Cecilia is a woman we met at the hospital.
A man that lived near her was abusing her daughters.
When she stood up for herself and told him to stop,
He threw kerosene on her and set her on fire.
I’ve never seen something so tragic in my entire life.
It’s one thing to see gory scenes in a movie.
But this wasn’t a movie.
This was real life.
Nothing could have prepared me for what I was about to see.
I walked into the room, and my heart sank.
I wondered what Cecilia looked like before this had happened to her.
“You’re beautiful, Cecilia.”
I felt the Lord whisper that to me, and I spoke it out as we prayed.
One of her arms was covered with burn marks,
and her entire face had lost it’s original palor.
Her eyes were nearly swollen shut.
Her loved ones told us the pain she feels all throughout the night
as she tries to sleep.
“God, I really don’t understand why these things happen. What did Cecilia do to deserve this?”
As I stood there, tears welled up in my eyes.
But it wasn’t just for what Cecilia had gone through.
It went much further beyond that.
In the midst of her agony, Cecilia raised her hands.
In that moment, I placed myself in her shoes.
And I came to a harsh realization:
I wouldn’t even think to raise my hands.
All I’d see was my suffering.
Maybe I should give myself more credit.
But I honestly don’t feel confident that I would praise God in the midst of such tragedy.
We went to the hospital to see God touch people’s lives.
But it was Cecilia that touched mine.
