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Later at church, while
Bill sat in his office waiting for his first appointment to show up, he
heard a noise coming from the sanctuary. When he went to see what it
was, he found a young girl kneeling at the altar, sobbing
uncontrollably.
She didn't even heard Bill approaching. He knelt down beside her and
put his hand on her shoulder and said, "Are you okay, honey?
What's wrong?" She turned to face Bill and wiping her eyes, said
to him, "I am so sorry Pastor Kendell, I didn't realize anyone was here.
I will go." "No," Bill said, "Please stay and let me
help you."
She hung her head down as she stood to her feet and said, "No one can
help me, Pastor Kendell, not even God can help someone like me."
"Oh that is not true, honey. God is the only one who can truly
help you. Please won't you talk to me? What's your name?
Please tell me what's got you so upset." She stared up at Bill
with those weeping sad eyes of hers and said, "My name is Susie."
Bill smiled at her and said, "That's my wife's name too. Well,
Susie, it's nice to meet you. Now please lets sit down and talk
and you can tell me what has you so upset." Bill took her hand and
they walked over to the nearest pew and sat down.
Susie sat on the pew
and looked up at Bill as her small hand brushed the terars from her
eyes. Bill took her hand in his and said, "It's okay, honey.
You can talk to me." She stared at him, trying to get the courage
to speak. Bill spoke up and said, "How old are you, Susie, if you
don't mind me asking?" "No, not at all Pastor Kendell, I am twelve
and will be thirteen in January." Bill told her that she was very
grown up for her age and she answered, "I didn't have much choice in
that." Tears rolled down her cheeks once more. "Why is
that?" Bill asked. "Honey, you can trust me." "It's so
hard to trust anyone any more," She said, " I have been hurt so
much I am afraid to trust anyone." Bill said, "You can trust me,
honey. I promise I will never hurt you." Susie looked into
his big brown eyes and for the first time, she felt completely safe.
There was something about Bill that made her feel she could trust him.
So she spoke up and said, "Okay, Pastor Kendell, I will tell you."
Once she began to talk, it was Bill's eyes that filled with tears as
susie told him of the most unspeakable things that she'd had to endure
in her short life.
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