Quivering Daughters
Hope and Healing
"It is a grave disservice to the spirit of a woman when she is given the
subtle message that the truth of her own pain is not as important as
the reputation of the ones who inflicted it."
Quivering Daughters
Quivering Daughters
To be released May 2010 . . .
Quivering Daughters
Hope and Healing for the Daughters of Patriarchy
by Hillary McFarland
Encouragement for women who ache
from spiritual and emotional abuse
within the conservative Christian family . . .
The Quivering Daughters Blog.
My story is difficult to write.
And yet, it’s not just mine. It’s yours, too. It belongs to any
daughter of patriarchy born on ancient paths, exhausted, broken, and
wearied from trying to measure up to the standards and expectations foisted
in God’s name. It’s the story of every woman covertly taught that
precepts are more important than persons, that rules are more essential
than relationships, and that the law is more valuable than grace.
Whether Quiverfull, homeschooling, patriarchal, dysfunctional,
fundamentalist, or all of the above—where there is a story, there’s a
soul. And where there is soul, there is worth, value. There is
person-hood, the image of God lovingly crafted in clay and blood and
bone, deeply cherished by our Heavenly Father. There is you. And you,
who He made worthy through His Son, He wants to heal. To nurture. To
love.
Adult daughters from authoritarian, deeply conservative, religious families experience unique dynamics I often refer to as the “dark side” of Christian fundamentalism. Rampant fear-based coercion, spiritual and emotional abuse, and other destructive elements of this upbringing inflict scars of soul and sometimes skin, with debilitating shame, guilt, confusion, and trauma as a result. Acknowledging the truth behind our pain, learning we are not rebellious for desiring a New Way, and becoming re-directed to the God of grace are essential for lasting healing.
Throughout this book you will meet several quivering daughters and grasp an intimate glimpse of their world: the pain, the heartache, and the conflicting spiritual, emotional, and physical struggles they face as a result of their upbringing. You will learn some the spiritual, physical, emotional and psychological effects of growing up in Christian fundamentalism as well as some of the underlying principles which govern the lifestyle of such a family. And you will find hope, suggestions for recovery, and encouragement for the journey to healing.
For we are broken. We hunger. We yearn for love, for the freedom and life that Jesus offers. His words fill our hearts with longing: “At that time Jesus answered and said, “I thank You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and prudent and have revealed them to babes. Even so, Father, for so it seemed good in Your sight. All things have been delivered to Me by My Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father. Nor does anyone know the Father except the Son, and the one to whom the Son wills to reveal Him.” (Matthew 11:25-27)
What are babes, but broken little girls? And to us He says, “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28-30)
It’s time to heal. It’s time to discover the true God. It’s time to gather the broken little girl and go with her to Jesus.
Quivering Daughters is written by the oldest in a homeschooling, Quiverfull family of eleven children. If you would like to be notified when the book is available, please join my mailing list.
Adult daughters from authoritarian, deeply conservative, religious families experience unique dynamics I often refer to as the “dark side” of Christian fundamentalism. Rampant fear-based coercion, spiritual and emotional abuse, and other destructive elements of this upbringing inflict scars of soul and sometimes skin, with debilitating shame, guilt, confusion, and trauma as a result. Acknowledging the truth behind our pain, learning we are not rebellious for desiring a New Way, and becoming re-directed to the God of grace are essential for lasting healing.
Throughout this book you will meet several quivering daughters and grasp an intimate glimpse of their world: the pain, the heartache, and the conflicting spiritual, emotional, and physical struggles they face as a result of their upbringing. You will learn some the spiritual, physical, emotional and psychological effects of growing up in Christian fundamentalism as well as some of the underlying principles which govern the lifestyle of such a family. And you will find hope, suggestions for recovery, and encouragement for the journey to healing.
For we are broken. We hunger. We yearn for love, for the freedom and life that Jesus offers. His words fill our hearts with longing: “At that time Jesus answered and said, “I thank You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and prudent and have revealed them to babes. Even so, Father, for so it seemed good in Your sight. All things have been delivered to Me by My Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father. Nor does anyone know the Father except the Son, and the one to whom the Son wills to reveal Him.” (Matthew 11:25-27)
What are babes, but broken little girls? And to us He says, “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28-30)
It’s time to heal. It’s time to discover the true God. It’s time to gather the broken little girl and go with her to Jesus.
Quivering Daughters is written by the oldest in a homeschooling, Quiverfull family of eleven children. If you would like to be notified when the book is available, please join my mailing list.
The Quivering Daughters Project established December 2008. Copyright Quivering Daughters. All rights reserved.