Testimony of Healing March 12, 2018 Issue

Protection from a violent attack—and forgiveness

Suzanne Krogh

In recent months we have been inundated with news of men being identified, castigated, and even fired from their jobs for inappropriate behavior toward women. Reading and hearing these stories has brought to mind an experience of many years ago and, somewhat to my surprise, a new opportunity to grow and be healed.

I was newly married, and my husband was in the military, stationed on an aircraft carrier. The ship was in dry dock for repair purposes, and we were living in a modest apartment nearby. Every four days my husband stayed on board for a 24-hour shift, and I typically used the time to clean, shop, and cook.

One such day, quite early, I unlocked the small closet under the building’s outdoor staircase in order to get out the renters’ shared vacuum cleaner. As I leaned in, I sensed that someone was standing behind me. In a second or two, a young man attacked me, pushing me to the floor and strangling me.

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Pain from fall gone; growth healed