No More (Part Two)

Sister Rebecca did not look surprised as Tonia narrated her ordeal.

“You know, I was once engaged to be married. My fiancé turned out to be a monster just like John.”

“I’m sorry to hear that, Sister Rebecca.”

Both ladies were silent for a while.

“I aborted his babies many times.”

“Abortion?” Tonia was alarmed.

“Yes! Are you surprised? That’s why I said God still loves you. With all that, He still loved me so much that He forgave me. Tell me, why would He not forgive you?

Tonia was dazed!

“I mean, He opened your eyes in good time so you could break away before it was too late.”

Tonia gazed at the highly spiritual Sister Rebecca. She is the best and most effective Youth Coordinator Tonia had ever met. As the head of the counseling unit, Sister Rebecca was dynamic.

“God is so merciful.”

“You can say that again, Sister Tonia. With all those abortions, I do not deserve to ever have a child of my own, but guess what.”

“I’m too blown away by God’s love and mercy.”

“We should all be in awe of Him. Do you know I have a daughter? My then fiancé did everything he could to make me abort her too. But by another great act of love, God intervened, and I carried the pregnancy to full term,” Sister Rebecca said, looking at her with those innocent eyes.

Tonia couldn’t imagine. “God is so merciful. Despite it all, God is using you mightily.”

“Oh no, Sister Tonia. Not in spite of my history…but as a result of my history God is using me mightily.  

“Thank God for saving your daughter. How old is she?”

“She is four years old. She is a great source of comfort and joy to me.”

“I am so happy for you.”

“Thank you.”

“Wow!”

“The love of God is so great. He met me right there in the pit of misery and put His love in my heart. I was down and rejected even by my own parents. I contemplated suicide but could not go through with it since I was pregnant with my daughter at the time.

“Suicide?”

“Yes. It was horrible. My fiancé abandoned me when I refused to continue aborting my pregnancies. I lost my job, friends, family, and my health. I felt I had no hope.”

“So, I’m standing where you once stood; friendless, famililess, and penniless,” Tonia laughed with forced humor.

Sister Rebecca laughed. “Yes, but not hopeless, and certainly not Godless. He reached me where I was. Now, I have inner peace and joy. I mean, I feel fulfilled with His love. No more guilt, shame, or pain from my past.”

Tonia felt a sense of peace like never before. “So, you now use your past as a tool.”

“Yes. I now use my past as a tool to showcase God’s great love…to tell others that no matter where you’ve been, God is waiting to welcome you into His arms.”

Tonia felt renewed strengthened. She knew she had to make the right decision and end the relationship with John. She was convinced that God had shown her mercy. She would not settle for just any man. God would send her a man who would love her and treat her well. She would not toy with her destiny by being in the wrong marriage all for the sake of being in a hurry. She was convinced that the way to fulfill God’s purpose for her life was to be in the right marriage.

“No more!” Tonia said forcefully, “I’m not going to be abused any longer. I refuse to be taken advantage of. No more!”