Photo taken by contributor Shanna McKinney, a 40-year-old woman from Georgia who has struggled with an array of mental health challenges throughout her life.  Last year during counseling for PTSD, anxiety, and depression, she and the world were introduced to Gidget, Squirt (Little Shanna), and Adrian, her dissociative identities. With the help of her alters, she is remembering and healing from sexual abuses from her past. Shanna took up photography early in her therapy last year to help ground her in the now, and help her see the beauty of today as she heals from the uglies of yesterday.

About this photo: “Just before I was overcome with the abyss of darkness, I was taking pictures of the children at Church. I felt a little tug on my skirt and turned around to find a four year old little boy holding a flower to give me. I had to capture the moment. I often look at this picture to remind me of the pure love of Christ shown to me by my Church babies.”

Find more from Shanna at her blog.

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