The Forgiving Girl

Crouched in a corner, with her arms wrapping herself tightly, a girl was found.
Her once beautiful face was covered in blood and bruises.
Her eyes so swollen that they were mere slits to see through.
Her hands cut, bruised and her fingernails broken from the scraping of the floor while being dragged.
Her stomach and back bruised and bones from her ribs rising with their broken form.
Her legs bleeding and scratched from the kicking of her feet, bruised with the blows of fists.
Her feet sat beneath her, one shoe on and one shoe off.

A stranger walked toward her speaking in a soft protecting voice.
Be not afraid, I am here to help and comfort you.
Not knowing that this was true, fear of the evil one returning, she only stared at him.
With each step the stranger took, she tried to scream, to run, but nothing could she do.
She then looked into his eyes and saw something she only dared to believe.
She continues to look into his eyes, as if from nowhere, her voice came to life.
While still in her corner with fear still alive, she asked him just to let her die.

Watching the stranger come closer and closer, she the girl, tearfully cried.
She softly spoke these words, “do with me what you will, I know my time is almost over.”
She asked, “Have you not done enough to me?  You have taken me physically, you have broken my spirit, left marks of hatred on my body, there is nothing left to take.”
From her throat comes the most compelling sound, a humming of the Old Rugged Cross.
All at once, but in slow steady try, she moves from being crouched in the corner, to kneeling on her knees.
She did not look at the stranger, fear no longer held her, she began to pray.
Her words of prayer were not for her, but for the person who did such evil to her.

The stranger stood and listened to her prayer, tears streaming down his face.
He was so please with this his child, who cared not for her own fate.
She still praying with a forgiveness that knew no bounds, did not know the stranger had came and sat beside her.
Listening to her, with her heart in his hands, she ask, “Lord help me through this, why did this happen, I don’t understand.”
Even with all that happened to this loving child, praise for his name she did speak.
Finished, she opened her eyes, confused and startled, she knew the stranger was at her side.
With a turn of her head, she looked into those wonderful eyes, without a spoken word, he told her it would be ok.  You my child on this day, have given me hope, for your prayer of forgiveness has set you free and with me you will always be.