Called home to help care for her ailing father, Marcia must confront the demons she left behind.In Walls Around my Heart, author and poet Marcia Estep takes us on one woman's journey beyond generational abuse - in time finding forgiveness and understanding of her past and the suffering she was born into. Determined to never give up hope and never repeat the cycle of abuse, she drew a line that screamed, "This stops with me."From the outside, Marcia's family of the 60s looked perfect - Mom, Dad, kids, the house ... everything. It wasn't. Growing up with a mentally ill mother - in and out of psychiatric confinement - and an abusive father, Marcia sought refuge where she could find it. Cherished music supplied the balm her soul longed for. Putting pen to paper in heart-shredding poetry helped heal wounds.Marcia presents glimpses of her life in poignant stories with a bravery and succinctness that will have everyone examining their own upbringing. The love/hate relationship with her father battles with the child-Marcia's ever-present fear of her mother having another episode, leaving her once again to deal with the hand life has dealt her.What does it take to tell one's story? What does it take to stop generational abuse from being handed down to the next mother or father? Courage. Time. And a willingness to dive into the dark corners and uncover the truth for all to see. Walls Around my Heart shines a bright light on the truth about generational abuse, and shows that forgiveness is possible.
