Donna’s story
A childhood trauma led to shyness which was overcome through faith and people
During the week I attended the funeral of a long-standing friend in Birmingham. My attendance brought me into contact with other friends I rarely see.
One of these friends contacted me after reading my reflection on Joan.
They shared a story I hadn't known and asked if I would write it up. I suggested they may wish to write it and I would publish it. This is what they wrote, I have made slight amendments.
“My story started from school when I was around 7 years old. I was in Assembly with the other children when the teacher caught me talking and as a result grabbed me by my hair and pulled me out.
The children told their teachers what she had done to me. My mum also went down to the school to sort it out. The teacher got the sack the next day.
My lack of confidence and shyness went from there. At 11 years old when I was going to Seniors the bullying started and continued until I left school. I left school before the others because the bullying was so bad. That didn't help me to be confident in myself.
Around the same time, I started to get to know the Lord Jesus (an incarnation of the divine) . I got saved (saved : an Evangelical, ‘Born Again Christian’ term meaning that the individual has repented of their sin and gave their lives to Jesus) and baptised ( the body is fully immersed in water) in Handsworth Swimming pool in 1985 aged 15. I trusted in the Lord Jesus every day to heal me, give me confidence and not be shy. The Lord Jesus was working on me.
When I was 17 years old I met you with mum and dad. You were a good friend. I remember you took me on the bus to Aston University. I felt you gave me confidence.
As the years went on I started to go to college and later I did hotel and retail work. Meeting people at college and work increased my confidence.
I am thankful to God that through the Lord Jesus and the people I met, I have overcome the shyness that came after the teacher ill-treated me.”
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