Following from my recent blog post where I shared some of the things I was grateful for since the year started I thought I’d share this story with you today because in a way I am grateful for the life of the person who God used to direct me on my path to faith all those years ago.
It was back in 2002 I believe, I cannot remember for sure. I was sitting by myself as usual in my religious education (RE) class when I realised this tall brown girl sitting close to me. She started a conversation with me. She was a new student in the class, I believe her family had just moved to the area and so she started the school year a little later than everyone else.
So sitting quietly by myself and looking serious as always – since back then I didn’t really smile much. Many people thought I was too serious and wasn’t interested in making friends with me, but she however wasn’t phased by it. I was introduced to her sister who was her twin and the three (3) of us ended up becoming very close friends throughout the rest of our secondary school days.
I visited their house, met the parents and siblings. I was good at hairdressing so I would offer to do their hair at their house or they would come to mine. They invited me to join a Bible Study group that was at their house every week. The Bible Study teacher was a Brazilian evangelist. I admired him very much. I would see him walking around our neighbourhood talking to strangers about Jesus when I was about my business. I really looked up to him.
He introduced me to a local church nearby and I started attending faithfully. It was good to be around other young people of my age and was encouraged to have fun in the right way without damaging ourselves. I really enjoyed my time there. He gave me my first ever Bible and I was so happy! Someone had not been so kind to me before. A total stranger. I still have that Bible to this day, dated April 25th, 2004. It’s the Bible that had kept my company in those moments when I had nowhere to go. I would close my room door and just read. Some of the stories were very intense for me at the time so when I would attend Bible Study the teacher would clarify any doubts I had. His mentorship really helped me to make sense of things.
Whilst this was happening, my friends and I were getting closer and closer, we were sharing a lot of things together. I grew to love those girls. I’m telling you, I don’t throw that word around often but I loved those girls. I had never cared for or loved anyone else. Anything and everything I had I shared it with them. They knew my secrets and I knew theirs. We were tight. Not even the boyfriend I had up until that point could compare.
Until the love I had turned to hatred…You may say, But Shawna, you believe in God and you're a Christian how can this be? Good question!
Who knows you may be struggling with hatred, grudges, unforgiveness, or any other hard feelings you may be experiencing right now. But I'm here to encourage you that although you may be justified in feeling those things there is a way to freedom...So keep an eye out for Part 2.
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Until next time.
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