What do you say to a survivor of childhood abuse or trauma who asks, "Why did God let this happen?" What if you are that survivor? What do you do with the pain, confusion, and emptiness which remain, even years after the abuse? How do you heal from abuse that touches your very soul?

Childhood abuse can cause a survivor to question his/her very reason for being. Survivors frequently say that they are a mistake of Creation, that they are no good, that they were created to be abused. The social implications of such a negative self-view are myriad.

The ACE study (ACEstudy.org), conducted by Kaiser Permanente, found that 64%of middle America has suffered some sort of adverse childhood experience before the age of 18. These experiences affect the child physically, emotionally, psychologically, and spiritually. The medical and mental health fields have made inroads in dealing with the physical, emotional and psychological fallout from abuse, but the wounds that are left on the child's soul have long been ignored or un-noticed. A survivor's spiritual wounds do not heal themselves, even with time. Until recently, there has been little training or information available on how to help someone recover spiritually from such abuse.

Mary's Hope Workshops, a Colorado based non-profit organization, seeks to change that. Through interactive workshops for survivors and those who care about survivors, Sherry Niermann and Diane Moore, founders of Mary's Hope, offer hope for recovery and wholeness. They help the workshop attendees recognize the effects of childhood trauma and abuse, and give them tools to use as they work through their healing journey. The workshops offer a new understanding of healing and forgiveness, and free the survivor from the weight of guilt that he/she has so long carried. Mary's Hope is not bound by any particular faith tradition-it is concerned with one's relationship with the Holy, however one might understand that.

There is hope for spiritual healing for survivors of childhood abuse and trauma. It is hard work, but it is worth it. If you, or someone you know, would like more information about Mary's Hope and the possibility of finally letting go of the pain, confusion and emptiness that are the result of childhood abuse, consider attending our 7 hour introductory workshop, "Spiritual Healing and Recovery" in McAlester, OK on September 27, 2008 or Miami, OK on September 20th, 2008. Special discounted fee: $50.00. For more information, visit the website www.maryshope.org,email us at maryshope@qwestoffice.net or call 303-377-0293.

It might change your life-it changed mine.