2023 Bold Beautiful Perfect: Debbie

Hi, I’m Debbie Bryant! I’m the wife to an amazing husband. We have been together for 37 years. I love him with all my heart and soul. It hasn’t always been perfect, but we were definitely meant for each other.

I was born in Vicksburg, Mississippi, then we moved to Natchez when I was 2, and then Jackson later on. I have lived my life in many places in South Mississippi due to my Daddy’s job that required him to move a lot. It was very hard for me as a child. I didn’t live in one place for  long enough to build a lifelong relationship with any of my friends. I never felt like I fit in anywhere.

It wasn’t until becoming a Respiratory Therapist that I finally felt God had put me where I was supposed to be: caring for and loving my precious patients! I’ve been doing this for 36 years and it’s one of the most gratifying things I’ve ever done. I love my patients, I love caring for them, I love helping them in any way I could.

I’ve lived through a lot of trials and tribulations. Prior to my current marriage, I was the wife of a horribly abusive husband for 13 years. I was physically, emotionally, and mentally abused for 12 out of the 13 years he and I were together. I was often told that I was ugly, stupid, and fat; I was beaten and ended up in ER several times. I lived a lie trying to hide the abuse. I stayed home from family events because I never wanted my family to ask questions about the bruises and stitches.

He would tell me that NO ONE would ever want me but him… no one would want to be STUCK with anyone like me because I was so ugly and stupid. Of course, over time I believed him and I saw issues with everything about myself. Staying with him seemed like the right thing to do because I was convinced that I wasn’t worthy of love from anyone else.

I also stayed for my children. I was raised in a home with no fussing or fighting in front of me, so it was very hard for me to understand this lifestyle and how I deserved to be treated this way. Of course, he had me convinced that it was my fault. I heard it so much I truly believed I was that person. The only way I survived those 12 years was by the true grace of God!

Have I completely 100% figured out how to love myself? No, not yet. But coming up on my 65th birthday in July, I’m learning that it’s not about physical beauty but inner beauty. By the grace of my Lord and Savior, he is teaching me how to love myself! It’s not an overnight process, but he is healing my heart to love myself, to be myself, and to know I’m worthy of whatever he has in store for me. I love other people with all my heart and all my soul, but learning to love myself has truly been one of the hardest things.