He Showed Mercy to a Harlot

Author's Note: This is a Theme essay on Hosea, a man from the bible, was called by god to marry a harlot and why the theme is mercy.

Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers, is an amazing novel to read for teen girls. In my opinion the theme of the book is mercy. A young girl, Angel, is sold to a prostitution center at a young age and learns the horrors of men and the one thing they want. Angel lost the ability to trust and make friends. Later in life a man named Michael Hosea comes and spends every minute he can with her. He knows the terrible things she’s seen and done, but he looked passed all of it. After a while of visiting he finally is able to buy her from the prostitution center to give her a better life. Angel, thought of Michael as any other man that stepped into her room to use her. Michael didn’t care about her past, he loved her and would never hurt her in any way. He showed her mercy, in which Angel has never experienced before. She hated him just like she hated all the other men. Angel  didn’t believe him one bit, she’s been told the same things ever since she was sold.

When Angel was sold to the prostitution center, which is called Pair-A-Dice, she was used every night until she was eighteen just to fulfill men’s needs and to fill the owner, Magowan’s, wallet. She has never spoken to a man with such patience and forgiveness like Michael and it drove her nuts. It took Angel so long to realize he was different and there were better things out there. Angel was so used evil that it took her a very long time after Michael Hosea bought her from Pair-a-Dice to realize he was different. For example in the book Angel would often feel this, “Angel grew relentless with time. Something was at work inside her, something slow and insidious and threatening. She liked the life in this little cabin. She felt comfortable and safe, except for Michael Hosea.” That was a good example of how she struggled to trust him. Michael Hosea knew he would have to fight for her and give her a lot of mercy to let her know she’s forgiven for what she’s done and deserves more.

I haven’t read many books like this one before, it’s filled with hatred, regret, and loss. I would usually stray from a book like this, but I’ve grown a new interest for books that have to do with this setting. One of the few books I’ve read that are alike this one is Speak. The main character Melinda and Angel  are a lot alike. Both lost and lonely. Another similarity I noticed was that they both are stubborn and won’t admit that they both desperately need something. For Melinda it would be someone just to talk to and tell everything that happened one night that she can’t seem to get out. And for Angel it would be someone to really love her not someone who loves what she can do.

In the end of  Speak and Redeeming Love, they both became content with their lives and got that one thing it is that they really needed. Angel learned why Michael Hosea, a young farm boy, paid to save her from Pair-o-Dice and why he was being so kind after the terrible things she had done. He showed her mercy for her mistakes and she loved him for that.

My Beautiful Angel

Author's Note: This is a creative piece about when my grandpa passed away.

I see his eyes glimmering at me

I feel his laughter in me

and his comfort all around me

My mom wraps her arms around me to pick me up

she walks me closer to see a man in a dark wooden casket

To see the horrors of my best friend dead is like someone flushing all the happiness and memories from your body

My two older sisters were there stroking his hair and holding his hand

"I love you grandpa." I'd hear them whisper

I turn my head because I can't stand to see him so cold and still.

I sit down on a chair in the back of the room watching my parents and grandma shaking our guests hands.

I straighten my favorite yellow dress with pink flowers

I hear people apologizing and hugging my family

They don't know, I think to myself. He was my grandpa, he read to me, and danced with me, and played games with me

I feel sick. 

I tugged my mom's dress and told I don't feel good.

My uncle took me into another room in the back of the funeral home

He gives me a cold rag to put on my forehead as I lay on an old, smelly couch.

I don't have the flu or a fever

I don't feel well because I don't get to see my grandpa anymore.

All I want right now is to see my grandpa and play a game with him. 

I know he is always with me

I have an angel watching over me

Protecting me and making sure I'm safe

I don't know why Jesus decided it was time for my friend to go

But I trust that he had a reason 

I now can say that I have the nicest, funniest, angel ever

I Love You To Heaven and Back

Author's Note: This is a short story about a young girl who dies of cancer and comes to her mom in spirit to help her grieve. 

I felt my eyes get heavy through the blur of my tears, I saw mama crying and clinging to my hand. I relaxed because I knew it was my time. I could feel god’s presence, I could see him stretching out to me like a father to his young daughter. I  never believed in “seeing a light.” I felt calm and warm, knowing the pain would be gone soon comforted me. I saw the beautiful face of god shining before me and I took my last breathe. In a way I’m kind of glad I left that big, cold, rock of a planet, though I've never really known were I’d be going when I died, now I do. I wish there was a way I could tell mama I wish I could run to her and say how beautiful it is and how wonderful this man is, but he’s not a man he’s god and an angel at the same time. His touch is sweet, his voice is soft, and his love for me is  eternal.

I can see mama and me in that hospital room. Mama lays on my cold chest, no heart beat, no feeling of a pulse or blood rushing through my veins. “Mama!” I yelled, “Mama! Mama I’m here! Look at me!” I fall to the ground and crawl to mamas wry feet. Standing up I try to get her attention, “Listen to me! I’m right here mama, I’m right here!” She stands up as if she heard and turns right towards my face. “I love you Lily, I love you so much.” I hear her say quietly, “I love you too, mama.”

She can’t hear or see me I have to make things right before I spend forever in heaven or until it’s mamas time to come with me. I walked to my house an there’s six different bouquets of flowers on our deck

I walked in the small, empty house and grab paper and pencil. I don’t know if it’s possible for mama to see or feel me but it’s worth a try. I write to her and say how I love her, I told her cancer doesn’t exist in heaven and that I’m her angel now. Mama walked up into the doorway at midnight, she didn’t even analogue the flowers. She’s  never been the type that likes attention she believes in working hard

and taking care of yourself and your family. She walked past the table with the letter on it  and went to bed. The next morning she got a big cup of coffee and finally notices the letter and sprints to it like it was a million dollars sitting on our counter. She reads the letter and presses it against her heart. “I feel you Lily.” She whispers, “I love you too baby girl.”

I don’t know if mama ever wondered how that note got there if I wrote it when I knew I was going to die or if I had someone put it there. I don’t think she really cares, just to know I’m happy makes her feel good. I will never know the feeling of loving a man, holding my first child, or even graduating eighth grade. I am better off here than there, I don’t feel pain or sorrow. Only the love of the lord and his hand in mine. I hope my letter comforted mama I want her to go on and live her life. She knows I’m in heaven and that I will be watching out for her. “I will be checking in on you from time to time. Until then, I want you to think of me. When you see a sunrise, I’ll be the rays of sun on your skin. When you’re riding your bike, I’ll be the fall breeze running through your hair. I’ll be  seeing you mama, I love you.”