The Girl at the Window
T.L. Smith
Copyright © 2018
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form, except for the inclusion of brief quotations in review with citations, without permission in writing from the author and publisher.
ISBN #1727103041
Dedication
Forward
Introduction
My Story
Compassion: The Missing ElementForward
Perpetuation or Confrontation
Her Story
His Story
Victory Over My Past
Sword of Strength
More Room Out Than In
Dedication
1 Corinthians 1:27-29, NKJV
But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are, that no flesh should glory in His presence.
Thank You, God, for choosing me to complete this task and for using my experiences to bring clarity and peace to those who are traveling similar paths. I thank You for the courage to be transparent. I know that I couldn’t have completed this book without Your direction and Your anointing. Thank You for showing me what is possible when I completely surrender to Your will!
Thank you to my village—to everyone who has played a role in this complicated, marred and beautiful life I call my own.
Thank you to my pastors, William and Magaline Knox. I truly appreciate your balanced approach to faith. I couldn’t have made it through this process without your wisdom, your prayers, your teaching and your support.
Thank you to Nichole Weiler for your listening ear, expertise and fresh perspective.
Forward
There is no greater connection than one that yields a lasting harvest of love, encouragement, accountability and laughter. I often say that these types of connections are truly made by the Creator above. They are not forced, but gently established over time. I chuckle to myself when I think about the subtle way that God brought TaVeta and me together. My dear friend and I were on different journeys of life. Although we were experiencing similar trials and tests, our communication never went beyond saying hello and having small talk after church.
Although there was a difference in our ages, we had a few things in common; one was passion. God soon used the very things that we both were passionate about−God, prayer and continuous growth−to merge our paths. We had both reached a point in our spiritual journeys where we were hungry for more.
The initial connection was formed because of an assignment from our pastor to form an intercessory prayer team. Both of us took this spiritual assignment very seriously and worked diligently to fulfill the task. We began meeting weekly to pray. It’s amazing how in the midst of completing our assignment, God was actually completing a work in us.
He began to forge a sisterhood that grew beyond the four walls of the church. In the midst of prayer, He was revealing to us that we were both trustworthy, which created the opportunity to be transparent with each other. It wasn’t until months down the road that the light bulb went off for me. I began to understand how God turned this assignment into an intentional connection that has harvested a lasting friendship.
This friendship developed at the right time. We became helpers of one another and each other’s keeper. I have never experienced a balanced friendship to this magnitude. Her life experiences have been helpful tools in my current experiences. Her wisdom has given me direction for multiple decisions in my life.
If anyone is excited about this dive into new waters for my sister girl, it’s me. Our God has allowed me a front row seat and backstage access into an extraordinary journey of being whole and healed. I have witnessed the fears, tears and anxiety of the process of healing and now the leap of faith in sharing it with the world.
This isn’t a book to rush through. My advice is for you to read and reflect so that it can bring you healing like it did for me. Her healing process wasn’t done overnight and neither was mine. Take your time and even ask God for an intentional connection that provides a source of support during your healing and self-reflection. He will send that person like He sent us to each other. Just simply ask Him.
Shantee Davis
Introduction
I find myself at a crossroads. After 14 years of struggle and turmoil, I am ready to face the truth. My marriage is over.
I can’t help but wonder how I got here. How did a life that started off with so much promise and hope end up bogged down with frustration and stagnation? I guess I have come to the end of myself. I am just desperate enough to lay aside my pride and be as transparent as I have ever been to move to a new place of peace and purpose.
I am at a point where I am questioning my very existence. No, I am not suicidal, but I am trying to rediscover why God even saw fit to grace the world with my presence. Regardless of the current state of my life, I have always believed that there is a greater call for me other than the hustle and bustle of daily life. I worked diligently to operate within the purpose that only I have been called to fulfill.
The fact of the matter is I have allowed life, and all of its ups and downs, to distract me from the focus that is required to follow the whispers of the Holy Spirit. The path that I thought my life would take is a far cry from the one that I
