Precious Love: An Angel for the Abused
BY KEVIN STANLEY
A recent study stated that there were 79,874 reported cases of domestic violence in the United States in 2009, up over 7,000 cases from the previous year, and up 13,000 cases from 2007. The profile of a victim of domestic violence—traditionally thought of as a younger female—is rapidly changing.
In a surprising trend, as many as 40% of domestic violence cases may involve violence by women against men. Abuse of the elderly by caregivers is on the rise, as is abuse against children.
A victim of domestic violence and abuse can look like anyone, and be anywhere… even right next door to you. One woman has made it her personal mission to tackle domestic violence wherever she may find it, and provide a hand of help to victims seeking a way out.
Her name is Elva Thompson, but she also goes by ‘Precious Love.’ The youngest of eight siblings, she was raised in Harrisburg, PA, She recalls her childhood as rather typical, although her mother was left to raise the family alone after her father left the country to follow his spiritual pursuits. Her mother’s humility, grace and strength made her family a happy one.
Her personal connection to the subject of domestic violence runs deep. A relationship that started when she was 15—with a man who would later become her husband—turned violent only months in, and shocked her into silence. Despite the abuse and his controlling ways, she tried to make it work, and they would have five children together—now between the ages of six and 21. A desire to spare them the emotional toll of living in such an environment gave her the drive she needed to leave her abusive husband and start a life of her own. She viewed her own self-sufficiency as the key to regaining her power as a woman and a mother.
She went to school, and earned a Bachelor’s Degree in English, and an Associates Degree in Medical Editing. She began a business called Georgia Editing Services, LLC, which provides medical and general editorial services to a variety of clients. She was also hired on by a firm called GSH Publishing, where she has served as a Vice President of Operations.
But her proudest accomplishment (besides her family, of course) is a charitable foundation she formed to aid and provide resources for victims of domestic abuse. Determined to assist those who are in the same situation she was in for so long, she founded Precious Hearts Foundation, which helps victims of abuse by providing shelter, meals, clothing, and employment assistance.
Sometimes when a person finds out someone they know may be a victim of domestic violence, it can be overwhelming. What do I say to them? What can I do to help them out? How can I help without making the situation worse? Precious Love has some advice for those wanting to help a victim of domestic abuse:
• Listen. Be a confidante. Be a source of comfort
• Convince them to tell. You can put together a list of shelters and agencies in your area that specialize in helping victims of abuse.
• Let them know they don’t have to go it alone. If they need someone to go with them when they make a police report or enter a shelter, be there for them.
• Make sure they understand that things won’t get better if they stay. Abusers rarely if ever change their behavior on their own. No matter how much a victim might want them to change; they cannot and will not change without counseling and professional help.
Ms. Thompson warns anyone in a relationship with an abusive person (especially someone in a long-term relationship with one, who may be contemplating marriage to their abuser) to RUN and not walk away from this relationship and never look back. Things will not get better, and may—on the contrary—get worse once you make a commitment to them.
* * *
Precious Love has found some creative ways to fight domestic violence. Always a lover of writing, she has used her talents to tell stories that give the victims of abuse hope, and shed light on untold stories of domestic violence. She has established a schedule for herself that helps her set a balance between her work and family responsibilities. Her days begin at 6:45 A.M. with prayer and reflection. She then gets her youngest children off to school. Then, she goes into writing and research, striving to write at least two chapters per day. She has even taught her oldest child how to edit, and she helps her mom work on her writing projects.
In fact, Ms. Thompson turned her own story into a non-fiction novel, “A Mother’s Cry,” released by GSH Publishing. She is also currently working on a new non-fiction novel called “Battered Secrets: MEN of Domestic Violence,” which will cast a bright light on the seldom-discussed subject of male victims of domestic abuse. Her love of true-to-life stories drew her towards writing non-fiction novels, but while at GSH, she has also written biographies, and helped authors draft their autobiographies.
When asked what she would do for victims if she suddenly found herself tapped as a national point person on domestic violence, she stated—without hesitation—that she would recommend counseling (including spiritual counseling) for all involved parties, and work with the abusers to find the root cause of their anger so that they can find other ways of coping with their emotions. Precious Love is willing to speak to anyone, anywhere about stopping abuse, and will keep speaking out until people listen.
Although the task of stemming the tide of domestic violence is a daunting one, Elva ‘Precious Love’ Thompson has poured herself into it fully and fearlessly. She seeks a day when the abused can begin their lives anew—free from fear—and when abusers can heal their spirits and break the cycle of violence. This is not just her mission, but her life’s work… and her joy.
If you would like to learn more about the Precious Hearts Foundation, or find out what you can do to assist them, please visit their website: http://www.preciousheartsfoundation.org.
If you would like to find out about the latest offerings from GSH Publishing, you can visit their website: http://www.gshhpublishing.com.
To learn more about the services offered by the Georgia Editing Service, visit them online: http://www.georgiaeditingservice.com.
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