Because of amazing grace, victims of rape have a chance to have a great life. Even if there is the added complication of a pregnancy. And the unsettling fact that the victim is even a child. Aretha Franklin’s story gives hope to the countless, nameless victims of sexual abuse especially little, innocent girls that abound in our world today.

The morning after she was first abused, she was not ready to go to church but she heard this from Mama Franklin “I know you don’t wanna tell me but YOU CAN ALWAYS TELL THE LORD, Ree. He loves you, no matter what.” That was grace. It may not have meant a lot at the time but it was a good seed nonetheless.