Stealing from your own
“Say what now?” I asked. I could feel anger building up in me as I heard the teenager’s story. Jumping on a call with my friend who was reminding me that I was meeting with a young lady to help her with her resume, we started reminiscing about our younger days with the child’s parents. Midway in the conversation, she expressed concerns for the child after the parents got divorced. The child was filled with bitterness and anger towards one specific parent.
Despicable
As she dug deeper into some of the issues the child was experiencing, one story made everything within me broil. The young girl was encouraged by her mother to take on a summer internship to gain relevant work experience. After working hard for the summer, the child went to the bank to get some money to find out only cents were left in the account.
The mother had taken all the money the child had worked to earn over the summer.
“How could a mother do that?” was my first reactionary question to the story. Gathering my thoughts, I asked instead, “Was there an agreement prior between the child and parent? Did the parent use the money to maybe pay for school supplies or something the child wanted?”. I was scrambling for some kind of reasonable answer as to why this could have happened.
Truth
My friend noted she asked questions along the same lines, but the child was never given a reason and the money was never spent on them. To say that I was mad is an understatement. How can someone steal from their own child?
But underneath all of those feelings was one of regret and pain. No child should ever have to experience that, but so many go through life with not only that story but some are even more horrific. It reminded me of Isaiah 49:14-15:
But Zion said, “The Lord has forsaken me, the Lord has forgotten me.” “Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne? Though she may forget, I will not forget you!
That is what I wanted to share with that child full of bitterness and hate, “The Lord has not forgotten you. He loves you.” No matter how we were raised, or the environment we may be in now, the Lord has not forgotten us. There will be persons who will steal from you, who will rob you of your joy, and those who will slander and abuse you. God has not forgotten you. He loves you.
Food for thought
We know how it feels when we are abandoned or forsaken. When persons destroy us by their actions. Let us all be careful of our own actions and ripples of the effect it may have on those around us.
Prayer: Abba Father. Thank you that we can come to you with all of our troubles, hopes and dreams. We pray for all of those suffering that will find comfort in you and the peace you provide which surpasses all understanding. May your grace, mercy and love shine brightly in their lives. In Jesus’ name. Amen
Casandra Morris, the author and founder of the Godlywoman911 brand, experienced a living hell:
Tired of being tired! Wake up. Go to work. Participate in any extra-curricular activity. Church on Sundays. Home. She thought she was doing just fine. She would describe herself as happy, kind, and generous. She even led the youth group ministry and directed all the church summer camps for a long time.
Miss Goody two shoes. Life was good. Too good. By 35, she had two failed marriages, three miscarriages. Two deaths that rocked her life. Oh, and almost murdered. It was a hot mess!
With riveting stories of heart-wrenching honesty, loss, grief, and healing join the journey Casandra took in discovering the truth and hearing the voice of a once silent God. Casandra invites us all to ask God our hardest questions of faith, such as:
*Am I lovable?
*Does God care? Does God have feelings?
*What does it look like to fear God?
*Does God speak to us? Or is that only a Bible thing.
*Why should I forgive a mother who abandoned me?
*Do I have a purpose?
*Is God actually hearing me?
*Can I pray “Send me” if it means getting cancer, loss, or heartbreak?
*Can I bring joy to God? And does it even matter!
In her pursuit of God, Casandra found something better than good church answers: She found a God who had been pursuing her all along. Silent God: Know why God does not answer unpacks the touchpoints of a daily walk that brings joy to God. Join Casandra as she shares how she has come to know without a doubt that love triumphs when you learn the truth of God’s word.