C5 Chapter Three

Being an idol....

The world will worship and adore you; for your perfection.

One mistake and all will be forgotten. You'll be the enemy, the wolf in sheep's clothes.

Your perfection will be useless in their eyes.

They'll forget that you were once the light leading them to safety.

They'll forget that you one way or the other saved them from their pain, their distress, their grief and sadness. They'll forget that you were their sunshine in their darkest days, singing peoms-- songs of hope into their hopeless hearts

They'll forget that your one word brought them out of depression--- out of suicide.

They'll hate you. Judge you. Condemn you. Drive you to the road you once save them from.

And leave you all alone to fend for yourself--- find your way home.

Forgetting that you are also a human being--- that you're not a saint--- that you're not all that pure white and perfect--- that you're also bound to make mistakes, that you also have your imperfections and that the day will come when that side will be unleashed.

The sad part is, family sometimes will judge you first before they ask WHY--- why it has to happen.

That's the definition of a cruel world we live in.

**

They shake their heads, either with pity or disgust. Staring at her with hateful and judgmental eyes they murmur among themselves.

"What a shame."

"What a pity."

"So disgusting."

"What a shameful disappointment."

"What a dirty woman with a pure appearance."

"Such a disgrace to all women, she shouldn't be allowed in the society."

"If she was in my family or my daughter I'll disown her!"

"She doesn't deserve to be called a woman, such dirt deserves to be in the garbage!"

"What an ungrateful child! After everything her family did for her!"

"Such a disgrace she brought to her family. She deserves to die a painful death!"

"A wolf hiding behind sheep clothes."

"What decent man would want a prostitute like her?"

"Of course no man would want to get involve with a filthy thing like her!"

"I will curse my son if he ever plans on marrying from that disgraceful shameless family!"

They all let out a satisfied mockery laugh.

"Who wants to involve themselves with a laughing stock family?"

"No sane reputable family of course!" They sang in chorus, their sneering laughter bouncing through the hot Sunday afternoon outside the church building. Their character so dynamic--- like a chameleon.

Few hours ago inside that holy sanctuary these people greeted her and her family with the most biggest and brightest smile in the world, gushed about their love for her, rolled on the floor in worship, humbled themselves, laid their hearts and souls down for God. Not long after the sermon she was called before the congregation, her sin told to them and positions at church striped off of her.

Everyone had gasped, dumbstruck and speechless. No one expected her---their greatest mentor and admirer to commit such unforgiving mistake. Mummers had broke through the whole church auditorium, those who couldn't believe the news, the heartbroken ones, the disappointed ones, the disgusted ones and the gloating ones.

Some even cried. Their hearts heavy, filled with pity, empathy and sadness as they watched Gracious for the first time since they had known her as a child to an adult bowed her head in shame.

She always had a smile on, the most beautiful calming and peaceful smile everyone could wished for. Head high in pride, steps so confident and graceful.

However today her face was low to the ground, tears falling in the most heartbreaking and saddest way they could ever imagine. Steps timid and guilty. Face masked with humiliation. Eyes the epitome of regret. An expression--- emotions no one has ever seen on her face or imagine that someone like Gracious the young twenty two year old woman will ever have.

She is too pure to stain herself. However it happened and everyone couldn't swallow the news--- those who prayed for her downfall took it with pure elation, heartbreakingly.

She looked broken, lost and rejected--- exposed to the callous fangs and claws of the world, to tear her to pieces and devour her.

Mother couldn't raise her head, so was her father. The whole family bowed in shame, their glorious crowns replaced with the crown of disgrace.

The pastor had asked the congregation to remember the Ɔdɔ family in prayers, especially the falling grace. He had asked them to support and help her through this delicate time. He had asked them not to judge her because it could have been any of them, and Gracious would have understood and helped them through their darkest days.

He had asked them to remember all the good things she had done for them and the church and be the friend, the councillor, light, courage and strength she needed to push through the pain, climbed out of the pit and see through the dark.

They had responded positively. All stood up and prayed for her. Some consoled her when she took her seat, telling her it was ok, that they got her, that they were all in it together.

It's funny how the same people acting like angels inside that holy sanctuary would be saying such cruel things about their fellow Christin friend, sister and daughter immediately they received the benediction.

"What a shameful woman."

"She was shameless enough to cover her dirt with God. This girl has no fear of God." One sneers aggressively, as wild as a snake with the intent to sedate you with venom.

"I can't believe she was bold enough to fool us all, including God."

"Fool what God? God can never be fooled! Why do you think she was exposed?"

"Yes, you're right. God exposed her evil dirty deeds."

"She deserves it, the whole world must know her dirty filthy ugly secret."

"Wait and see, they'll come for her."

Their words harsh and cruel as they condemn the young lady, without a string of empathy.

She stands in daze, mind ringing nonstop, heart painfully hammering against her ribcages, lungs caving in and suffocating her clenching chest.

Snickers come from behind her. With lowered head, she stays in the same position, ashamed to face them, her friends--- the very ones she stood for and supported when they fell, when they were at their lowest, when their mistakes, sins, imperfections and flaws swallowed them.

"Eeiii girls! Did you hear, there is another virgin Mary ooo."

"Really?!" They all exclaim.

"Yes! This time it is not Jesus she is going to give birth to oooo!

"Then who?"

"God who else?"

"God?"

"Yes! Jesus came, the Holy Spirit came, now it's God's turn."

"I thought one of Jesus' disciples."

"Judas Iscariot?"

They all burst into loud fit laughter, hi--fiving each other. The sound so painful and ear piercing that she groans from the unbearable discomfort.

They are her friends. Why are they doing this to her? Treating her like that? Mocking and making fun of her?

Why aren't they comforting her? She needs them badly, she needs their warm embraces and encouraging words--- she needs a friend now!

Why are they not being one?

She closes her eyes, inhaling a soft cutting groan while willing her tears not to fall anymore.

She can't take this.

It saddens her heavy heart that they are doing this to her.

She never judged them. But they did.

She never left them. They did in a heartbeat.

She was always there for them, to help them rise again when they fell, to understand them, to help them right their wrongs, to help them realize their faults when they made mistakes.

She was always there, in their darkest days she was there, being their light. She never left them to fight alone. She was always with them, fighting along.

All her life, she has been nothing but a friend.

However what did they do? What are they doing?

They easily failed to understand her. They failed to be a friend.

They mocked her. And made fun of her predicament.

A bitter smile adorns her pale lips, broken tears falling miserably. The smile so ironic to her predicament. She realizes how heartlessly callous the world is. It's very much amusing how she's thought her friends, Christian brethrens would be there for her as she faces the world coming for her.

Who would have thought that in the house of the Lord there are hypocrites, scoffers and mockers acting all saint and righteous?

Surely the Bible never lies about such people even in the house of the Lord. They act hypocritically with no shame or fear of the Lord without paying heed to the words of our Lord Jesus Christ about such people in,

Luke 6:37 that said, "Do not judge others, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn others, or it will all come back against you. Forgive others, and you will be forgiven."

And in 1 John 4:21 That says, 'Those who love God must also love their Christian brothers and sisters.'

They claim to love God, however they spit venom more than the devil. Is this the love of God? Slandering, Judging and condemning a Christian sister so bitterly with no empathy, as though she is the only sinner in the world?

How laughable is their 'love' for God.

They were never real friends to her.

She falls into deep thoughts. If the people who claim to be Christians, Believers--- the LIGHT of the world judge her, watch her and laugh at her when she falls, instead of helping her to stand. What would those in the world who aren't believers do to her?

Heaving out a cutting breath she wills herself to stop crying and be strong for her baby and the future ahead, hoping that God forgives her mistakes and gives her enough strength to face the raging tsunami stalking her wobbling way.

"Be strong Gracious, be strong."

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