Chapter 6: Faith and Forgiveness
Mary’s life was slowly becoming peaceful. Her body was still old, but her heart had learned to live again. She woke up with a smile every morning. The small fears that once ruled her life had started to fade. She still had pain sometimes, but now she spoke to it softly, “You can stay if you want, but you can’t stop me from living.”
One evening, while sitting alone, she thought about her past. The memories came quietly. The times she shouted at her husband, the days she ignored her friends, the years she stopped believing in God. She felt tears in her eyes. “I was angry for too long,” she whispered. “I forgot how kind life was.” She closed her eyes and prayed, something she had not done in years. “God, I’m sorry for pushing You away. I thought You left me, but maybe I was the one who left You.”
That prayer broke something heavy inside her heart. It felt like forgiveness had finally entered her life. From that night, she prayed every day — not for health, not for wealth, but for peace. She said softly, “Just give me strength to stay kind.”
Her kindness soon began to touch others. She started visiting an old neighbor who was sick. She cooked soup for her and said, “You’re not alone.” The woman held her hand and said, “No one ever says that to me.” Mary smiled. “Then I’ll say it again — you’re not alone.”
She also began helping poor children near her street. She bought them fruits and warm clothes. When one boy hugged her, she felt tears again. “You remind me of my son,” she said softly. The boy smiled and said, “Then you remind me of my grandma.” Her heart filled with warmth. It was the kind of love that heals without words.
Daniel noticed the change in her. He said one morning, “You shine more every day.” She laughed and replied, “It’s because I forgave my past.” He nodded. “That’s the best medicine.” They both smiled, and silence filled with peace.
That night, she sat with her diary and wrote, “Forgiveness is not for others. It’s for the heart that carries too much pain.” Then she added, “Faith is believing that God never stopped loving me.”
Her days now felt lighter. She no longer needed to run from her pain. She had turned it into love. She didn’t fear death anymore. She just wanted to keep giving, keep smiling, keep hoping.
Before sleeping, she looked up and whispered, “Thank you, God, for giving me one more chance to be good.” She closed her eyes with a peaceful smile, feeling proud that her heart was finally clean.
