The anger and hurt cosumes her

How could they have hurt me like that?

Didn't they know how much it would affect me?

They told me I would never amount to anything

They said I was lazy and weak

I am angry that they didn't see

my dreams and ideas

They didn't want to listen

She had these feelings

for many years

It had made her feel like

She couldn't do anything

She had seemed to have lost everything

Her self respect,hope and dreams

she had as a child

She wondered if this was forever

She went to church one day

and saw an older woman who was praying

She became fascinated with watching her

She seemed so absorbed in prayer

She had a peace and strength she had

never seen before

She had to talk to this woman

She had to find out where her peace came from

When the older woman had finished praying

She asked in a hesitant voice

" I know we have never met

but I noticed you as you prayed

You have such a glow and peace

Please tell me where and how

you received ths peace.

I hope I am not prying."

'" Oh my dear child I am glad you asked

This peace comes from talking with Jesus

He has helped me through hard times

He has taught me how to forgive others and myself

You see when I was young I saw my brohter die at

the hands of a teenager, and I felt such

anger and hate towards that teenager

I wanted revenge and had such a coldness in my heart

I went to the trial and my heart was pounding

so hard when I saw him, I thought I would scream

Then  the strangest thing happened

I looked in his eyes and I saw nothing

His heart seemed dead

He seemed to have no life in him

Only bitterness and coldness

I thought that is how I will be if I keep going this path

It took a long time and the compassion of a minister

but I learned about the pain Jesus went through

and how he understands and was there when my brother died

He was crying with me and holding me

Such love I have never known

I learned about the light inside me

and the many gifts I have to offer the world

Jesus and  became great friends

I have forgiven myself for the violent

feelings I had, and believe it or not

I have forgiven the teenager who

killed my brother

The anger and the bitterness aren't there anymore

and I have Jesus to help me carry my cross

When I pray I feel Jesus is with me

Maybe that is what you see."

She was listening intently to every word

she said, and was so moved by her story

She realized what can happen if

she hung on the anger and bitterness

She wanted to know Jesus

and have her own realtionship with him

She wanted the compassion she had

She wanted to be able to forgive herself

and the people who had hurt her

A new life! Anew beginning!