Hurt People Hurt People Essays

Hurt People Hurt People Essays Hurt People Hurt People Paper Hurt People Hurt People Paper Dr. Wilson opens her book by stating, â€Å"It’s true, isn’t it? Hurt people hurt people. † (2001 pg. 9) It is Dr. Wilson’s belief that by shedding light on Hurt People Hurt People she shows a cycle that can be broken. Wilson explores unseen wounds, how they are created through childhood, and caretakers within our lifetime. Dr. Wilson exhaustively demonstrates the help there is for the different wounds and how to heal them. She provides information for healing self inflected wounds, worshipers and parents. Wilson concludes her thoughts with help f or hopeful tomorrow. Dr. Wilson believes when hurts are to seen it does not mean they are not real. Unfortunately in society it is reinforced if the wound is not bleeding or unseen they are not real. Wilson says, â€Å"Many doubt the reality of wounds unless a person can display scars from physical abuse. † (2001, pg. 27) Dr. Wilson shows the beginning of a cycle. When unseen wounds go unrecognized how are they ever healed? Not only do the wounds go unhealed but now there are more hurt people. â€Å"If I’m correct in my assertion that hurt people hurt people, we have a major problem. By ignoring scores of hurt people because their injuries remain invisible to us, we are creating a new generation of hurtful people. † (2001, pg. 26) She elaborates on shame and how it is related with the unseen wounds. â€Å"Shame is rooted in the lie that human beings can and should be perfect. † (2001, pg. 17) By understanding shame the author enables the reader to make the connection between shame and unseen wounds can blind and bind us. It is unfortunate, as this continues the cycle of how hurt people hurt people. Dr. Wilson continues by discussing liars and thieves which surprisingly enough is base on parents. By stealing security, stability and safety parents put their children in situations which cause wounds. There are several examples of each item listed above and some of the outcomes. She discusses physical and sexual abuse in detail. â€Å"Parents and other adult authority figures who neglect and abuse children in these figures who neglect and abuse children in these and other ways are truest bandits. They steal a child’s capacity for trust with profound effect on the child’s later relationships with God and others. † (2001, pg. 54) By misrepresenting the truths of parenting Wilson exposes how much damage parents inflict upon their children. Children who do not grow up with security, safety, and validation they fail to see their self worth. Healing works on several levels, Dr. Wilson gives different ideals to deal with healing self concept and perfectionism wounds. She tells the reader to know the difference among self focused and self awareness, learning who you are and how you characterize yourself. â€Å"As healing progresses you will continually redefine yourself as you reevaluate the events of your childhood in way that accept them as parts of your personal history without letting them claim the core of your identity. † (2001, pg. 117) Wilson provides a worshipers’ H. O. P. E Chart, this is a healing overview and progress evaluation chart. She breaks down key issues, seeing truth, new choices and new practices. This allows the reader to assess regions of spiritual wounds. This can be very effective in individual growth. She also providers a similar chart for parents and forgivers. Wilson concludes her book with help for hopeful tomorrows. She delves into hope and why we need it. â€Å"God has a plan for the effects of our hurting and hurtful lives, the effects that we would prefer to have Him remove. † (2001, pg. 235) She leads the reader back to God, who is the healer of all things and this is where our hope originates from. By showing the reader even in the midst of all of our imperfections, wounds, and hurts He is there with and everlasting love and ability to heal. â€Å"Of all hopes this is the greatest: the promise of God’s everlasting love. He plasters that promise from one end of His Word to the other. We come bruised, broken and bound. Jesus comes healing, mending, and releasing. † (2001, pg. 240) She shows the reader there is no greater hope than this in Christ Jesus. Evaluation Dr. Wilson giver her interpretation of Hurt People Hurt People. By showing how people are hurt through childhood, self inflicted hurts, and unseen wounds she paints a picture of why and how we now have a new generation of hurt people. Wilson goes further to give some solutions as to how to heal these hurt people. I believe Dr. Wilson did achieve her intended purpose to demonstrate why hurt people hurt people. It sounds like a cliche, but it was very true. Her argument was logical and well supported by her examples and statistical data. This book taught how to look below the surface of hurt people. By examining closer the reasons behind the wounds we are able to see how we can effectively counsel hurt people and break the cycle that always continues with the next generation. Dr. Wilson gave very many examples when explaining her work. She did include biblical references, but not as often as I have come accustomed to. I would like to see more interactive parts in the book. At the end of chapter she included a prayer, but I think by including more thought provoking questions at the end of each chapter it could have provided a better opportunity for change. There were also many times she could have incorporated Scriptures which could aid in the healing process, but she limited her Scripture quotes. Dr. Wilson gave a refreshing approach to an old problem. She gave in depth information as it applied to the corresponding chapter. By having the reader to take a close look at the cycle that is perpetuated the Christian Counselor gains a different insight. This book is an easy read and could be used by Christian Counselors, Pastors and individuals seeking more information on this topic. As a social worker dealing with sex abuse, this was also useful for the field I am currently in, as Dr. Wilson was very detailed concerning sexual abuse. There are a many that shy away from it, or superficially cover the topic. She handled it very appropriately with excellent information. Wilson is not wordy and the book does flow easily from one chapter to the next. Overall Dr. Wilson did an excellent job allowing the reader to understand her approach. References Wilson, S. (2001). Hurt People Hurt People. Grand Rapids, MI: Discovery House Publishers.