Recently, my husband took me to see the new Marvel movie Thunderbolts* as a birthday present. ... There is one character and two scenes in particular which I have been pondering since I saw them, because they resonate with my own healing journey. I want to simply share with you how these scenes affected me and then offer a guided reflection for your own further reflection and healing.

I desire to make decisions from a place of authentic love and not respond from the wounds of my past and present. Wounds that make me feel trapped—make me feel like I do not have a choice in the matter— with no control. For this reason, when I first heard about St. Josephine Bakhita, I was drawn to her: a woman who was kidnapped as a child, sold into slavery, and ultimately lived in the freedom of the Lord’s love as a religious sister.