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With all of that, the cards she was dealt, becoming a Christian and still being dealt one lousy hand you have to ask yourself, “Why did she become a Christian and why did she remain one?”
When you consider the hand Ellie, my sister was dealt in life, why did she even decide to follow Christ? When my parents divorced, Erick, Ellie and myself were quite young, Ellie went to live with my mom and her new husband. From ages three to twelve Ellie told me she lived quite a normal life. The three had moved to Germany where my mother had been raised. My mother was quite the stunning, attractive woman. And although she was only four feet eleven inches tall, her parents, men, anyone who knew her well were terrified of her. When Ellie became thirteen, maybe fourteen and as she began to develop into a beautiful woman she overheard a conversation between her mom (my mom) and one of her many gentlemen callers:
Man: “I want to sleep with your daughter.”
Mom: “No, not yet. She is too young. Let’s wait a year or two.”
The man who married my mother either raped or tried several times to rape Ellie. Ellie married a soldier just to escape the daily horror she endured. She was pregnant at sixteen and divorced and deserted at eighteen. From then she lived a very hard core life joining up with a drunk and drug addict that beat her within inches of her life. From that relationship her son, Taylor was born. He is severely mentally retarded due to the lifestyle of hard living.
By the grace of God, because of the grace of God, she became a Christian. She joined a church with a membership of thousands, but was never able to become one of them. She was allowed to help out with Vacation Bible School but I don’t believe she was allowed to teach. Ellie was never able to join the adult classes or hear a single sermon because she and another couple were the only ones willing to be with the mentally challenged children during the services. Out of a congregation of thousands, it was just Ellie and this one couple, who also had a mentally challenged child.
When my sister became terminal and Hospice entered the picture not a member came to visit her. One of the ministers did just once and that was only because Ellie asked him to come over so she could plan her funeral. Three months before her death, Taylor became eighteen and Ellie now told him, “Taylor, you’re now a man.” Becoming eighteen, Taylor wasn’t allowed to attend the mentally challenged classes at church anymore and would have to move to the adult class. However, there were concerns about Taylor attending the adult class and they informed Ellie that Taylor would be disruptive. The following Sunday, Taylor first visited his old class. He hugged each child and then told them, “I can’t come back to this class anymore. I have to leave because I am now a man.” He attended the adult class and was a perfect gentleman.
With all of that, the cards she was dealt, becoming a Christian and still being dealt one lousy hand you have to ask yourself, “Why did she become a Christian and why did she remain one?” In the last conversation I had with Ellie she said to me, “You know, after I’m gone the ones I feel sorry for are all of you left behind,”……..and then I thought she was going to say, “because you’ll all be sad”, but that’s not what she said. Here’s what she said, “You know, after I’m gone the ones I feel sorry for are all of you left behind because you have to remain here on this earth and I get to be with God.” Why does a person serve God? Why did Job serve God? Why did my precious sister, Ellie, serve God? Because both had learned the lesson, “Trust God or have nothing.”
Then Job replied to the LORD:
2 “I know that you can do anything,
and no one can stop you.
3 You asked, ‘Who is this that questions my wisdom with such ignorance?’
It is I—and I was talking about things I knew nothing about,
things far too wonderful for me.
4 You said, ‘Listen and I will speak!
I have some questions for you,
and you must answer them.’
5 I had only heard about you before,
but now I have seen you with my own eyes.
6 I take back everything I said,
and I sit in dust and ashes to show my repentance.” (Job 42:1-6)
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Site: The Writings From Heavin
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