PLACES WE'D RATHER NOT BE

She was taken in as a servant and made to leave her country, the future full of uncertainties.

Her masters were wealthy and seemed very pious. Growing up she had mixed feelings about religion, seeing cats and other animals being worshiped, men being deified after their death, and harsh punishments being the order of the day in the name of certain gods.

She found it strange that her masters didn't carry objects that represented the god they spoke of, after living with them for some time, she noticed that the couple didn't have any children and decided not to think much of it until her mistress called for her one night and told her to sleep with her husband.

Words could not describe the pain she felt,? 'even my body is to be used at their convenience' is all she could think. She never imagined the possibility of a moment she hoped to share with someone she loved turning out to be one she wished never happened.

As her masters hoped she was with child, they were filled with joy, she was filled with resentment and bitterness, she would make them pay for this one day. Months went by and she received more attention from the child's father, this didn't sit well with her mistress and she decided to use this to her advantage. Having gained confidence, she made it clear that she despised her mistress, as the woman of the house, her mistress complained to her master, who took the back seat and simply told her to treat the servant as she saw fit.

Her mistress abused her, with beatings, insults, and hard labor, she endured all that without resisting until she couldn't take it anymore and fled for her life.

Alone in a desert far from her masters, she fell to the ground, crumpled up like the baby in her womb, and wept with everything in her.

If only she never left her home.

If only she was born to a rich family.

If only she were worth more.

If only this were just a bad dream.

The sun was blazing, her throat was parched.

She was being burnt by the sand but her heart was hurting far more than her skin, she wanted to die.

She was starting to lose consciousness when a gentle and firm voice called her by name.

"Hagar."

"Hagar."

She opened her eyes slowly and was surrounded by a bright light, the being who stood before her was like nothing she had ever seen, "I must be dead at last" is what she whispered as tears still streamed down her face.

"You are not." He replied while lifting her in his arms.

"Where are you from and where are you going?" He asked.

"I am running away from my masters."

Considering her for a moment he said

"You have to go back."

"Why???!"

She grabbed his cloak tightly and cried out, "Why?!"

"Since you know my name, you must know how much I have suffered at their hands."

"Why must I return to people who have shown me nothing but cruelty?!" She was seething.

He drew her in for a hug, and she broke down, crying with the little strength she had left.

"The child you carry will be great, he will be a ruler of mighty people, for his sake you need to go back."

After hearing those words she collapsed with exhaustion.

It was noon when she woke up and the being she had encountered was nowhere to be found.

As she got up, she said

"I have met the GOD who sees me, El Roi."

Thoughts

This story is from the book of Genesis with edits.?

What do you do when the last place on earth you would want to go is where you have to be?

That's the big question Hagar's story poses.

It's a bitter pill to swallow.

Quite frankly, everything about her circumstances was wrong, while reading that part I was like "Girl be like Jonah and run."

And yet she didn't, she went back.

It takes internal fortitude to sacrifice present happiness for a better future.

To anyone who keeps showing up in the face of unfair circumstances, to anyone who has to go back to a place full of bad memories and start over, or is repeating a process that paints the picture of failing at something, like Hagar there is greatness within you.

If you choose to push through this one more time, this phase will get you to opportunities you never thought possible.?

Gold is put in a furnace to get rid of impurities, adversity can be likened to it, given time it brings out something uncommon that sets people apart and makes them stand out.

If hardship can't be avoided, what matters is who you become when it's over.