I agree that not all abuse is physical. I grew up in a home where my father emotionally abused my mother, me, and my sister. My mother stuck with him until the day she died (of cancer, which I believe was caused by all the stress she lived under... looking back at pictures of her I realized that she was dying on the inside long before she passed away). I believe she is going to be greatly rewarded for sticking it out and striving to be the right kind of wife.

But with that said, I'm sickened at the kind of person I've realized my dad is. I grew up in his house, which was supposedly a "Christian" home (we always went to an IFB church and looked good on the outside), but he was so wicked and has never known how to love anyone but himself. I'm actually considering telling my story at some point, but I struggle every time I try to type it out. I grew up trying to honor my parents, and to tell about what my dad did feels like I'm "dishonoring" him even though I know he deserves no honor. I just want my mom's story to help someone else have victory in a situation like what my mom went through.