I have known about this happening in parts of the world, but I didn’t know the numbers, until I saw this:
India’s Deadly Secret (please watch this before reading on)
For a while, I have no words, only tears.
But a word finally comes.
You see, I was born there, in that country in the video, on the other side of the world. Even though I live in the U.S. and grew up here, and am a U.S. citizen, I was born there; my parents are from there.
And one thing I know is this, the two words that God gives me in the light of this tragedy: hope exists.
It does.
Somehow, I, born in a dusty, small town in northwest India, ill as an infant… found something I needed: Hope. Or shall I say… Hope found me.
Hope first came to me in an American hospital in India… through the medical care I received there as an infant.
Years later, Hope showed up in other forms. In words from others. In visits to church. In the words read from a book that are said to be “alive”. In solitary moments where only tears are spoken to a God who listens.
I found the person of hope; the one born in a lonely, smelly feedbox, in a stable, under the light of a heavenly star.
There is hope for a world full of atrocity.
If you hear of atrocity, or experience it personally, or don’t know what to do with its existence… walk to the manger and peek in. Look into the face of Love, the God-baby come to earth as a man.
See him, the person of hope, the Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace.
Now, walk a little further in his footsteps… to the cross.
See where he died… and know why he came.
And find hope there.
Because it can’t be found anywhere else.
Even with the heartaches of this world — whether they be faraway, or closer to home… I celebrate. I celebrate hope.
I celebrate the hope of Him… that he is come, that he is alive, seated at the right hand of God. I celebrate who he is, anticipate his redemptive work, his plan, his peace, and his mercy that covers the darkness in the world and the darkness in hearts.
My soul rejoices in the G0d-baby born… and I know that any bad news is not really the end of the story… because Hope lives.
***
Sharing with Emily
and Ann
Quite a terrible thing depicted in that video. It’s not so different from the young girls “married to the gods” which Amy Carmichael worked to rescue a hundred years ago. Thanks be to God for saving you, dear Anna, physically and spiritually. May He and His people work for the rescue of many more from the domain of darkness into the kingdom of His beloved Son.
(One of our World Vision sponsored children is a young girl in India. Her face was in my mind as I read and watched this. May God protect her.)
Thanks for calling attention to this. Grace, peace, and hope to you, friend.
What an inspiration Amy Carmichael is– I need to read more about her. I’ve heard of her but not read her stories as of yet.
How sweet you have a World Vision child from India. You are a blessing, friend, in numerous ways. 🙂
A missionary friend (years ago now) rescued two young throw away girls off the street and raised them to love Jesus. I am happy you found HOPE and LOVE and the Lord. Your story is amazing. The video caused me to hurt all the way through.
Wow, Hazel… I love to hear stories like that, how God makes paths cross, and that those girls are now safe and sound. Your comments are a blessing. Thank you so much. 🙂
Your words. Here. Give me hope. Thank you friend. I’m celebrating hope with you.
Thank you, friend, so glad you are visiting here. 🙂 We do have hope, and that hope does not disappoint.
I have hope that these days the locusts have eaten will be restored. I have hope.
Oh, you’ve mentioned a passage that I love, that I hold close as a dear promise, on so many levels, in so many ways. May He indeed restore! So glad you believe in this hope, too, happygirl.
oh friend. i had no idea. i’ve posted this video to facebook. what a tragedy.. and what a gift, your life! i am so grateful for you.
Thanks, Emily, for sharing the video… so sad, I just don’t know what else to say. So much wrong in this world, but there is hope in Jesus.
“If you hear of atrocity, or experience it personally, or don’t know what to do with its existence… walk to the manger and peek in. Look into the face of Love, the God-baby come to earth as a man.” I’m tweeting this with a link to this post. You’ve taken the reader from hopelessness to joy.
That’s just how I felt… taken from a sense of hopelessness and helpnessness to that of celebrating the hope that is found in Jesus. Thanks so much for the tweet!
I, too, am so grateful for the Hope you have found, Anna.Yet, how difficult it is to face these hard truths about this broken world. Holding on to faith in the midst of this reminds me of the story of the song God of this City. Have you heard it? The band Bluetree was in Thailand when they came face to face with the evil of young girls being sold as sex toys. They were devastated. In the end, they wrote this song:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kXh_tgjnYJw
He is the God of all.
OH, my goodness, I didn’t know it would post that whole big thing like that! Sorry about that…
🙂 Smiles– it’s ok— not a problem! Thank you for sharing this story with me! I’ve heard this song but had no idea of the behind it! It’s a wonderful song– makes it all the more meaningful knowing what inspired it. I love what you wrote at the end: “He is the God of all”. Yes indeed– and resting in that gives me peace and hope.
Thanks for this. Hope exists–two powerful words! I love that you were born there and for a reason, I’m sure – if anything to have a connection that brings you to a deeper compassion.