This is a story of the salvation of a young lady...spiritual and emotional upheaval and the joy that presents when one is saved.

Long browbeaten and physically abused, the young girl was in need of a get away. She longed for tranquil seclusion; she resolved to run away to the forest that day. Judgmental words from someone she loved reverberated in her beleaguered soul. Her existence was dismal; her usually loving essence had become sinister and cold. As the teen stole away unnoticed, she hears the wooded area enliven with sound. She recognized that she was not in fact alone; the citizens of the woods were around. She was not annoyed at their being there; she knew the forest was their turf anyway. Little did the girl know; these woods would change her entire life that very day. A warm breeze touched her face as she realized that the forest’s citizens were there. It appeared that even the trees knew that she had a lot of pain; they seemed to care. They escorted her as she wandered deeper into the woods; she hadn’t a bit of dread. The huge trees spoke tenderly in her ear as the years of abuse rang inside her head. Hateful thoughts screamed as she thought of the many times she had been battered. Emotionally she was a mess; only getting away from her present situation mattered. Pure weariness took her; she remembered the tablet and pen tucked inside her skirt. She decided to write her hurt into quiet; writing always soothed her when she hurt.. She found the biggest tree and spread her blanket; she sat down to set free her pain. As the teardrops flowed, she heard the trees start to gently speak to her once again. “We of the forest are here for you, but we think you need a comforter and protector, You have to unburden your soul to the divine creator who can make it all better. The sad girl listened to the trees; it seemed that the forest watchers were very wise. She had recognized for some time that there was something deeply broken inside. The trees became muffled, as if waiting for her to respond to what they had told her. Her soul was worn and wrecked; she knew that she needed someone to embrace her. As she waited to hear more of nature’s wisdom, she commenced to write of her hurt. Her searing pain went unheard; she stayed silent, but her pen had the need to blurt. She wrote of the things she had done to get back at her mean and evil tormentors, She was in the wrong; but to forgive was not as yet an option; it just was not in her. All at once, as if the clever trees could read her secret thoughts, one spoke again. “Your soul has become black; you need mercy; let me tell you of our best friend.” A scream attempted to escape from her at the notion of a loved one’s deception. The wretched girl held back that scream; she wanted no interference of perception. She thought she wanted to die; pain of the malicious cruelty caused her to lose hope. The trees said to her, “Try Jesus”, as she made her way to a nearby mountain slope. Prostrate on the exposed earth, the girl’s body and wrecked spirit fell to their knees. She pleaded, “Let me know your friend; I desire to meet him; help me, please!” As the wisdom of the trees reached her ears, disgrace overtook her body and soul. She felt herself not good enough, after hearing about Jesus Christ’s passion of old. The wise forest watchers assured her that her transgression could be washed away. They told her that all sins were covered by Jesus’ blood on Calvary’s cross that day. Trees whispered hope as the society of the woodland returned to share in her joy. I can all but spot the old dark one’s facial expression; he even covets a girl or a boy. Unbeknownst to this dejected youth, there had been many persons there previously. “It is amazing how God plans for one’s salvation,” the wise trees echoed discreetly. As her surrender loomed, the young girl made excuses as to why she was unworthy. An old deer chimed in, “Do not fret little one, no soul can ever be too dark or dirty.” In a flash her innermost screams made their way out her young but blistered soul. Black rain fell from her inflamed eyes; she pleaded with Jesus to render her whole. Forgiveness rained down into her young essence; she knew she had been pardoned. Compassion and grace had again sufficed for another sprit that had been hardened. She knew that she could now pardon those who had abused her; treated her wrong. She could even let go of the malevolent resentment she had held onto so very long. On fire within her purified soul; the animals watched her as she danced around. After her long chat with her savior and friend, sleep met her on the warm ground. A melody echoed from the trees. It told of the brand new creature she just became. God gave me this chronicle to explain to others; they as well can be reborn the same. Her ‘dance of the flames’ was proof that the Holy Spirit had intertwined with hers. The woodland creatures had witnessed her joy; they knew a wonder had occurred. The pain and malice of her past had vanished; her self-image no longer distorted. Jesus’ blood and His mercy can purify a broken soul; no matter how dark or sordid. Our young girl awoke to a lyrical echo with bliss and serenity she had never had. A large oak, “The Watcher” whispered, “Jesus will comfort when you are sad.” As she gathered up her possessions and said farewell to her warm forest friends, She realized God had used creatures other than human beings to do wonder within. She was not fretful concerning what would transpire when she returned to her folks. If ask questioned where she had been, she would tell of her newly broken yokes. Headed for her residence, she unleashed a new cry; this time she couldn’t hold it in. That scream was a wail of peace and full joy; it echoed from a girl pardoned of sin. oi