Enough

Domestic abuse is the elephant in the room that nobody wants to talk about. It is tragic, embarrassing, and in some cases, fatal. I was watching an interview with Andrea Kelly, former spouse of R Kelly, the R & B Artist.

Andrea said the thing that made her realize she had hit rock bottom was when she attempted suicide and knew she would be leaving her three babies behind. That was preferable to one more day of abuse. Wow.

R Kelly was not her introduction to dysfunction. The first time she saw a woman being beaten was by her Grandfather (a Baptist Minister) who was hitting her Grandmother. R Kelly has since revealed that he was abused as a child.

She endured the marriage for 13 years. The verbal abuse finally took the next logical step, physical abuse. She had no easy way out except to end it all. When Andrea was talking about who she was at the time, she described herself as “lost.” That must be a very hopeless feeling, particularly when you have three children to protect and care for.

She said, “You have to love somebody enough to tell them enough!” That is why nearly 10 years after the divorce she is coming out to encourage other women who are in abusive situations. She said she did not believe that he had enough people in his life to be “real” with him…to tell him the truth, not just what he wanted to hear. He lacked people in his life who really cared about him, not just his money.

75,000,000 records sold and 12 albums to his credit, fame came with quite a price tag for R Kelly. His talent onstage was undeniable, but his private life was a train-wreck. The tragedy even 10 years later is that the kids are still paying a price by being bullied on Instagram and in school. It seems that kids are always the ones who suffer the most.

R Kelly denies the allegations. Only God, R Kelly, and Andrea know the whole truth, but I hurt for all of them. It is a disease that needs to stop. Enough!

Shalom!

Dan Skognes

 

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