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Topic: Rain (09/07/04)
TITLE: When the Rain Stopped By Ann Marie Lindenmeyer 09/08/04 |
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It was late and the street was quietly eerie. The street lights dimly lit her way as the rain stung her cheeks. The rain running down her face blended with her tears. The park wasn't far from her home and in her pain, she walked quickly, not wanting to be seen.
She found her favorite place under the big oak tree at the far end of the park. It was dark and quiet except for the raindrops falling fiercely to the ground. Her clothes were now drenched but she hadn't noticed. She felt so dirty.
She wished the rain could wash away the dirty act that she had just experienced. She knew better. She was disgusting, dirty, and bad. What boy would ever want her, she was not worthy of anyone's love, she thought as the tears continued.
He always told her how worthless she was and how she wasn't good for anything. He told her it was her punishment for being such a bad girl. How many years had it been, she thought and couldn't even remember anymore? She hated the way he touched her. He never touched mom like that.
The rain began falling even harder than before and she ran out to the middle of the grass to let it beat down on her body. "Wash me please," she cried out to God, "If you exist, I need something, someone to get me out of this. I can't go back. I can't take another night. Why would anyone care anyway? Why would you care? You let him do this to me. You let him hurt me. If you exist, if Jesus died for me, than forgive me and take away my pain, take him away."
She awoke to a gentle nudge on her shoulder. The uniformed officer spoke softly and kindly to her. The morning sun was beginning to shed light across the park and the rain from the night before had completely stopped.
The officer grabbed her hand and pulled her up. She began to ask her questions to find out if she had run away, and why was she sleeping in the park.
She couldn't understand why, but as the rays of sun began beaming brightly onto her damp body, she felt she could trust this woman that had found her. She poured out her painful heart covered by tears of shame. The officer listened carefully, comforted her, and told her that everything was going to be okay.
After the report was taken, the officer dropped her off at the Christian care facility for runaway teens. Surprisingly, she was no longer afraid. She entered the doors and felt a calm feeling that she had never felt before. She felt comfort and love. God had wrapped His loving arms around His lost child and comforted her weary soul. Her life would never be the same again.