Forever Beloved

Faith, Love & Truth

Silent Cry {Book Review}

Silent Cry
The True Story of Abuse and Betrayal of an NFL Wife
By Dorothy J. Newton 

About the book:

Dallas Cowboys and NFL fans will want to know the inside, true story of superstar football player, Nate Newton and his wife. Nate was a three time Super Bowl Champion and six time Pro-Bowler for the Dallas Cowboys 

Raised near New Orleans as one of six children, Dorothy Newton was surrounded by abuse and poverty as she grew up. But she became the first in her family to graduate from college and moved out of poverty. When she married three time Super Bowl Champion and six time Pro-Bowler Nate Newton, she went from poverty to the pinnacle of success. 

But all that glittered was not gold. Before long the relationship turned abusive. She found herself living in the world she thought she had escaped in her years growing up. 

This book is not only Dorothy’s experiences of pain, loss, survival, hope, recovery, and victory. It will help readers recognize the signs of abuse in their own relationships while encouraging them that the physical, emotional, and spiritual wounds from living with abuse can be overcome. 

A gripping story throughout, Silent Cry is a testament to Dorothy’s will to live and, through her courage and honesty, will help bring hope, healing, and wholeness to those suffering in silence.

This book held onto me from the very beginning and wouldn’t let me go.  Being in an abusive dating relationship myself in the past, there were so many aspects I could relate to.

Dorothy grew up in an abusive home in the backwoods of Louisiana. She struggled to break out of the cycle of poverty and abuse, only to find herself out of the cycle of poverty, but stuck in a relationship that eerily mimics her mother’s relationship with her abusive step-father.
The abuse she suffered at the hand of her husband was severe and extreme.  She wanted to leave so many times, but was financially dependent on him.  She also was afraid of what others would think.  Her husband is famous and quite a charmer, she’s sure the world would side with him.  
Dorothy shares her experiences of pain, loss, survival, hope, recovery, and victory. A gripping story throughout, A Silent Cry is a testament to Dorothy’s will to live and the peace that comes with hope in the God who sees and hears your tears even when no one else does

This book was provided to me free of charge by Book Look in return for my honest review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

Before her affluent life as an NFL wife, Dorothy Newton was raised in poverty by her mother and stepfather near New Orleans, Louisiana. The oldest of six children, she put herself through college on an athletic scholarship for volleyball. Shortly after college, Dorothy married Nathaniel (Nate) Newton, now a retired Dallas Cowboy. Today, Dorothy has an MBA and is a Practice Administrator for a health care organization. She has appeared on numerous television and radio programs, speaking on the topic of abuse and she continues to accept any invitation she receives to encourage others.

Meal Planning Monday

Monday – something quick and easy
Tuesday – Pulled pork sandwiches 
Wednesday – Amish breakfast for dinner…buttermilk pancakes, amish sausage, ham, homemade maple syrup and fried potatoes.
Thursday – Pizza with friends
Friday – leftovers
Saturday – Lasagna and garlic knots
Sunday – Christmas program and dinner at church

A Man of Gentle Kindness

Kindness, so powerful yet so underused.

Kindness is defined as the quality of being friendly, generous, and considerate. How would you describe kindness in your own words? Friendly, generous, warm-hearted, soft spoken; these are all words I would associate with being kind.

Kindness is honestly one of the greatest gifts you can give someone. As Christians, kindness is something He expects from us. It allows Christ’s love to shine through us. He doesn’t want us to be unkind, we are to be different.

And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.
Ephesians 4:32

This is my Father. When I think of kindness, I would imagine his face might be in the dictionary beside it.

He has went to the same church since he was a child.  My Grandmother taught Sunday School for years there.  When my parents got married, they continued to go to the same church.  There are members of that church that prayed for them and alongside them when they were adopting a baby.  There are members of that church that were there that first Sunday they walked in holding that sweet baby, and they all rejoiced.  They’ve prayed for each other and beside each other.  They’ve fellowshiped together for many, many years.  They’ve shook his hand every Sunday for over 50 years.

Throughout my lifetime, my Dads kind gentle spirit has always been shown both inside and outside of our home.  He is one of the only people I know that can find good in any situation and in any person.  If he had heard someone say something unkind to him, his response was always the same.  They didn’t mean it that way.  If he would hear me saying something unkind, he would always remind me that we are Christians, and God doesn’t want us to be unkind.  If someone stole from him, he would brush it off by saying they must need it more than I do.
Over the years time and age hasn’t been kind to him, although you would never know it.  He’s nearly 75% deaf and can only hear if it’s loud.  If there is background noise he can’t make out anything.  He’s also completely blind in one eye and nearly blind in the other.  
But he still goes to church every Sunday.  He doesn’t drive anymore, so church is the one day every week he gets out of the house.
He can hear most of the sermons, because of where he sits. But he can’t read the song lyrics on the screen in the front, he can’t read the words in the hymn book and he can’t see the writing in his Bible (that he still faithfully carries to be a testimony to others).
He loves greeting others, although his words may be loud (because he’s deaf).  He loves shaking everyone’s hand, although it may be harder than normal (because his hands have no feeling).  He loves talking to others, although he may have to stand a little closer (because he’s blind).  
He loves being kind, and making you feel welcome.
If we have a problem with an 80-year-old mans kindness that doesn’t mean we should take a closer look at him, it means we should take a step back and look closer at ourselves. 
You can change lives with your actions. You can change lives by your words. You can change lives with your kindness. You can change lives by allowing Christ’s love to shine through you. I’ve watched my Father do all of those things. 
Don’t ever be afraid to show your kindness.  You might be the one voice in their life at the moment that they need to hear. Your encouragement might be the one thing that keeps them going. Maybe you are the one who is to help them see Jesus.