some of them are wilted, as are you.
Some are dead, as is she.  Please remember Kendall when you consider
returning to the man whose violence sent you to seek safety at Women's Haven.
 
If you are in an abusive relationship or you know someone who is, think about Kendall... Let her senseless murder help to save someone else's life, maybe even yours... Think about your family, your children, sitting at your funeral looking at the rose covered box that holds their precious loved one... Who will never come back to them.. Think about the feelings and the emotions they are feeling... Let it really sink in... because once it does.. Once you see it from their point of view.. Maybe it will give you the strength you need to make the most scariest decision you will ever make... Remember, it takes so much more strength to LEAVE an abusive relationship than it does to STAY...
 
YOU are an OVERCOMER... YOU can be a SURVIVOR... YOU WILL get through this...
 
Philippians 4:13 "I can do ALL things through Christ who strengthens me"
 
Notice it doesn't say "I can a FEW things".. No it says "I CAN DO ALL THINGS"...
 
Kendall (on the left) and Whitney... "I still remember when we took this picture. We were at Dave & Busters in the photo booth trying to get a cute picture...and we just could not keep from laughing. Never laughed so much....She taught me to not take myself so serious and to laugh." Whitney

In Loving Memory of Kendall Brett Dodson