8.
For the next week, Dario remained with Luanne and me at the house to tie up all the loose ends. I had given my inheritance to Luanne much to her objection, but it fell on my deaf ears. One evening we sat around the kitchen table, our favourite place, I asked Luanne what she was going to do with her life now.
'Get a degree in counselling. I want to help people like Gretha helped me.'
I was overcome with admiration for this wonderful woman, with such an innocent and pure heart.
Dario looked up and smiled, 'So…We have a rehab centre similar to Gretha's shelter, and if you like, you can work there and study at the same time.'
Luanne's eyes grew wide.
'Truly, you mean that?'
There was a special glint in Dario's eyes as he reassured her of his offer.
***
I turned around one last time before disappearing through the boarding gates, waving goodbye to Luanne and Dario. After returning to my hometown never, would I have imagined that I would be leaving with a free heart, an open spirit, a love for humanity and a grateful compassion that made me want to burst. Never had I imagined I would leave with friends like Dario, Luanne, Sharene and Elisbe for a lifetime ahead. Never had I imagined God would lead me to forgiveness.
God had led me back to my hometown where forgiveness lay when I had not fully understood or trusted in His plan for me. For so many years I had led my life, pretending to have forgiven and forgotten but God knew better. Until I had truly forgiven and released the resentment that limited my faith and belief in God, I would not have the relationship with Him that I was meant to have, nor be able to do His Will.
For we do not know the Will of God. If we die to ourselves and allow Christ to live in us, we will know an abundance of love and peace as never before.
"If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, and the new has come."
2 Corinthians 5:17