Laboring to Love an Abusive Mate

  Positive affirmations, thought-provoking collages, stirring mask images, inspiring guest speakers, delicious refreshments and more, brought visitors out of their homes in Pasadena, California. On October 17, 2014, the first annual Healing Art Exhibition was presented at the Fair Oaks Renaissance Plaza Community Room, 649 N. Fair Oaks Avenue. Linda Offray, Shepherd’s Door Founder and Teresa Smith, Healing Art Organizer and teacher and special guests were available to share personal stories and answer questions about domestic violence. Offray, who has been on a mission to help people in violent relationships for decades, said "…Shepherd’s Door was birthed out of anger, frustration and pain." Being a mother, she had members of her own family who suffered through domestic violence. She shared most of the women she has talked to about their experiences said they didn’t know how they ended up in their situations. Offray mentioned these type of relationships ten