Hurt, Healing, Forgiveness and Transformation

As introduced and promised in the previous post (if you missed it, you’ll definitely want to check it out here before proceeding to read on), here’s my great friend, Tami McClandish-Smith sharing a part of her story from her new book, Let the Bees Buzz: Finding Redemption in the Aftermath of School Bullying.
May it encourage you and provide peace to your soul. 🫶

When I was 17, bullying changed my life forever.

For years, a group of girls had targeted my happiness, success, and temper. I dealt with their gossip, rumors, name-calling, and dirty looks until my senior year, when they created a swarm of noise I could no longer ignore, and I stood up to them—with devastating results.

Have you ever stood up only to find yourself standing alone?

It can be an intimidating place where doubt invades.

Maybe you’ve felt like this over the past few years. Maybe you’ve been excluded from family gatherings because of your health decisions or ridiculed for being a “conspiracy theorist” by people you never expected to turn against you.

People who disagree, feel threatened, or just like stirring trouble, who use passive aggression to beat you down, cause you to question your worth, create conflict in your relationships, and damage your character.

Maybe they were your school bullies too—or your child’s.

Or it’s the reason you dread Christmas with the in-laws.

Or why work feels more like high school since you earned that promotion.

Gossip, rumors, name-calling, snarky comments, backstabbing, exclusion, manipulation, sabotage, betrayal, and humiliation—it’s the kind of stuff we attribute to teenage girls. 

However, it can impact us no matter our age, in the workplace, family, church, friendships, and on social media. 

If you or your child has ever faced this behavior, you know how wounding it can be. 

After I reacted to my bullies, I lost my friendships and community, my sense of belonging, my self-esteem, and my love for others. I even doubt whether I could endure one more day of life. 

I carried the shame of it all into adulthood, struggling to trust others and make sense of the rejection I had experienced. 

It wasn’t until I encountered Jesus as my bullied Savior that I realized He understood my pain. And He freed me from the shame of youth. 

Reclaiming my worth in Him, I forgave my bullies, resisted isolation, fought my way back to loving others, and regained friendship.

Whether your child is currently dealing with bullies, or you’re an adult who can vividly recall the moments in school that crushed your spirit, or you’re someone who’s dealing with bullies for the first time in this mad world, I hope my story reminds you that you aren’t who they say you are. 

You’re who God says you are. You are known, loved, and worth far more than a world of opinions.

I hope my story reminds you that although you cannot always control how people treat you, you can decide how to react. 

Hurtful words and actions do not define who you are. When you stand up, and the world turns its back, you are never alone. 

Your worth is in Jesus, who can show you how to navigate difficult people, love and trust again, and move forward in relationships.

Thank You Tami.

If any part of that made you stop and think, remembering such a time, or feeling, I strongly recommend getting this book and reading the full story. 

You can purchase it here: 
Let the Bees Buzz: Finding Redemption in the Aftermath of School Bullying. 

Or, you can have us buy a copy for you. 😊

YES, we are giving you this amazing book as a gift -Absolutely Free! 

Easy and Sweet. Just like ordering your favorite dulci sweet chocolates and loving every last bite. ❤️

For a limited time - through the end of April, any TRIO bundle ordered will receive a copy of Let the Bees Buzz 😊🎁

That’s Any and All TRIOS from the Signature TRIO that has it All, including Stroopwafels and Hemisphere Coffee, to Build-Your-Own, to each of the Themed TRIOS to perfectly match the occasion and reason you thought of someone special. 

Stay Strong, Be Happy, and Let the Bees Buzz 🐝 

Brock 

P.S.  Sweet Chocolates and a Beautiful Book...
A very cool gift to give to the amazing Mom(s) you know for Mother’s Day.  🎁🌟❤️

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