A sad, real incident. Bubbling with energy, creativity, elegance and sanctity was little Susan, an early teenager. She had everything in life – loving parents, caring siblings, good friends and a great church. In all her endeavours, she embraced success, prosperity and reputation; for she feared God, being brought up in the fear of the Lord. All her friends and faculties liked her much for her kindness and simplicity. Susan sought the Lord with all her heart, took active participation in church’s events for teens, led prayer cell at school and initiated aids for the needy. In a nutshell, she was a gem. There was not a speckle of sin in her life as a young teenager.

A couple of years rolled by when she got acquainted with a girl, Sona, who had an affair. Inspite of her conscience urging her not to get acquainted with her, Susan initially ignored her conscience and went forward strengthening her bond with Sona. Soon they became thick friends. They began to freak around together when Sona’s boyfriend accompanied them. Gradually Susan began to quit church quoting reasons of academic training events on Sundays, which her parents simply believed! Susan moved away from her good friend’s circle and bunked prayer cells. Her heart began to stain with lies, despising God, mincing up matters and shunning Christ. The results of the exams revealed her failures in academics too. Her parents were shocked when they came to know that Susan herself was in an affair and was freaking around crazily. Her dreams of her career began to haunt her. Susan lost the peace and joy that filled her heart earlier, was drawn far away from the Cross and began to be haunted by her conscience. Unwilling to break up the sinful relationship, she chose to enter into a wedlock with him amidst all oppositions.

Though outwardly all things seem fine, the torment her soul goes thorough is untold. She endures shame, guilt, agony and rejection every moment of her life. Memories of her sinful past haunts her every now and then. All her efforts to reconcile with God ends up futile. She attends a church at the outskirts of the city and the word of God gives a little strength to her inner man. She now raises her kids with all care and attention, such that they might not go astray.

"Do not be misled: "Bad company corrupts good character." “1 Corinthians 15: 33