Shahla

Hers was a
terrifying childhood.

There were monsters lurking
in corners
in garages
in neighborhoods
at her front door.

NO CHILD
SHOULD EVER
EXPERIENCE
THIS.

And she didn't tell.

She wrapped her secrets tightly
in the darkest corners of her heart
and bore the pain by herself.

She kept hoping
for stability
acceptance
love
a daddy

She hoped.

Maybe marriage?
Maybe babies?
Maybe this would fix it?
The dark corners of pain?

Then she made the worst choice.

Betrayal.

NO ONE
SHOULD EVER
CHOOSE
THIS.

And it didn't alleviate her pain.
It gave her
GUILT.

And the stripping
continued
as she was
overwhelmed
with
broken relationships
and broken people
and broken children
and

she was broken.
And she was trying to take care
of all the broken around her.

NO ONE
SHOULD HAVE
TO EXPERIENCE
THIS PAIN.

She was so alone.

Then she found them.
People who existed all along.
More broken people.

But they SPOKE
of their brokenness.
They SHARED
their brokenness.

They didn't HIDE
their brokenness
behind a mask
or in the darkest corners.

And her brokennness counted.
She wasn't alone.
The healing began.

These people knew the Man who was
BROKEN
so their brokenness could be healed.

They pointed to the broken and bleeding man
and they held her to
SPEAKING
her brokenness.

They embraced her
Just where she was.
They embraced her with the
ARMS
of a Savior.

Her healing began.
Her marriage
Her children
Her relationships

And Jesus crawled into the darkest corner of her heart.
He reminded her
He showed her
That He had never left her.
He was always there.
Even when the monsters hurt her.

And He would always be there.
Her beloved.
Her Savior.
Her Daddy.

The Lover of her Soul.

Her everything.



Shahla's prayer:

“The Lord did not set his affection on you and choose you because you were more numerous than other peoples, for you were the fewest of all peoples.  But it was because the Lord loved you and kept the oath he swore to your ancestors that he brought you out with a mighty hand and redeemed you from the land of slavery...  Know therefore that the Lord your God is God; he is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commandments.” Deuteronomy 7:7—9