Barbara S Modena

My Journey to Normal Barbara S Modena

People tell me they have wondered about my beginnings. They see me as Sister Patman and Minister Modena, but still have a curiosity about what brought me to this place of peace, love and acceptance of myself. A family member said, "I know nothing about your childhood nor anything about your life before you started going to church."I said to myself... And I'm glad you don't know. But why shouldn't she? I'm not ashamed of my journey. Shouldn't I share just in case there is someone who needs to know that they too can come out on the other side?So, I decided to write this book, not only for my family but for those who think they could never be forgiven. No child, when asked what they want to become when they get older, will tell you that they want to be controlled by a narcissistic husband who verbally abuses his family and sets his wife up for sex-trafficking. Hopefully, no child will grow up to realize this nightmare, let alone, think it is normal. Mercifully, they will arrive at normal without many hardships. For me, it was a long journey to that end. It's funny how your perspective can change with, not only age but with whom you share your story with. How does one know that a beating a day isn't normal when that is all they've ever experienced? How far away from normal does a child get with each lashing of verbal abuse? I have to say I have traveled pretty far.