How to Cope with Abandonment
Have you ever felt abandoned? Maybe a parent forgot to pick you up from school once as a child. Maybe a partner walked out on you during the heat of an argument. Maybe a friend group cut off contact when you started speaking openly about your faith.
We all have moments in our lives when we feel utterly alone. How do we cope when our circumstances feel hopeless and those who should be there for us abandon us instead?
After Mayra gave birth to her daughter, Asha, she found herself asking this very same question.
Asha was born with severe breathing problems, and the doctors informed her parents that she would need lifelong care. Mayra’s husband had no desire to deal with the burden of raising a medically complicated child, so he insisted they give Asha up.
Mayra wouldn’t hear of it. She was determined to love and support Asha, no matter what. Asha’s father failed to convince Mayra to abandon Asha, so—when Asha was just four months old—he abandoned them, instead.
Heartbroken yet resolved, Mayra devoted herself to Asha’s care and upbringing. She worked hard as a daily laborer, but the wages were poor, and Mayra worried constantly about how to afford Asha’s medical care. As Asha grew up, she experienced physical and cognitive delays. To cope, she isolated herself socially. Asha was also haunted by her father’s abandonment and felt worthless and alone.
Mayra saw her daughter’s struggles and longed to fix them, but she couldn’t figure out how. Mayra’s worship focused on praying to various saints, whom she begged to heal her daughter, but nothing ever changed. By the time Asha was 12 years old, Mayra had given up hope of ever seeing Asha thrive.
Then Asha was invited to join a Children’s Bible Club with other kids her age. After weeks of attending, Asha finally began to open up. She played and laughed with the other kids, forging new friendships. She enjoyed the singing, storytelling, and games.
Over time, Asha’s involvement led to clear improvements in her academic performance and health. She started eating well, gained strength, and even began running around and playing sports!
Right now, you can share Jesus with TWO kids in India through every dollar you give toward 10-Day Bible Clubs. Click here to reach double the children like Asha.
Mayra watched with awe as Asha blossomed into a confident and happy young woman. Eventually, Asha shared that her newfound relationship with Jesus was at the heart of her new outlook. Mayra followed Asha’s lead and the two began praying, attending church, and reading the Bible together. Today, Mayra and Asha share a vibrant faith and live a life rooted in God’s love. Instead of letting abandonment define them, they chose the path of healing and resilience. Now, their story inspires those around them to find hope in God no matter their circumstances.
Pray
- Ask God to reveal the lonely people in your life.
- Pray that Mayra and Asha’s faiths continue to grow and thrive.
Take Action
- What lonely person did God reveal to you? Reach out to them this week.
- Make life change possible for more children like Asha by giving toward our Light the Path matching challenge today! Every dollar you give by December 31 will be matched, up to $1.1 million. Click here to double your reach!
