Are You Picking Up A Snake ?

We often hear about a cycle of violence. 
This is when a victim is hurt mentally or physically, the abuser then goes away for a while and then contacts the victim with what seems to be remorse, "I'm sorry, I'll never do it again. 
It happens again, again, the abuser is sorry and there's another "honeymoon".
Each time this happens the abuse escalates.  She's sure he will eventually change, but he doesn't. 
The wait for the change is sometimes a death sentence for the victim.
There was once a traveler going up the mountain on foot.  At the bottom, he met a snake. 
The snake begged:  "Please take me up the mountain, I'm so tired and you could just put me in your pocket." 
The traveler said," Oh, no, you're a snake and you will bite me." The snake was so pathetic and said, "Oh, I would never do that, if you were so kind to me and just put me in your pocket .
I'll never do that." 
So, the traveler picked up the snake and started up the mountain.  When he got to the top and was taking the snake out of his pocket, the poisonous snake bit him. 
The traveler cried in pain and crushing disappointment:  "You promised you wouldn't bite me!"
The snake sneered and looked him in the eye and said:  "You idiot, you knew what I was when you picked me up!"
Are you picking up a snake?
How many times should you pick up a snake before you learn?
Please learn sooner than later.
Millie working for you