Before I began writing this post, I found myself
wondering how many times I had allowed what others thought of me, or how they
treated me to define me. Since the founding of LAMB Ministries twenty-four years
ago, I have heard many women speak of issues that arose from others that
defined them. Much of my work has centered on trying to help women overcome the
reality that though perhaps well meant, to allow others to define us ties us to
them. To set ourselves free we must chose to believe that we can be…
“Are
you from Spain
“Sí,
I am.” She smiled and struggled to sound appropriate while she reflected
upon Tía’s wise words, Men will want you or want something from you. Watch
what they do and make certain it matches what they say. Be very careful, even
of those I have trusted. They may try to take advantage of you, for they will
see you as a young niña and pretend to take care of you but may be busy
taking better care of themselves! Resolved to do as the old woman had
taught, Naomi stood and nodded, as if Tía were there by her side reminding her
that these men might have ulterior motives. “Pardon me, I need to check on Tía
and see if she is ready to receive you.”
The
men had stood the moment she did. When she turned away, they looked at each
other but said nothing until it seemed she was gone. Because Naomi had thought that might be the case, she hesitated
outside the room and listened as they spoke.
“What,”
ventured the attorney, “has happened to the girl?”
“She
is no longer a girl but a woman,” Padre Paul answered.
“All
right, she is now a woman. So what of it? We are here at La Señora’s bidding
not to assist this—this pretender! She is nothing! No one with a good
reputation will have anything to do with her! She has remained hidden in this casa
since she arrived. Except for us, few people
even know she exists. If tomorrow she were to leave,
no one except La Señora would miss her!”
“That
is true. How old do you think she is?”
“Probably
close to twenty.”
“How
would you know that?”
“I
and my father before me have been involved in La Señora’s work for many years.
We prepared the papers that allowed the girls detained by immigration to stay
here. Without someone to vouch for them, the government sends the girls back to
their place of origin. With our help, La Señora brought some of those niñas into
this country. The paperwork was always the same, always set up for a
fifteen-year-old Spanish female. Strange,” he mused, “once La Señora brought
this little mouse
home, she never brought another niña to her casa.
After this one arrived, La Señora would only go to immigration once she had
arranged for the girl to have a job and a place to live. I asked her about this
change several times, but she never explained her reasons. It was as if she was
looking for something and found it in this one. But I will never understand
what she sees in the girl, or woman, as you call her.”
When
their conversation ended, Naomi raced to Tía’s room, checked on her, and
returned. Instead of ushering the men to her benefactor’s room, she remembered
that the old woman’s training had made her wiser and listened to see if either
of them would unwittingly reveal anything else. Silence greeted her, so she
stepped out of the shadows and motioned for the men to follow her.
Quietly,
with reserve and decorum, the priest and attorney moved forward. When they did,
Naomi wondered if they suspected that she had overheard them. No matter, she
told herself, perhaps it is good for them to be unsure about what I know or
where they stand with me. When they reached Tía’s bedroom, Naomi knocked,
then opened the door. “Tía, the two men you asked me to invite are here to
visit you.” She waited for her tía to motion for them in. When she did,
Naomi turned to withdraw.
“No,
Naomi, come here,” the old woman wheezed. “Sit in this chair. Stay next to my
right hand, listen, and remember, for in the days to come you will need to know
all that is said today so that nothing will be taken from you when I am no
more.”
The
priest and the attorney exchanged glances. The padre nodded, removed his
vestments from their pouch, and put them on. He lifted his voice in prayer and
began to perform the last rites.
“No,
I am not ready for this!”
“I
understand, but we must proceed.”
“Not
yet! I have matters to discuss with my attorney!” The old woman turned toward
Mr. Martinez and began to speak. Within the hour, Tía had attended to
everything as she promised. Naomi watched as she signed the legal documents.
The attorney glowered while he placed the papers in his briefcase. He seemed
bewildered and annoyed by the proceedings, but he told La Señora, “The final
papers will be mailed to you once they are recorded.” His voice broke with
feigned concern as he asked, “But surely, La Señora, do you think it wise to
give your power of attorney and leave your estate in the hands of one so young
and unschooled in the ways of the world?”
“I
most certainly do.” The old woman chuckled, obviously pleased by her attorney’s
reaction. “I have every confidence that, unlike many, Naomi will do all I have
instructed. And when I am gone, she has agreed to continue my work.”
Authors
Comments
The Men~
I believe it not far fetched to believe that both men saw Naomi’s change of
station as an affront. Had not each of them done everything in their power to
assure that La Señora would turn to them when in need; they might have handled
the situation differently than the text implies. However, in this portion of
the text shows how quickly one thought to be of no account can become someone
to recon with.
Naomi~
Having allowed herself to believe that the same woman
who bound her for five years would let her leave once she died, Naomi now discovers that she has bound herself again, this
time for life! By choosing to be reflective, Naomi shows us an option many have
never considered. To the others she looks as if she has agreed to what was
said. Internally her thoughts may be screaming for attention. However,
externally she seems at peace.
Food for
Thought~
The hardest to endure is the reality that makes you
believe that your choices have been taken away. Yet even within that reality
one can chose how they react. Below I’ve posted some Scriptural choices worth
considering.
Psalm 119:36 Turn my heart toward your statutes and not
toward selfish gain.
Psalm 90:12 Teach us to number our days that we may gain
a heart of wisdom.
Psalm 119:104 I gain
understanding from your precepts; therefore I hate every wrong path.
Authors End Note
I first began using Gods
Word to reprogram my thought life, and I must admit that I was challenging God
to heal my hurt. When he did, I was dumfounded! However, having read Isaiah 55:11 …so is my word that goes out from my mouth:
It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve
the purpose for which I sent it, I understood that I had discovered
something amazing.
Today I hope you will trust that my journey can be yours.
Until next time I pray that you walk in the Shalom (peace) that only
God gives so that no matter what others think of you, you will know that he
loves, and cares for you.
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