The Sad Story

This is a serial story that I started a few weeks ago. To read the full story, click HERE

Jackie never planned on getting hit in the face. But that's what happened.

She and her friend Liya were visiting in the neighborhood again. Time to practice more language skills.

"Halo!" Jackie said, turning her attention to a little boy who appeared beside her. Sitting on the floor, she was eye-level with his cute little face.

POW! He punched her in the face.

OK, this one is gonna be a little hard to play with. I'll just sort of hold him at arms length like this so he can't hit me. Oh, yes, there we go, he's behind me now. And...pulling my ponytail now. Awesome.

Two other little boys charged into the house with a little cardboard game and some game pieces. They played quietly to the side. Jackie thought that was very sweet. Maybe she could bring a game for them to play next time. Then they jumped up, tore the game to pieces and threw it into the air. Bits of cardboard fluttered to the ground like falling leaves.

Nice. No games.

Screams came from a bedroom as an unhappy little boy wailed his protest over who-knew-what. Rohiza grabbed a long stick and walked about the room herding, hitting kids, and hollering.

Well, they are not worrying about being on their best behavior anymore. As much as I hate the hollering and hitting, I guess it means we are in the inner circle!

Jackie eyed Liya. She obviously did not enjoy watching the adults holler and hit the kids either, but really, what could they do at this point? LOVE them. That's what.

Rohiza put her stick down and sat on the floor so Jackie tried to join the conversation at hand across the room. Scootch, scootch. Rohiza was talking to Liya. To her delight, Jackie realized she could understand some of it. Rohiza's mumbled words were finally making sense to her. Rohiza told how the blind son used to be married but his wife ran away.

"Thank goodness they didn't have any kids," she said. "Or I'd have to take care of them too."

Jackie looked over at the blind man who sat next to his mother. Why do they talk about him like he's not even there?

"Oh," commented Liya, "what about your daughter's father-in-law who is in the hospital? How is he doing this week?"

"Oh, he died," said Rohiza.

"What?"

"He only lasted two days," Intan chimed in.

Oh Lord, does the bad luck never stop with this poor family?

More talking revealed that Rohiza had been married twice. In both cases her husband died. So when relatives urged her to marry again, she said no way. Now she lived with her daughters and blind son. Her own sons didn't care for her.

"The one that was here last time," she said, "they one laying over there who said he couldn't work, he took drugs,"

"Yes," said the blind man. "He used to be different, but drugs messed up his mind."

Jackie's heart was heavy. There was no end to the sadness in their life.

"Rohiza, I pray for you all the time. What specifically can I pray for?" asked Liya.

"Life is so hard."

"Do you pray Rohiza?"

"I can't. I have high blood pressure from all the stress. If I bow to do the necessary ablutions for prayer, I will faint."

"Can't you just pray in your heart?"

"It's too hard." The old woman turned and began to bounce Fardus in the bouncy seat. Her quite action said loudly that she was done talking about God and prayer.

Intan and the blind man, Jackie noticed, perked up. The blind man smiled, as if to say, "Finally,we are talking about something interesting!"

Later, when Jackie and Liya said goodbye, Intan walked them to the door. "Come back soon," she said. "I'm not patient waiting for your return!"

The two ladies departed with heavy hearts. They had not shared a Bible story, but they had let Rohiza share her story. Hers was a sad one. Jackie wanted with all of her heart for their story to include Jesus. He could redeem this family, so tangled in the devil's hold.

Later that night, when she was in her own home, Jackie prayed for the family. Her heart felt heavy. No joy, only heartache filled her thoughts. Reading in the Gospel of John, she ran across John 16:24 "Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete."

What? Where did that verse come from? Jackie reread it. This verse had everything all wrapped up in one. Was she taking it out of context? Was this a sign? Was this what she was supposed to do? She repeated the words to herself...

Until now, Jackie, you have not asked anything in Jesus Name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete.