Butterfly Tears: Stories of Entrapment to Empowerment

About Butterfly Tears

So many women’s lives are shattered before they even have a chance to begin—girls who suffer childhood abuse, neglect, drug addiction, and despair. Since 1991, the Pathways to Independence Foundation has provided help, healing, and—most importantly—hope to these struggling young women.

Butterfly Tears reveals the gripping and intimate stories of nine brave Pathways women who found the strength to turn their dark, raging worlds around. Women who, against all odds, broke free of the destructive cycle of addiction and abuse to attain love, security, and successful lives—women who have emerged as lawyers, teachers, and counselors to joyfully give back to society.

These compelling gut-level transformations offer inspiration to anyone who has suffered life’s hardships—to the breaking point and beyond. And they prove that there is a way out. Especially for those with desire, drive, and the nurturing cocoon of an unparalleled organization like Pathways to Independence.

From  Entrapment…

Abuse. Assault. Abandonment. Addiction. These are the histories of the young women in the inspiring book Butterfly Tears.

Some found themselves in gangs. Others in prison. Some remained trapped in the confines of an abusive family or a painful addiction. Society had given up on many of them.

But they hadn’t given up on themselves. These women were ready to take a different path. AndPathways to Independence was there to guide them.

…to Empowerment

Therapy. Mentorship. Education. Support. These are the bywords of this ground-breaking organization founded and led by Dave Bishop—a man who first had to conquer his own internal demons.

The butterfly symbology is derived from the famous parable The Story of the Butterfly about utilizing life’s struggles to emerge a stronger person. Butterfly Tears chronicles the stories of nine young women who faced that struggle head-on and, with the help of Pathways, emerged victorious.

These women’s incredible journeys from darkness into light will elicit both tears of sorrow and tears of joy.

Pathways’ motto is to focus on what’s right in the world: Caring people. Pathways’ all-volunteer network of therapists, doctors, mentors, and even mechanics provides the support these girls have never experienced—and allows them to flourish.

Hope. Freedom. Success. Independence. These are the gifts of Pathways.

From Lin:

"I grew up with severe familial abuse that culminating in my living in fear of my father killing me. I was so blessed to find the Pathways to Independence Foundation that helped me escape that situation. However, when I entered their program, my main goal was to get a college education. I could not even fathom the profound gift of healing they would provide. Through their love, support, and boundless assistance, I gained self-love, self-value, forgiveness, and a full and happy soul. My face, which once burned from a heavy hand, now burns from uncontrollable smiling and laughter.And through my own transformation, my family and an entire history of dysfunctional dynamics was also transformed. Who would have thought I could have a happy and healthy relationship with my once-abusive father? I am in living, breathing amazement of this and am witness to the powerfully positive healing that is possible in life."

To learn more about Butterfly Tears visit http://www.butterflytears.net/