Savoring God’s Grace

Mukti means Salvation

Oh! What a beautiful sunrise. Aren’t we all going to worship the sun god?  Exclaimed Swati*. 

Having come from a very staunch family background, Swati was fully aware of the idolatry that was so rampant in her home and neighborhood. Swati was 9 years old when she came to Mukti Mission and these practices were fresh on her mind. She did not want to depart from them. Swati was in the habit of collecting flowers from Mukti’s garden and placing them neatly on her little shelf to look like a worship house, exactly as her mother would conduct ‘puja’ back home. Swati would stare at all the flowers and go into a deep sense of meditation as if she was praying to an idol placed in her little shelf-like cupboard. Swati’s Flower Family sisters found this practice strange but the housemother reprimanded anyone for teasing Swati. 

One day, her housemother called Swati to speak with her in confidence and shared with Swati about God’s love and His faithfulness. The housemother lovingly read from Deuteronomy explaining how much God loved her and desired her to put aside the old ways.

Swati’s father was a tailor but due to his long illness, could not earn enough money to provide for the family. Since he could not get proper medication, he passed away, leaving Swati, her older sister, and a younger sister.  Her mother worked as a housemaid but this job did not provide enough to feed all her daughters. So, Swati and her sister were brought to Mukti by their mother, who had heard of the hundreds of needy women and children who received shelter and care, empowerment, and transformation in the Mission. 

It was quite a different place than what Swati had grown up with. There were no idols but also no one forced her to do anything. Although there were not the customary coconut offerings or other kinds, there was also not a sense that she must be like her housemother. The environment was so peaceful and pleasant. Swati willingly asked to attend the Bible studies and worship meetings. They were enjoyable and made sense to her. One day Swati told her housemother that she recognized how important it was for her to savour God’s grace. That was His gift for her.

Swati and her sister continue to live in Mukti and are blossoming into young adults.

*Names changed for privacy and security. Images representative.