It turned out that, as a little boy, about age six, my mentor was molested by a female relative, who was never prosecuted, or jailed. That time bomb led him on a twenty-plus year binge in violence, drugs, alcohol, and abuse. Also, he was to ask forgiveness from the persons he had wronged, including his wife. Yes, you may walk with a limp in the present, but then, you can help others in need. YOU must choose to forgive them, and release them of their crimes against you in the past, in order for you to walk on in the present.
Forgiveness is done day by day, until the pain of the offense goes away.
There are more of us who need this help, than we would like would admit. One does not have to have a degree to be a good counselor. Only a willing ear, and a heart geared towards freedom. Count me, among those, who are willing to listen to your cry. This column appears monthly in a host of African American publications, and websites.