I was a little surprised just now to see Clara's phone number pop up on an incoming phone call. I automatically declined it - which is what I always do with people who have limited resources - and called the number myself. It felt a little strange to be calling Clara's number.
Karla answered. She said she had just been assaulted.
As you know, everyone around me has been suffering violence lately. Last weekend, as I dropped off Karla at her college, I told her to be very careful because the new school year is starting and it is very dangerous to be in that area right now. People are getting everything stolen. Even their books, and then the same books are sold outside of the University to other students the next morning!
When Karla told me she was assaulted I freaked out, but Karla said, "Wait! Wait! Let me tell you the whole story. I am not going to allow this to make me sad. I am only going to be MORE HAPPY (with JOY in her voice) because that is what my Mother taught me."
I started to cry. What a beautiful young woman she is!
I could hear the joy in her voice and I said, "Oh, daughter of Clara. You are so brave."
Karla went on to tell me that a few weeks ago she had misplaced $15. She said she bought a chicken and stuck the change in her purse, but then the change wasn't there. It was lost.
She said she got home and felt terrible for losing the money. But Clara told Karla not to worry. She told Karla to be calm and enjoy the chicken. Clara kept reassuring Karla that everything was going to be okay.
The next day they received $50 from some very special friends! They totally saw it as a blessing from God and an assurance to have faith and not to worry because God will always provide. Karla had lost $15, but God gave them $50!
Today she told me that she will not let what happened tonight get her down.
She said that her classes were cancelled today, so she went to a church with her boyfriend. They were playing a guitar. They took a cab home. A pickup truck pulled up behind them. Someone got out of the truck and got into the back seat of the cab with them. He held them up with a pistol. He asked for cash, but she told them her mother died and so he "only" stole her phone and the guitar.
She was calling to tell me that from now on I should reach her at her Mother's number since her phone got stolen. She said the only frustrating thing is that her mother's phone doesn't have internet access, so she does have to get a new phone. BUT the good news is, she had insurance on her old phone which will cover 50% of the cost of a new phone.
She has an exam tomorrow and can't study tonight as she planned bc she has no internet and all of her work was online. But she has faith she will still do well on the exam.
She said she is not scared or discouraged or angry because her mother taught her to have faith - like when she lost the money the day she bought the chicken. She said she is grateful for her safety and although she is a little shaken, she will not let this get her down.
I told her again that she truly is her mother's daughter.
Karla is well. She is living in faith, happiness, and peace, just like her Mommy. I told her I think I am more upset than she is.
