After the Story - Choices Like Rivers - Episode 21
After the Story - Choices Like Rivers - Episode 21
This podcast discusses each chapter of Choices Like Rivers and each episode is posted directly after the book episode. This corresponds to Chapter 8 Section 2.
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What a section! Sharon has no faith at all, only skepticism. Molly Sue has nothing but faith. It is evident, she knows Jesus, really knows him intimately. That boggles Sharons mind. In all honestly, she isn’t really sure there is such a thing as Jesus. Maybe he is just a fantasy, a figment of everyone’s imagination.
Molly Sue’s confidence, her solid faith in Jesus is unwavering. Sharon is certain that her mother will not magically appear on Christmas morning and she has no idea how to handle the fallout.
When Molly Sue insists on going to the church program Sharon would rather do almost anything than go. I’ve seen this so many times with people who do not know Jesus and who don’t go to church. They won’t even go to a simple program.
Their aversion is so great that they will make any excuse to avoid it. We have to ask ourselves why. Do they think they will be pressured to do something they don’t want to do? Do they feel that their souls will be laid open bare? Do they fear that they will be judged by all who are there?
I know that the last thing the enemy wants is for anyone to be in a place with people who might love them into the kingdom of God. So, he will fill their heads with all kinds of nonsense.
And when they do venture to church they often hear in their minds thoughts that they are being judged, when they are not. They hear how they don’t measure up to everyone else. They hear thoughts that they wore the wrong clothes or don’t know the songs, and so much more. The enemy applies pressure.
So, they avoid it at all costs. Sharon feels guilt and shame which we talked about earlier. It is self imposed but she feels if there is a God, it is coming from him. So, she avoids church, or anything that could possibly, in her opinion, add more guilt and shame.
I suspect many are like that. They are already dealing with unforgiveness, bitterness, guilt, shame, and many other burdens. They instinctively know that if they go to church, or are around church people, they may be forced to deal with those things, maybe even confess those things. They will feel vulnerable and exposed.
Prior to Christmas Sharon and Molly Sue bake cookies and take them as gifts to some in the community. This used to be a standard practice in that era in small towns, and maybe larger ones too.
Molly Sue loved. Not just with the standard human love, but she loved with a deep and residing love from deep within. A love that can only come from the one who is love, Jesus.
She listened to the older people and she wasn’t afraid to touch them and draw near to them, and was never in a hurry to go. She gave them what they needed without even knowing it.
We saw earlier how Molly Sue responded to a plastic doll positioned in the church nativity. She approached with awe and reverence. That nativity was symbolic and evident that it was real, but the symbolism was profound to Molly Sue.
At the church program Molly Sue was immersed and surrounded by the love of her life, Jesus. When real people, and a real baby portrayed the nativity, the realism overwhelmed the little girl.
She wept in worship and adoration unaware that anyone else was around or watching her.
I often weep in worship. One of my granddaughters once asked me in church if I was okay. I was more than okay. But she had seen my tears and was concerned that I was hurting. That is what she had known tears to mean. But when my heart is so full of love and adoration for Jesus, tears are in a sense a pop-off valve to release what I cannot contain.
Others express it in other ways, but for me - I cry. And I am okay with that. Molly Sue was also brought to tears and Sharon was bewildered. She had grown so jaded and cold hearted that she felt nothing.
With each disappointment and each tragedy in her life, she walled herself off a little bit more, until no love flowed freely.
We can see this in her actions. So when she says she loves Molly Sue I believe what she is really saying is that she loves her life with Molly Sue. She loves having a child to share her life with. Genuine love for Molly Sue would never have any other thought but caring for her until her mother returns and not trying to finagle a way to keep her no matter what.
When Molly Sue is asked about what she does on Christmas we see it was a simple Christmas with a small tree and the highlight being reading the Christmas story out of the bible. It is apparent that Molly Sue’s mother focused on what Christmas really was.
There was no pile of presents, no lavish dinners, although in their world a turkey and fruitcake dinner may have been lavish.
Simple homemade gifts and of course, reading about baby Jesus. How far away we have come from that simple but joyful way of celebrating.
I am a giver by nature and I do love to buy and give. I love to shower people with love however I can, and yes, with buying gifts. I don’t feel pressured to do so as many people do and how I once used to on occasion.
But the big moment in this section is Christmas morning. Sharon had tried to warn Molly Sue, but she had faith and was convinced that Jesus would answer her prayer.
On that morning she rushes to the living room and there sat the pile of presents and a new red bike, but the very thing she longed for and had been confident of getting was her mommy.
And, she wasn’t there. She turned and turned, looking and looking. And with each turn tears threatened to burst forth. But just as Sharon emerged from the hallway to the living room, Jesus spoke to Molly Sue and gave her little heart a promise and it carried his hope and comfort. We don’t know what that promise was, but it did bring comfort to Molly Sue.
Have you ever had a ‘but Jesus’ moment? I think we all have. Things are going off the rails or we are over our heads in something - but Jesus. He is not only our savior, but our daily rescuer and he always will be.
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