PREDESTINED (UPDATED)

Looking at that little girl

with the crooked bangs and the sun-streaked curls,

freckled cheeks and dimpled smile,

it's easy to see why they called her Sunshine.

Look closer, though, into those sparkling green eyes,

and you just might catch a glimpse of the 

fears,

tears,

shame,

and pain

she is so desperately fighting to hide.

She asked herself constantly,

"What's wrong with me?"

She tried so very hard to just fit in

when all she really wanted was to

run

to

her

bed

 hide if she could,

and cover her head,
become invisible or dream of flying away,

muffle her tears so they wouldn't scream at her again,

and drown out the terrifying sounds she didn't quite understand.

Fifty years later forgiveness is hard,

especially when she so loved the one who caused 
these scars
and all of the pain.

And now he is gone.

But she knows it's a sin

not to forgive.

So Sunshine lays her pain

at the foot of the cross

because she knows

Jesus died

so she could live and move on.

She holds on to the hope

of God's promises and plans,

knowing He has every hair numbered

and has counted every grain of sand.

She has been made to give God glory,

she has been grafted into His tree.

And the thought of her new family reminds her she is predestined.

And

free

to be

little Sunshine

again.

PSALM 36:7