Previous Challenge Entry (Level 4 – Masters)
Topic: Persecuted (08/22/24)
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TITLE: Inside Out | Previous Challenge Entry
By Donna Martelli
08/29/24 -
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But my dad? He saw things differently.
He didn't approve of how I was living, and I knew it. His calls became something I tried to avoid, a reminder of the disapproval I wanted to escape. But one day, I couldn’t dodge it any longer. I picked up the phone, and before I could say hello, his voice came through stern and direct:
"Are you living with that guy?"
The question was more of an accusation than a conversation starter. I hesitated for a moment before answering.
"Yes, Dad, I am. We love each other."
His response was swift and unwavering. “You know the Bible says that is wrong.”
I stiffened. "Well, Dad, I don’t believe that.”
I don’t remember the rest of the conversation clearly. But I do remember how it made me feel—small, judged, and condemned. He didn’t understand me, didn’t understand us. And I resented him for it.
But then, one ordinary day turned extraordinary. I came face to face with Jesus. It wasn’t some dramatic vision or booming voice from the sky—it was something deeper. A quiet, unshakable truth settled into my heart, and I knew I had to surrender. I let Him in, and in doing so, He remade me, piece by broken piece.
My first thought? I had to tell my dad. The man I had spent so long avoiding was now the one I needed to see the most. This wasn’t just about reconciliation; it was about redemption. I needed him to know that I had changed.
Sitting across from him, the air was thick with the things left unsaid for too long. But I broke the silence.
“Dad,” I began, my voice softer than it had been in years, “I get it now. I’m sorry for how I treated you. I see now that you were standing firm in what you believed, even when it meant pushing me away.”
He looked at me, his eyes no longer filled with that old disappointment. “I wasn’t condemning you,” he said quietly. “I was praying for you.”
The weight of those words hit me like a flood. All those years when I thought he was judging me, he had been on his knees, lifting me up. The conversation that followed wasn’t long, but it was enough. We mended our fences, and the gulf that had once separated us was no more.
Fast forward to today, and the situation has flipped—turned inside out.
Now, my husband and I are the ones standing firm in our faith, and it’s our grown children who are avoiding us. They’re living outside of God’s love, far from the protection we had hoped they would find. The same cycle I once walked is now playing out in their lives, and it’s painful to watch. But I know better now than to condemn or judge. Instead, we pray for them, just as my dad prayed for me.
I long for the day when they will find their way back to Jesus, for true fellowship to return. But more than anything, I pray for their salvation. I trust that just as I once was lost and found, so too will they be.
Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven. —Matthew 5:10 (NKJV)
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Blessings
I resented Mom's efforts to bring me back. And persecuted her for it. But, thankfully, she was still alive when I was saved and we had many good times together, singing praise songs and praying together.
Don't get discouraged. Be strong in your faith. And remember, Our Good Shepherd is pursuing your kids. Someday, He'll bring them home on His shoulders. And the angels will be rejoicing with you.
I'll help you pray for them. ?