She was transferred to our town and she became my close friend, though she was 10 or 12 years elder to me, I was 21 years old that time. She was single , educated. I was bewitched by her way of talking, smiling, dressing, and prayer life. My my parents, and sisters were not coming to the church I became very lonely at home in those days. Those were the days of my early christian life. New convert. Not at baptised. Only seeking God more and more.
The word of God made me to ask forgiveness of my parents for many lies I spoke to them and for the rebellious nature I exhibited in those days. I told them I would not grieve them in such a way any more. I also tried to be more in love with my. sisters, as I never had been very closer to them, since my childhood. I used to have my own place in my home as the eldest daughter . My Love for my my Lord made me to love them and I started to teach them about the way of the Lord and pursued them to go with me to listen to the word of God.
She became my close friend, as my kanthaunty and Kanthamma aunty in my childhood. They were much elder to me and I like to be with them. But she is different.
She taught me many English songs. The first song she taught me was “ Amazing Grace” later she taught me many more songs. She introduced ‘ Our Daily Bread ‘ to me, and till now for all these 45 years these daily devotions became my spiritual food for me every day. She taught me how to dress up, how to talk and how to fast and pray.She never told me anything by word, I just observed her and I liked the way she does things. I still remember, first time how she told me about fasting” Leela, today is Saturday, usually I fast and pray, what about you, do you fast?” I said, “ Oh my, I cant fast, if I fast I get pain in the chest”—so she prepared an omelette and gave me two slices of bread to eat. Everything she does was so beautiful . Her vessels in the kitchen were very small, her cooking was simple. She was simple, and neat.
Even her ear studs were so small, I was attracted by her “simplicity” I said to her” can I call you Akka, you know I do not have any one who is elder to me in my life as akka,? She smiled sweetly and readily agreed to be called so.
She said why do not you stay with me to night? “”
As it is already very late and I did not like to go home in this darkness I accepted her wish and willing to stay back. Any way dad used to go on camp for every week end, I thought I can learn of Bible from her more. I used to ask her all my doubts and she used to tell me everything in the Bible. She was the first one who taught me how to consecrate Sunday for His worship and prayer. She was so loving and friendly.
That night I spent with her, and the next day we both prayed together and went to church in the evening. My sisters came to the same prayer service and told me that dad was very angry with me for they were afride that dad would scold me much and did not know what would happen to me.
There were no phones in those days. Then I realized how foolish I had been.
I was in my own world of happiness. I forgot the anxiety I created to my parents. I was so foolish. I was very much afraid also to think of the wrath of my dad I had to face once I go home. So I knelt down and asked the pardon of God first,
“ "lord please help me, I did a very wrong thing. I was so happy to stay with Akka and I forgot what trouble I created at home. Now dad is so angry, what shall I do lord, I am so afraid to go home”
That was my sincere prayer. Prayer was like talking to God, whatever in my heart, I used to tell him as it is, and He used to reply me immediately thru His word.
You know my eyes fell on this verse. Proverbs 15:1 “ A gentle answer turns away the wrath”
Oh lord, my heart was still I got His sweet word and when I went home, dad was there in the hall, with angry eyes he shouted at me” where did you go last night?’
Then I did not understand His position much but as a parent now I know what it is to have a daughter like me.
"Oh
Sorry daddy, I was with akka praying, I will not do like that anymore without telling you any more hereafter. “
Strange, the eerie atmosphere calmed down. He had kept cool. My dad just trusted me, and I kept my word thereafter. This was how God started to intervene in our family matters and brought great discipline amongst us. Otherwise, I know , such simple incident would have brought great uproar in our family and I knew the wrath of my Police Inspector dad. We were so scared of him, those days. My childhood affinity with him was all lost during the past few years, somehow he became a stranger to me.I abhorred his presence so much and I did not like his presence to talk to him or spend time with him.. Such was the strangled relationship between us. But Christ brought love into my heart once again. Love for family members, love for neighbors love for relatives and their salvation.
The word of God made me to ask forgiveness of my parents for many lies I spoke to them and for the rebellious nature I exhibited in those days. I told them I would not grieve them in such a way any more. I also tried to be more in love with my. sisters, as I never had been very closer to them, since my childhood. I used to have my own place in my home as the eldest daughter . My Love for my my Lord made me to love them and I started to teach them about the way of the Lord and pursued them to go with me to listen to the word of God.
She became my close friend, as my kanthaunty and Kanthamma aunty in my childhood. They were much elder to me and I like to be with them. But she is different.
She taught me many English songs. The first song she taught me was “ Amazing Grace” later she taught me many more songs. She introduced ‘ Our Daily Bread ‘ to me, and till now for all these 45 years these daily devotions became my spiritual food for me every day. She taught me how to dress up, how to talk and how to fast and pray.She never told me anything by word, I just observed her and I liked the way she does things. I still remember, first time how she told me about fasting” Leela, today is Saturday, usually I fast and pray, what about you, do you fast?” I said, “ Oh my, I cant fast, if I fast I get pain in the chest”—so she prepared an omelette and gave me two slices of bread to eat. Everything she does was so beautiful . Her vessels in the kitchen were very small, her cooking was simple. She was simple, and neat.
Even her ear studs were so small, I was attracted by her “simplicity” I said to her” can I call you Akka, you know I do not have any one who is elder to me in my life as akka,? She smiled sweetly and readily agreed to be called so.
She said why do not you stay with me to night? “”
As it is already very late and I did not like to go home in this darkness I accepted her wish and willing to stay back. Any way dad used to go on camp for every week end, I thought I can learn of Bible from her more. I used to ask her all my doubts and she used to tell me everything in the Bible. She was the first one who taught me how to consecrate Sunday for His worship and prayer. She was so loving and friendly.
That night I spent with her, and the next day we both prayed together and went to church in the evening. My sisters came to the same prayer service and told me that dad was very angry with me for they were afride that dad would scold me much and did not know what would happen to me.
There were no phones in those days. Then I realized how foolish I had been.
I was in my own world of happiness. I forgot the anxiety I created to my parents. I was so foolish. I was very much afraid also to think of the wrath of my dad I had to face once I go home. So I knelt down and asked the pardon of God first,
“ "lord please help me, I did a very wrong thing. I was so happy to stay with Akka and I forgot what trouble I created at home. Now dad is so angry, what shall I do lord, I am so afraid to go home”
That was my sincere prayer. Prayer was like talking to God, whatever in my heart, I used to tell him as it is, and He used to reply me immediately thru His word.
You know my eyes fell on this verse. Proverbs 15:1 “ A gentle answer turns away the wrath”
Oh lord, my heart was still I got His sweet word and when I went home, dad was there in the hall, with angry eyes he shouted at me” where did you go last night?’
Then I did not understand His position much but as a parent now I know what it is to have a daughter like me.
"Oh
Sorry daddy, I was with akka praying, I will not do like that anymore without telling you any more hereafter. “
Strange, the eerie atmosphere calmed down. He had kept cool. My dad just trusted me, and I kept my word thereafter. This was how God started to intervene in our family matters and brought great discipline amongst us. Otherwise, I know , such simple incident would have brought great uproar in our family and I knew the wrath of my Police Inspector dad. We were so scared of him, those days. My childhood affinity with him was all lost during the past few years, somehow he became a stranger to me.I abhorred his presence so much and I did not like his presence to talk to him or spend time with him.. Such was the strangled relationship between us. But Christ brought love into my heart once again. Love for family members, love for neighbors love for relatives and their salvation.
