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Previous Challenge Entry (Level 3 - Advanced)
Topic: JOIE DE VIVRE (delight in being alive) (08/18/16)
Thirteen years old she sat in front of a tray of KINETIC sand in Robert’s office. For a long time she silently worked the sand, straining it through her fingers and squeezing it together to form 3D shapes.

Her mother was worried about her, the other four children had been having regular counselling with family violence counselors, but Liesl had refused any help offered. It was a miracle that she had agreed to see a counselor at all.

Six weeks ago the family court had made an order that the children were to spend four hours a week unsupervised with their father as they had refused all contact with him. All the children were stressed and not happy about this as they were afraid of the anger and violence that could erupt over the smallest incident.

Liesl on the other hand was already close to a nervous breakdown and had been self harming for nearly a year. When she was told about the order she started scratching her face and neck till she drew blood, she was covered in scars and scabs. The scratching happened every time prior to meeting up with her father, a doctor, who refused to believe that he was the reason for the children’s poor mental health. Her mother had no option but to comply with the court order and to encourage her children to spend time him.

Towards the end of the session, Robert gave Liesl a sheet of paper. ’Draw me what is going on in your life and how you feel about it,’ he suggested.

Liesl sat there contemplating what she would draw. With a firm and deliberate hand she wrote ‘SPRING’ in large letters across the middle of the paper. She then drew trees, flowers, birds, a sun and many animals.

Robert was puzzled, he knew the pain and agony of spirit that was consuming Liesl. He saw the physical scars that were an outworking of her inner pain.

‘Explain to me your drawing,’ he asked.

The darkness on her face slowly disappeared and was replaced with a glowing smile.

‘I see spring,’ she said. ‘Life is very black and dark but I have hope. Spring is coming to my life soon, the trees will have blossoms, the birds will sing, the colorful flowers will bloom and life will be full of joy. Hope is what is keeping me alive.’

As her grandmother I am praying that in ten weeks time at the final court hearing the judge will give the our daughter and her five children permission to move to the mainland and live near us for support. Spring will indeed be there for Liesl. She will have the rest of her life to fill with the joy of living.

Weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning."-Psalm 30:5
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Member Comments
Member
Date
Francie Snell 
08/26/16
So heartbreaking but God can use the most horrendous of situations to show his glory. He can take the worst and turn it to the best.
C D Swanson 
08/27/16
My heart goes out to all that have been exposed to this kind of situation. It's so sad and mind boggling and beyond comprehension at times...but,

I'm so glad for the "break through" with counseling, and with the love of her family...she will heal with Jesus in her corner.

Thanks for sharing this well written and compelling story with us, you'll be in my prayers.

God bless~