Broken Vessels

Kabanata 44

Note: You can listen to Broken Vessels by Hillsong UNITED while reading the last scene of this chapter.

Kabanata 44

Surrender

It was a moment of quiet defeat. I sat there, unsure if I even belonged.

But as I watched the people around me raise their hands, not to dance, but to surrender. I saw something different. Their knees bent low, their eyes welled up with tears. Not because they had failed. Not because they were in pain.

But because God was with them.

Napangiti ako habang pinagmamasdan silang kumakanta at nananalangin sa Diyos. There was something so beautiful about the way they worshiped. Not out of fear. But out of love.

Then, all of a sudden, I felt a gentle tug on my arm.

I turned to see a little girl, maybe five or six years old, with pinkish, chubby cheeks and a pastel dress tied with a ribbon on her head.

"Is it your first time coming here?" she asked softly, her voice full of innocence.

Yumuko ako ng kaunti para magpantay kami ng tingin.

"In your church. . . yes," I answered. "But coming back to God? No."

Her lips formed a little "O" as her eyes widened. Then, without a word, she reached into the tiny purse hanging across her shoulder and pulled out a handful of handmade bookmarks. They were colorful, decorated with hearts, flowers, and a Bible verse in the center. She handed one to me.

"It's yours," she said sweetly. "I always remind myself of God's words. I want you to remember them too."

I took it gently, trying hard not to let the tears spill.

"Aww, you're so sweet," I whispered. "But aren't you scared to talk to strangers? You don't even know me."

She shook her head, smiling with full confidence.

"God loves everyone," she said simply. "You're not a stranger. You're God's daughter."

Her words stopped me cold. I couldn't move. It was as if her tiny voice had just cracked something inside me wide open.

She giggled softly and climbed onto the chair beside me, her little legs swinging freely.

"My mommy told me that God always finds His daughters, even when we forget about Him," she said. "He never leaves. He just stays, even in silence. He loves us unconditionally. Even when we make mistakes."

Her eyes grew a little sad, like she was remembering something close to her heart.

"One time, I yelled at my mom just because she didn't give me ice cream," she said. "I locked myself in my room and told God I was sorry for being mean. I thought He was mad at me. But Pastor said God isn't like that. He doesn't stay mad. He never stops loving us. He forgives us every day. And He stays. . . even when things feel scary or uncertain."

Before I could stop them, tears slipped from the corners of my eyes. She noticed but didn't stare. Instead, she smiled. Not just any smile. It was pure. Innocent. Holy.

"I think God misses you a lot," she whispered. "That's why I saw you. Because God told me you needed help."

My voice cracked. "How do you know all that?"

She looked at me with all the faith in the world.

"I talk to God every single day," she said. "And He tells me about you."

I had no words. The tears fell freely now, and I didn't stop them. She reached out her tiny hand and gently held mine.

"It was enough that you came here today," she said quietly. "God wants your heart. And He hears every loud cry from it."