A Forgiving Heart Moves Forward

The poems in A Forgiving Heart Moves Forward, chronicle Shelia Mansfield's journey from being enslaved to freedom from abusers. The poems cover the mental, physical, sexual and financial abuse she endured and how her faith in God gave her the courage to leave. She hopes her poems inspire people, especially women, who are in abusive relationships to find the courage to move on and to thrive in their new lives.

Author Shelia Mansfield began writing poetry as a means to survive an abusive relationship. Her insightful poems helped her stay alive, express herself and increased her esteem. Married early and divorced late, in between she lived a holy-hell of a life. Now in her 70s, hers is a story of surviving two abusive marriages, consuming nearly 50 years.