The Story of Isla • A Short Story

Isla had done it.  She had seen the beautiful necklace in the house that she was helping to paint, and she took it when nobody was looking.
The next day when she was asked about it, her palms sweated and her heart beat fast, but she lied and she got away with it.
She was 13 years old.

This was only the beginning.
She was a beautiful girl, but she became proficient at deceit as time went by.

A few months later she was out with friends at a park (in disobedience to her parents), and she ran across a kind stranger in the park.
When she got home, she blamed the stranger for detaining her and scaring her and hurting her.
The story of a predator in the park was broadcast on the news that night.
The man was found and prosecuted.  She lied on the stand.

At age 17, Isla ran away from home.  She stole and she hung out with other thieves.

One day the gang beat up a local pastor while stealing from a church and still she wasn't caught. 

She didn't stay pure either. She met up with many abusive men, and her face and attitude hardened.

She finally started working when she was 18 and no longer afraid of her parents being able to try to make her go home.
She actually did pretty well, and she was able to work her way up to styling the hair of well-known people...and then...

Isla saw him.  He was a politician running for governor.  She didn't like him or his politics. 

She played up to him, and then she began to make accusations online.
She had an abortion around that time, and she accused him of being the father.
His was the house that she had once stolen a necklace from, and she still had the necklace.
She then used the necklace as evidence that the candidate had been grooming her as a child.
The man was annihilated by the media. He lost the election.

One day Isla heard a street preacher as she was walking down the street. 

He made her angry. 

She spit at him and gave him a hard time. He was the pastor her gang had once beat up.
He was back the next day.   He pointed out how lying and stealing and murder were sins against God. She continued to spew out venom.

The next day she went back to hear him again. She heard a little more. 

 She heard about the Triune God.  

God the Father in love sent His sinless righteous Son fully God and fully man to be born of a virgin, conceived of the Holy Spirit, and to live a perfect life that she couldn't live.  

His Son Christ Jesus took the punishment for sinners so that they could be forgiven.  She heard that He rose from the dead on the 3rd day. 

She was told that she must repent and trust in Christ alone to save her from her sins. 

She was still angry, but she thought about it.

Then one day she was caught. The necklace and church items she had stolen were confiscated. 

She was hauled off to jail, and she awaited her trial.
The jury found her guilty. The judge was going to sentence her. 

Then suddenly the bailiff spoke to the judge quietly.

Then the judge spoke up.  The pastor has paid for the church items and the necklace you stole. The charges are dropped. He has interceded for you.  He is my son.
Tears streamed down Isla's face. 

She felt the weight of all of her sins against God, and silently she cried out to God for mercy.

My Personal Short Story

A dark haired woman walks back and forth down a hall.  The temperature is warm and music is playing.  Her perception is off with tight muscles in her head and feelings as though her head is a buoy bobbing about in the water.  Suddenly she stops and grabs the wall in a doorway. Her head is feeling a sinking feeling and she slides quickly down into a crouch.  She makes an exclamation and family members come with pillows to put under her feet and head so that she may lie down with her legs raised up.
After awhile, she is able to sit up and lean against a closed door.  Phone calls are made.  No, she doesn't want to go to the E.R.  She's done that before.

The following day this same lady goes in for a same day appointment to satisfy her family.  A number of medical tests are ordered.  She goes out to eat for a family member's birthday meal, and her head feels like it's closing in on her with the sounds and dizziness.  Still, she manages to make it through and makes another stop on the way home.  Perhaps this woman is foolish, but she is also tired of staying at home often in bed.  This woman is me.  Likely you already figured that out!
Yes, but sometimes lately I feel a little improved laying down or reclining.  Hey, well I managed to sneak a tract amongst magazines at the doctor's and put "180" Movie business cards stacked at a table near the door of the restaurant!  Also, I hope that I made my family member's birthday a little happier!

Whatever is going on with my feeling dizzy most all of the time, I know that God won't give me more than I can bear.  Sometimes I wonder how far that will go!  Yes, now and then I panic...especially at night.  Fibromyalgia and the recent often dehabilitating dizziness can be discouraging, but even through this time I hope that I have ministered to some of my online friends while pushing myself to not give up. 

so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ;
1 Peter 1:7 NASB