Lady Lenora Je'-nene Story

ShineBeautifully is honored to be able to share Lady Lenora’s story with all of you amazing Girl Just Shine BlogSpot readers.

Lenora Je'-nene is an amazing woman of God; the visionary and creative mind behind the Proverbs Business Plan. She is the CEO of Lenora Je'-nene Business & Leadership Consulting where they change the way businesses are built, and challenge the way business is done. Lenora Je'-nene has developed unique business & leadership strategies to help build business on an unshakable foundation.

Lady Lenora Speaks

My entire life is comprised of many stories. I haven't had an easy life by any means. I have experienced enough to break me, but I'm still here. I have stayed silent for years. God says now it's time to tell my story. This is only a very small part. Welcome to my journey of telling the story of my life.

"Lenora you're being abused."

I remember the shock of hearing those words.

"But he didn't hit me...I mean he got in my face and bumped me with his body in an intimidating manner BUT he didn't hit me. That's not abuse. He is just mad."

She smiled slightly and paused. I'm sure she had heard and seen it all before.

I shook my head in disbelief. Could it be so? Could it be that this man who said he loved me was abusing me?

She said tell me what he does do when he is "mad" then.

The Manipulation & Control

He curses me. Calls me out of my name. Says I'm dumb and stupid. Gets in my face and yells. He breaks things, hits walls, or doors. Throws keys at me. I have had to lock myself in the bathroom before just to get away from his yelling because he won't stop until I cry.

He makes major decisions without me, and I just have to go along with it. He gets angry when I don't press his clothes or wake up early to cook for him before he goes to work.

He wakes me up out of a dead sleep with his voice to "talk" or by turning all the lights on or turning the television up loud refusing to turn it down or by jumping on me. He thought it was no big deal. Sometimes he even laughed. He would get angry when I would fuss about it. Me getting sleep didn't matter. Sometimes I even wondered if he was intentionally keeping me awake to keep me from resting.

Gives me a $20 allowance. I had no access to bank accounts. I had to beg to be added to the bank account. He yelled and cursed me in front of some of my family. He seemed cool in front of some people but when I got in the car I was going to get "in trouble". I was afraid to say what I thought or felt because it may make him mad. So I stayed silent. I had no car for a long time. When I did get a car, my car was the raggedy car. He had the best car.

I had to get permission to do things, while he did whatever he wanted.

Not many people knew what was going on because he was nice to everyone, funny as all get out and charming. He hugged, kissed me and called me pet names in front of everyone. He even would say I will kill anyone who hurts you. But I knew when he was about to change. I knew that look in his eyes.

If I pressed too hard, or questioned something I would surely pay for it. He always twisted my words and everything was my fault. I was constantly apologizing. I was blamed for everything so much that I began to just take blame. Not much was ever his fault...even his angry outbursts. That was my fault too. He rarely apologized. He just would come back acting like nothing happened. He never took responsibility for any wrong he did. He glazed over it and I better not bring it up again. He had this way of twisting my mind to make me question myself, and I felt like I was crazy. I know what I saw, but after he talked I questioned if I actually saw what I saw. He was a smooth talker. He knew how to use and manipulate words.

But he paid all the bills, worked hard and I had food. I should be happy I have a hard working man right? He didn't hit me though.

So that's not abuse right?

He said he wanted to kill me, but he didn't kill me so that's not abuse right?

I sat there trying to wrap my head around the truth that I was in an abusive relationship.

A Trip to Counseling

I was even afraid to utter the words because I didn't want to make him look bad. I didn't want to make him mad. All I could think about was him and how he would feel. I even said he isn't going to like this. I always felt the need to cover for him, protect him, make excuses for him, and stand up for him.

I didn't want people to see him that way.

Wondering why I was at counseling alone?

Because I'm the one who needed it not him. Something was wrong with me.

Lenora?.. she said.

I slowly looked up at her. I felt numb as words seemed to leave my mouth in slow motion.

"Yes. I am being abused."

Ladies!! Ladies!! I trust that you have learnt from Lady Lenora’s story. She is shining beautifully because what she had gone through didn’t break her; instead she is using her testimony to change the lives of other women. She has overcome and has built strength as a result of her relationship with the Lord. The Lord Almighty is capable of restoring our broken pieces of life and putting us back together as a “whole” human being, all for His Glory. Ladies, your journey to healing begins with you first owning your suffering even when it feels like no one cares.

I love you Sis!!

I pray that you will receive ALL that the Lord has in store for your life.

Stay Blessed!!

Go ahead and “Girl Just Shine”.