Tales of woe (and blessing)

I had lunch with a friend today, "Bong" (meaning older sister). Bong is a gentle, quiet woman, but today she was more chatty than usual and I got her life story...

Bong's Mother is a widow which meant it was always going to be difficult to get her daughter married. However, Bong's Uncle and Aunty kindly arranged a marriage with their son. Even though he was in love with someone else, the son dutifully followed his parent's wishes and married his cousin.

Soon Bong was pregnant and gave birth to a little girl. She was delighted and tried to overlook her husband's frequent absences, but it wounded her heart deeply. The mistress who soon became his second wife was not pleased with the arrangement and started to cause trouble for Bong. In fear, she pleaded with her husband to leave her alone and stay with his other wife.

According to Cambodian Law, the first child belongs to the Father so Bong's husband wanted to take his daughter away. He offered Bong a car and house in exchange, but she refused and demanded to keep the child. He relented, so Bong and her daughter have since lived in a small room with Bong's mother. With only a Grade 7 education, Bong works hard to keep their bellies full and to send her daughter to school.

Every day, Bong carries her and her daughter's pushbikes downstairs while the neighbouring women openly mock her poverty and hurl insults at her singleness. And as she rides her bike to work, she often sees her husband driving by in the car with his new family. Bong's pain is made worse by her daughter's pain and humiliation.

Five years ago, Bong started to work in the home of a Dutch family. They helped her see her own inherent value and told her the Good News of Jesus. It was life-giving water to her soul and Bong became a Christian. Her life began to change... her neighbours began to insult her even more but she now had greater strength to ignore and even forgive their insults. She would read her Bible and tried to share with her family about her new faith. She prayed and prayed, and became a member of a local church.

Finally, her Mother and her daughter were both convinced of the reality of her faith and her God through the changes in her life. They both now attend church with Bong (who is delighted at their new birth). Her daughter is now studying English and Accounting at University and is showing much wisdom in refusing some early marriage proposals.

Whenever we eat lunch together, Bong always gives thanks for the food (her Khmer prayer language skills are far better than mine). As she prays, she always asks for blessings on our family without a hint of resentment for our comparative ease or comforts. Life is still tough for Bong but she has such a faith in her Husband who provides for her, materially, spiritually and emotionally. (I have much to learn from her.)

Through Bong's story, I am reminded of Jesus' words in Luke 6.

"Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God.
Blessed are you who hunger now, for you will be satisfied.
Blessed are you who weep now, for you will laugh.
Blessed are you when men hate you, when they exclude you and insult you and reject your name as evil, because of the Son of Man.
Rejoice in that day and leap for joy because great is your reward in heaven. For that is how their fathers treated the prophets.

But woe to you who are rich, for you have already received your comfort.
Woe to you who are well-fed now, for you will go hungry.
Woe to you who laugh now for you will mourn and weep.
Woe to you when all men speak well of you, for that is how their fathers treated the false prophets."