ILLUSTRATION: “Outragious Claims” by Lee Stroble
A Story from Maggie
“Do you understand that you represent Jesus to me? Do you know, do you understand that when you treat me with gentleness, it raises the question in my mind that maybe He is gentle, too. Maybe He isn’t someone who laughs when I am hurt.
Do you know, do you understand that when you listen to my questions and you don’t laugh, I think, "What if Jesus is interested in me, too?" Do you know, do you understand that when I hear you talk about arguments and conflict and scars from your past, I think, "Maybe I am just a regular person instead of a bad, no-good little girl who deserves abuse."
If you care, I think maybe He cares- and then there’s this flame of hope that burns inside of me and for a while I am afraid to breathe because it might go out. Do you know, do you understand that your words are His words? Your face, His face to someone like me?
Please, be who you say you are. Please, God, don’t let this be another trick. Please let this be real. Please. Do you know, do you understand that you represent Jesus to me?”