SARAH MAE EXPLAINS HOW SHE LEARNED
TO LOVE AND FORGIVE HER ALCOHOLIC MOTHER.
>> SHE WAS PHYSICAL SOMETIMES,
BUT IT WAS MOSTLY JUST THE FACT THAT SHE WAS BRILLIANT
AT SARCASM AND CUTTING YOU DOWN
UNTIL YOU FELT LIKE YOU WERE ABSOLUTELY CRAZY.
I CAN REMEMBER ONE TIME I WAS VERY AFRAID
AND I WENT TO TELL HER.
AND I SOMEHOW GOT THE WORDS OUT,
"MOM, I THINK YOU'RE AN ALCOHOLIC."
SHE SAID, "SO WHAT?"
THE COMPLICATED HEART. NEXT!
♪
James: THANK YOU!
ALL OF YOU,
YOU HELP BETTY AND ME SMILE
BECAUSE YOU'RE
A WONDERFUL AUDIENCE.
WE JUST WELCOME YOU.
I'M JAMES ROBISON.
BETTY AND I ARE THRILLED
TO HAVE THIS OPPORTUNITY
TO SPEND TIME WITH YOU.
LET ME JUST SAY THIS TO YOU
THAT YOU REALLY ARE
VERY SPECIAL.
YOU WILL FIND THAT AS YOU
LISTEN TO AN INCREDIBLE STORY
BY SARAH MAE AND HER JOURNEY,
IT IS TITLED,
THE COMPLICATED HEART.
WOULD YOU WELCOME SARAH MAE?
Sarah: THANK YOU!
James: SARAH, YOU'VE ALREADY
TOLD SOME OF YOUR STORY.
YOU'RE A GREAT COMMUNICATOR.
I KNOW YOU GO AND SPEAK NOW
IN DIFFERENT PLACES.
IF SOMEBODY WANTED
TO ACCESS YOUR WEBSITE
TO SAY HOW WOULD WE GET SARAH,
PERHAPS TO COME AND HELP US
IN SOMETHING,
WHERE WOULD THEY GO?
Sarah: THANK YOU FOR ASKING.
YOU WOULD GO TO SARAHMAE.COM
WHICH IS S-A-R-A-H-M-A-E.COM.
James: DO YOU GO AND SPEAK
IN DIFFERENT PLACES
WHEN YOU SEE THE DOOR OPEN
THAT YOU KNOW IT IS
THE APPROPRIATE PLACE TO GO?
Sarah: I DO!
I REALLY ENJOY IT.
I ALSO SPEAK THROUGH --
I HAVE A PODCAST
SO PEOPLE CAN FIND THAT AT
THECOMPLICATEDHEARTPODCAST.
COM.
BUT YEAH, I DO, I LOVE IT.
James: I WANT YOU TO JUST
CARRY US THROUGH THE JOURNEY
THAT YOU WANT US TO SEE
BECAUSE SO MANY PEOPLE
HAVE BEEN HURT.
I THINK SOMETIMES
WE DON'T REALIZE
HOW DEEPLY PEOPLE ARE HURT.
GOD REALLY WANTS TO GET
HIS ARMS AROUND THE HURTING.
WOULDN'T YOU SAY HE IS
THE ONLY ONE WHO CAN GIVE US
THE COMFORT WE NEED
WHEN OUR HEART HURTS?
TELL US THE STORY
YOU WOULD LIKE OUR VIEWERS
AND EVERYBODY AT HOME
TO HEAR AND SEE.
AND THEN ABOUT HOW
THEY CAN GO INTO THE BOOK
AND REALLY BE CARRIED THROUGH,
I THINK,
TO A REAL PLACE OF HEALING.
Sarah: THAT'S GREAT.
WELL, MY STORY
ESSENTIALLY STARTS
AROUND 14 YEARS OLD
WHEN I MOVE IN WITH MY MOM,
WHO HAPPENS TO BE AN ALCOHOLIC
BUT I DON'T KNOW IT YET.
MY DAD HAD CUSTODY OF ME.
THEY WERE DIVORCED
WHEN I WAS VERY YOUNG.
I WOULD VISIT MY MOM
IN THE SUMMERS
AND I THOUGHT
SHE WAS FANTASTIC.
JUST SO FUN AND WONDERFUL.
BUT WHEN I MOVED IN WITH HER
BECAUSE I FELT LIKE A GIRL
SHOULD BE WITH HER MOTHER,
IT WAS NOT WHAT I EXPECTED.
IT STARTED OUT FANTASTIC.
I HAD NO RULES.
I COULD DO WHATEVER I WANTED,
WHICH IS SORT OF
A TEENAGER'S DREAM, RIGHT?
IT'S OBVIOUSLY NOT GOOD
BUT TO ME IT WAS FANTASTIC.
THEN I STARTED TO WITNESS
MY MOM DRINKING A LOT.
AND WHEN SHE WOULD DRINK
SHE WOULD JUST GET
VERY, VERY CRUEL.
SO SHE WAS JUST
VERY EMOTIONALLY
AND VERBALLY ABUSIVE.
IF I CAME IN AND SMILED
AT HER, AND HAD BRACES ON,
SHE WOULD TELL ME,
"YOU'RE SO UGLY."
SHE WAS PHYSICAL SOMETIMES
BUT IT WAS MOSTLY
JUST THE FACT THAT
SHE WAS BRILLIANT AT SARCASM
AND CUTTING ME DOWN
UNTIL YOU FELT LIKE
YOU WERE ABSOLUTELY CRAZY.
I CAN REMEMBER ONE TIME
GOING AND CONFRONTING HER
ABOUT BEING AN ALCOHOLIC.
AND OF COURSE,
I WAS ONLY 14 YEARS OLD
SO I HAD NO EXPERIENCE
WITH THIS.
I WAS VERY AFRAID.
I WENT TO TELL HER
AND I SOMEHOW
GOT THE WORDS OUT, "MOM,
I THINK YOU'RE AN ALCOHOLIC."
SHE SAID, "SO WHAT?"
I WAS LIKE WAIT A MINUTE,
THAT'S NOT
WHAT THE SHOWS TELL YOU.
THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO SAY,
"THANK YOU FOR TELLING ME.
I'LL GO GET HELP NOW."
AND SHE DIDN'T.
I CAN REMEMBER SAYING LIKE,
"MOM, WHEN YOU DRINK,
YOU GET REALLY, REALLY MEAN."
AND SHE JUST LAUGHED AT ME.
I SAID, "I DON'T EVEN THINK
I LOVE YOU ANYMORE."
BECAUSE SHE HAD JUST BEEN
BEATING ME DOWN FOR SO LONG.
AND SHE AGAIN, JUST LAUGHED
AND ROLLED HER EYES.
IT WAS THAT NIGHT
OR A FEW NIGHTS LATER,
I REMEMBER SITTING
IN THE BATHTUB
BECAUSE I WAS FEELING
JUST EXTREMELY ALONE.
I THOUGHT I WAS MAYBE CRAZY
BECAUSE SHE WAS
GAS LIGHTING ME,
WHICH IS JUST SOMEBODY
WHO MAKES YOU FEEL LIKE
YOU'RE INSANE
FOR WHAT YOU THINK.
SO I WAS IN THE BATHTUB
AND I REMEMBER STARING AT
THIS PLASTIC PINK DAISY RAZOR
AND THINKING, I WONDER
IF YOU CAN KILL YOURSELF
WITH A CHEAP RAZOR?
I DIDN'T WANT TO DIE.
I JUST WANTED HER TO CARE.
LIKE I JUST WANTED HER
TO SEE ME AND SAY,
"I LOVE YOU, DON'T DO THIS."
SO I REMEMBER, AGAIN I'M 14,
SO THIS ISN'T LIKE
THE MOST LOGICAL THING TO SAY
BUT I WAS EMOTIONAL
AND I WAS HEARTBROKEN
AND I YELLED OUT AND I SAID,
I'M GOING TO KILL MYSELF.
SHE SAID, "GO AHEAD.
I DARE YOU."
THAT REALLY ENCAPSULATES
OUR RELATIONSHIP.
I JUST NEVER -- I COULD NOT
MAKE HER FEEL FOR ME OR CARE.
SHE WOULD SAY
THAT SHE LOVED ME
BUT THEN SHE WOULD GO
AND BE SO CRUEL.
SO SHE DID NOT STOP DRINKING.
SO I DID WHAT I FIGURED
I NEEDED TO DO TO NOT BE ALONE
AND I GOT A BOYFRIEND.
THE BOYFRIEND,
HE HAD A MOTHER
WHO WAS ADDICTED TO CRACK
AND HE DID NOT HAVE A DAD.
SO WE JUST BECAME
EACH OTHER’S EVERYTHING.
WHEN I WAS 16 I GOT PREGNANT.
AT THAT TIME,
MY MOM DIDN'T KNOW
HOW TO DEAL WITH IT.
IT'S BECAUSE
SHE HAD GOTTEN PREGNANT
AND HAD ABORTIONS IN HER LIFE
AND SHE HAD NEVER
FACED THOSE THINGS
AND SO I THINK
SHE JUST DIDN'T KNOW
HOW TO PROCESS
WHAT I WAS TELLING HER,
AND SHE KIND OF BECAME
LIKE A LITTLE GIRL.
WHENEVER SHE WAS SCARED
I BECAME THE MOTHER.
SO SHE HAD A BOYFRIEND
WHO WAS HALF HER AGE
WHO WAS ABUSIVE.
I CAME HOME ONE NIGHT
AND HE HAD TORN UP
OUR ENTIRE HOUSE.
I HAD TO BECOME
LIKE THE MOTHER
BECAUSE SHE WAS SO AFRAID.
SO THAT WAS THE WHIPLASH
OF OUR RELATIONSHIP.
SO ANYWAY, I'M 16,
I FOUND OUT I'M PREGNANT.
I CALL MY GRANDMOTHER
WHO LIVED IN PENNSYLVANIA
WHERE I'D COME FROM.
MY MOM WAS IN GEORGIA.
SHE SAID,
"I'LL HAVE IT TAKEN CARE OF."
I WAS LIKE, "NO.
I WANT TO KEEP THE BABY."
SHE JUST HUNG UP
THE PHONE ON ME.
SO IT WAS VERY CONFUSING,
AND I WAS VERY ALONE.
I DID NOT KNOW GOD
BUT I'D ALWAYS
BELIEVED IN HIM.
WHEN I WAS --
THIS IS IMPORTANT TO THE STORY
BECAUSE HE IS ALWAYS WITH US
EVEN IN OUR DEEPEST
DARKEST PITS,
EVEN IF WE DON'T KNOW
HE'S THERE.
SO WHEN I WAS A LITTLE GIRL,
WHEN I WAS PROBABLY
AROUND NINE YEARS OLD,
I HAVE A SISTER
WITH A DIFFERENT DAD
AND HER DAD KIDNAPPED HER.
MY MOM HAD DROPPED HER OFF
FOR A VISITATION
AND HE NEVER CAME BACK.
SO I PRAYED EVERY NIGHT
THAT WE WOULD --
TO THIS GOD I DID NOT KNOW
THAT I WOULD FIND MY SISTER.
AND LIKE AFTER
SIX MONTHS OR A YEAR
WE FOUND HER.
SO TO ME,
IN MY LITTLE GIRL HEART,
I WAS PROBABLY NINE YEARS OLD,
EIGHT OR NINE AT THE TIME,
THAT JUST CEMENTED
THAT THERE WAS A GOD.
THEN RIGHT BEFORE
GETTING PREGNANT,
AROUND 14 YEARS OLD,
I HAD AN UNCLE COME VISIT
AND HE GAVE ME
A CHRISTIAN CASSETTE TAPE.
I REMEMBER LISTENING TO IT
AND JUST CRYING OUT
FOR WHATEVER IT WAS THAT
THIS MAN WAS SINGING ABOUT.
I HAD NO IDEA.
BUT I WAS LIKE,
GOD, WHATEVER THAT IS,
LIKE WHOEVER THIS JESUS IS,
LIKE I WANT HIM.
SO FAST FORWARD NOW, I'M 16
AND I END UP GOING TO BACK
TO PENNSYLVANIA
FOR THE SUMMER.
I'M THREE MONTHS ALONG.
MY FAMILY WON'T LOOK AT ME.
THEY WON'T TALK TO ME.
James: WERE THEY STILL
TRYING TO GET YOU TO...
Sarah: YES! IT WAS CONFUSING
BECAUSE MY STEP MOM
WAS CATHOLIC
AND SHE WAS VERY PRO-LIFE
AND SHE WANTED ME
TO KEEP THE BABY
BUT NOT FOR MYSELF,
SHE WANTED TO RAISE THE BABY.
IT WAS VERY CONFUSING.
NOBODY ASKED ME WHAT I WANTED
BUT I THOUGHT WELL,
I COULD GIVE THE BABY
TO SOMEBODY
WHO CAN'T HAVE KIDS.
BUT MY FAMILY DIDN'T LIKE
THAT IDEA.
BASICALLY,
EVERYBODY WANTED ME
TO JUST HAVE AN ABORTION
BECAUSE I HAD
A PROMINENT FAMILY AND
THEY DIDN'T WANT THIS STAIN
TO BE ON THE FAMILY.
SO EVENTUALLY,
I WAS SO SICK THOUGH
OF BEING ALONE
AND THE BLACK SHEEP
OF THE FAMILY.
LIKE I SAID, MY GRANDMOTHER
WHO WAS SO CLOSE TO ME
WOULDN'T EVEN LOOK AT ME.
I WAS VERY, VERY SICK.
I WAS THROWING UP
MORNING, NOON, AND NIGHT.
SO NOT ONLY AM I SUPER SICK
BUT I'M ALONE.
SO FINALLY, I'M LIKE,
I'M DONE WITH THIS.
I'M LIKE FINE.
I'LL HAVE THE ABORTION.
SO BECAUSE I WAS IN
A PROMINENT FAMILY
THEY ACTUALLY CHANGED MY NAME
AND TOOK ME TO A HOSPITAL.
THE DOCTOR SAID
I WAS TOO FIDGETY
IN THE CLINIC
SO THEY TOOK ME TO A HOSPITAL
AND PUT ME UNDER
AND CHANGED MY NAME.
I WOKE UP TWO DAYS LATER
IN THE HOME OF MY GRANDMOTHER
WHO DIDN'T TALK TO ME BEFORE
BUT NOW IS SERVING ME TOAST
WITH A SMILE.
AND WE NEVER TALKED
ABOUT IT AGAIN.
SO I END UP GOING BACK
WITH MY MOM THINKING
I HAVE TO STAY THERE.
I FELT STUCK.
REALLY,
I PROBABLY ONLY STAYED
BECAUSE OF THE BOYFRIEND
BUT AT THIS POINT MY MOM
AND OUR RELATIONSHIP
WAS JUST TERRIBLE.
I REALLY HATED HER.
AFTER ANOTHER YEAR THERE
I FINALLY WAS LIKE,
I'VE GOT TO GET OUT OF HERE.
SO I WAS -- MY BOYFRIEND
HAD LIKE A TRAILER,
IT WAS SO GROSS.
THERE WAS SO MANY
TERRIBLE THINGS.
HIS SISTER
WAS PROSTITUTING HERSELF
OUT OF OUR TRAILER.
I DIDN'T WANT THIS LIFE
ANYMORE AT 16 YEARS OLD,
17 YEARS OLD,
SO I FINALLY MOVED BACK
TO PENNSYLVANIA.
I THOUGHT,
I CAN JUST START OVER.
I'M GOING TO HAVE A NEW LIFE.
I DON'T WANT TO DO THIS.
AND I HATE MY MOM.
I DON'T HAVE TO HAVE ANYTHING
TO DO WITH HER ANYMORE.
LIKE I'M OUT.
THAT'S WHEN THE LORD
BEGAN TO CALL ME TO HIMSELF
AND THAT CHANGED EVERYTHING
BECAUSE I WOULD NOT HAVE HAD
ANYTHING TO DO WITH MY MOM.
SHE WOUNDED ME
SO VERY DEEPLY.
I FELT VERY ALONE.
BUT I CAME TO KNOW THE LORD,
IN HIGH SCHOOL,
THROUGH YOUNG LIFE.
AFTER THAT HAPPENED,
I FELT LIKE,
AND I KNEW THROUGH
READING THE SCRIPTURES,
THAT GOD KEPT CALLING ME
TO LOVE HER AND FORGIVE HER.
I WAS LIKE, NO, NO, NO.
HOW DO YOU FORGIVE SOMEBODY
WHO WOUNDED YOU SO DEEPLY
AND WHO KEEPS DOING IT?
LIKE IF I WOULD TALK TO HER
ON THE PHONE
IT WAS NAME CALLING,
IT WAS CONSTANT
JUST CUTTING ME DOWN.
IF I TRIED TO VISIT HER
IT WAS JUST
I WOULD LEAVE IN TEARS.
SO I WAS LIKE, LORD, HOW?
HOW DO I DO THIS?
AND BECAUSE HE IS SO KIND.
I LEARNED THAT FIRST FOR ME,
I HAD TO MAKE THAT DECISION
LIKE OKAY, GOD,
I WILL TRUST YOU
AND I WILL SURRENDER
AND I WILL CHOOSE
TO FORGIVE HER
BUT YOU'RE GOING
TO HAVE TO SHOW ME
HOW TO WALK THAT OUT
AND MAKE IT REAL.
SO GOD IN HIS KINDNESS
BROUGHT PEOPLE INTO MY LIFE
TO TEACH ME WHAT TO DO.
AND THERE'S THREE
PRETTY SIGNIFICANT THINGS
I WOULD LOVE TO SHARE
WITH YOU ON HOW HE TAUGHT ME
TO LOVE AND FORGIVE MY MOTHER.
THE FIRST ONE IS HE TAUGHT ME
THAT I NEEDED TO DEAL
WITH SOME DEEPLY HELD LIES
THAT I WAS BELIEVING.
HE DID THIS THROUGH A MENTOR
WHO I WENT TO HER HOUSE
ONE DAY IN COLLEGE
AND I WAS LIKE,
"I'M AN EMOTIONAL MESS."
SHE STARTED WRITING
THESE WORDS ON A PAGE
AND SHE WROTE LIKE,
"I AM STUPID.
I AM NOT IN CONTROL.
I'M NOT GOOD ENOUGH."
SHE JUST KEPT WRITING
THESE THINGS.
SHE'S LIKE,
"DO ANY OF THESE HIT YOU?"
AND ONE WAS
"I'M NOT TAKEN SERIOUSLY.
SO I'M NOT GOOD ENOUGH,
I'M NOT TAKEN SERIOUSLY,
I'M STUPID" --
ALL OF THOSE THINGS.
"I'M UGLY,"
BECAUSE MY MOM HAD TOLD ME
I WAS UGLY.
SO I'M LIKE, "I BELIEVE
ALL OF THESE THINGS
ABOUT MYSELF."
I HAD TO BEGIN
TO BELIEVE THE TRUTH BECAUSE
DEALING WITH OUR LIVES
PUSHES US TOWARD THE GOSPEL.
THE TRUTH WAS
THAT IT WAS OKAY IF SOMEBODY
DIDN'T TAKE ME SERIOUSLY
BECAUSE MY WORTH
IS ONLY IN JESUS.
THIS WAS HUGE FOR ME.
I DIDN'T KNOW THIS.
TO LEARN THAT ONLY GOD HAD --
ONLY GOD HAS THE AUTHORITY
TO TELL ME WHO I AM,
THAT CHANGED EVERYTHING
FOR ME.
AND IT WAS STILL A PROCESS
OF WORKING THROUGH MY LIES,
REPLACING THEM WITH THE TRUTH
BUT DISCOVERING SORT OF
THOSE DEEPLY HELD CORE LIES
WAS A HUGE FIRST STEP.
WE ALL HAVE THEM
BECAUSE AS CHILDREN
WE'RE EXCELLENT OBSERVERS
OF OUR WORLD, RIGHT?
BUT WE'RE TERRIBLE
INTERPRETERS.
SO YES,
MY MOM WAS CRUEL TO ME
BUT IT DID NOT MEAN
I WASN'T LOVABLE IF
SHE DIDN'T TAKE ME SERIOUSLY.
SO THAT WAS A BIG ONE
AND THAT'S FLUSHED OUT MORE
IN THE BOOK.
THE SECOND ONE WAS LEARNING
HOW TO SET BOUNDARIES.
OKAY, GOD,
YOU WANT ME TO LOVE MY MOM
AND FORGIVE HER AND BE
IN RELATIONSHIP WITH HER?
LIKE HOW?
BECAUSE SHE CUTS ME.
AND I REMEMBER THERE WAS
THIS ALCOHOL COUNSELOR
THAT WAS A GUEST LECTURER
IN MY COLLEGE CLASS
AND I RAN UP TO HIM
BECAUSE HE WAS
AN ADDICTION SPECIALIST.
I SAID, "WHAT DO I DO?
WHEN I TALK WITH MY MOM,
WE JUST GO DOWN THIS SPIRAL."
HE SAID,
"IF I HAVE A BALL IN MY HAND
AND I THROW IT TO YOU,
WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO?"
I SAID,
"I'M GOING TO CATCH IT."
HE GOES, "THEN WHAT?"
I SAID, "WELL,
I'M GOING TO THROW IT BACK."
HE SAID,
"OH, SO YOU'VE DECIDED
TO PLAY THE GAME."
HE SAID, "IF YOU DON'T WANT
TO PLAY THE GAME ANYMORE
STOP THROWING THE BALL BACK."
THAT WAS MY FIRST EXPERIENCE
WITH WHAT IT MEANT
TO SET BOUNDARIES.
I DON'T HAVE TO STAY
IN THIS SPIRAL.
I CAN HANG UP THE PHONE.
I DON'T HAVE TO WAIT
UNTIL SHE'S HAPPY
OR PLEASED WITH ME.
I CAN STOP THIS TOXIC CYCLE.
AND BOUNDARIES ARE REALLY
JUST WHAT WILL I TOLERATE
AND WHAT WILL I NOT TOLERATE?
AND AGAIN,
THAT'S FLUSHED OUT WAY MORE.
AND THE THIRD
REALLY IMPORTANT THING
THAT I WANT TO SAY TO ANYBODY
WHO IS STRUGGLING
WITH A DIFFICULT RELATIONSHIP
AND YOU'RE TRYING
TO FIGURE OUT HOW ON EARTH
DO I FORGIVE THIS PERSON
LET ALONE LOVE THEM,
IS WE HAVE TO LEARN
HOW TO MOURN WHAT WE LOST.
SO WE DON'T MOURN THE FUTURE
BECAUSE THAT'S WHERE
HOPE SITS.
BUT THE REALITY WAS
I DIDN'T HAVE A MOTHER;
I DID NOT HAVE
A NURTURING MOTHER.
AND THAT WAS A VALID LOSS.
SO I HAD TO GRIEVE THAT.
BUT WHEN YOU GRIEVE SOMETHING
AND YOU LET GO
OF THE EXPECTATION
THAT SHE'LL EVER BE THAT,
THAT SHE WOULD BE A MOTHER
THAT TAUGHT ME THEN HOW
TO LOVE HER JUST AS A HUMAN
MADE IN THE IMAGE OF GOD,
IN NEED OF LOVE.
SO ALL OF THOSE THINGS
WERE EXTREMELY HELPFUL
IN THE JOURNEY FOR ME
ON LEARNING HOW TO LOVE
AND FORGIVE HER.
AND HERE'S
THE INCREDIBLE THING.
THERE IS SO MANY IMPOSSIBLE
PRAYERS AND MIRACULOUS THINGS
THAT HAPPENED, YOU GUYS,
AND I WISH I HAD THE TIME
TO TELL YOU ALL OF THEM
RIGHT NOW
BUT THEY ARE IN THE BOOK.
BUT ONE THING IS
AFTER SHE PASSED AWAY
I WAS ABLE TO GET A HOLD
OF HER JOURNALS
AND READING THEM
BROKE MY HEART
BECAUSE I HAD NO IDEA
HOW WOUNDED SHE WAS.
AND HOW ALONE SHE WAS.
IT MADE ME WANT
TO LOVE EVERYBODY BECAUSE
EVERYBODY HAS SOMETHING
GOING ON
THAT WE DON'T EVEN SEE.
I HAD NO IDEA
HOW DESPERATE SHE WAS
FOR THE LOVE OF A FATHER
THAT SHE NEVER HAD.
AND I WAS DESPERATE
FOR THE LOVE OF A MOTHER
THAT I DIDN'T HAVE.
James: DON'T YOU APPRECIATE
HER SHARING HER JOURNEY?
IT IS COMPLEX
AND COMPLICATED
BUT I'M TELLING YOU,
THIS IS A BEAUTIFUL WORK
OF GOD THAT IS IN PROCESS
AND CONTINUING.
THE THING I WANT
ALL OF YOU TO HEAR,
I DON'T KNOW WHERE YOU ARE,
I DON'T KNOW
HOW YOU'RE RESPONDING,
I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON
IN YOUR MIND
BUT I'VE BEEN PREACHING NOW,
I'M APPROACHING 60 YEARS
OF LOOKING INTO
THE FACES OF PEOPLE,
AND BETTY AND I ON TELEVISION
FOR 50 YEARS,
AND I CAN SEE HURT.
I CAN SEE HUNGER.
I'M TELLING YOU
THERE IS A FATHER,
THIS IS A FATHERLESS PERSON
WHO MET THE FATHER
THAT EVERYONE CAN MEET.
AND EVEN IF YOU HAD
A GOOD FATHER
OR AN OKAY FATHER,
THERE IS THE ULTIMATE
PERFECT FATHER,
AND HE HAS A PERFECT
UNDERSTANDING OF YOU
AND LOVE.
HE REALLY WANTS TO HOLD YOU
SO CLOSE TO HIS HEART THAT
YOU IDENTIFY WITH HIS LOVE
AND YOU IDENTIFY
WITH HIS CONCERNS.
YOU'RE A CONCERN.
HE WANTS TO HEAL THE HURT
IN THE MOST COMPLICATED LIFE
OR HEART OR MIND -- HE CAN.
AND THAT'S THE REASON
YOU'RE LISTENING.
BECAUSE THE GOD
THAT CHANGES LIFE
THAT GAVE HIS SON
THAT THROUGH CHRIST
WE CAN HAVE LIFE EVEN WHEN
SHE WAS SEEKING COUNSELORS,
SHE WAS SEEKING THE COUNSEL
OF THE FATHER THROUGH PEOPLE
WHO WOULD SEEM TO UNDERSTAND.
SO YOU'RE SEEKING.
THAT'S WHY YOU'RE WATCHING.
I THINK GETTING THE BOOK
WOULD BE A BLESSING TO YOU,
PERHAPS.
BUT HERE'S THE THING
I WANT YOU TO KNOW,
RIGHT WHERE YOU ARE,
THE FATHER WANTS TO PULL YOU
UP RIGHT INTO HIS ARMS.
HE REALLY DOES.
HE WANTS TO BE THE COMFORT
YOU NEVER THOUGHT
YOU COULD EXPERIENCE.
THAT'S THE REASON
WE COME INTO YOUR HOME
TO SHARE LIFE TODAY,
NOT JUST WITH PEOPLE ON
THE OTHER SIDE OF THE WORLD
OR IN DIFFICULT CIRCUMSTANCES,
HUNGER OR THIRST -- BUT YOU.
FATHER,
I PRAY FOR EVERY PERSON
YOU'RE SPEAKING TO RIGHT NOW
AND YOU ARE,
AND YOU REALLY WANT
TO HOLD THEM
AND HEAL THEIR BROKEN HEART.
AND ULTIMATELY,
MAKE THEM A HEALER
OF BROKEN HEARTS
WHEN HAVING RECEIVED
YOUR LOVE, YOUR GRACE,
YOUR FORGIVENESS,
THEY SUDDENLY
BEGIN TO SHARE IT.
PLEASE LORD,
PLEASE TAKE THEM IN YOUR ARMS.
HE IS REACHING OUT TO YOU
RIGHT NOW.
YOU JUST REACH OUT AND SAY,
"LORD, I RECEIVE YOU,
ALL YOUR GRACE."
YOU KNOW, SARAH,
YOU REALLY ARE ON A JOURNEY
THAT YOU'RE SHARING
WITH OTHERS TO HELP THEM.
I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THAT.
YOU KNOW WHAT OUR VIEWERS DO?
THEY'RE AMAZING PEOPLE.
THEY KNOW WHEN THEY WATCH US
THEY'RE GOING TO HEAR
THAT GOD USES PEOPLE
FROM ALL WALKS OF LIFE
AND ALL LEVELS
TO REALLY BE AMAZING IN WHAT
GOD DOES IN THEIR LIFE.
BUT WHEN WE SHOW THEM A NEED,
A VERY LEGITIMATE NEED,
AND WE JUST SHOW THEM LOVE,
THEY WANT TO MEET IT.
RIGHT NOW WE'RE ASKING
OUR VIEWERS TO HELP US
RESCUE GIRLS
AND OFTEN TIMES BOYS
FROM SEXUAL TRAFFICKING
WHERE THEY'VE BEEN
TAKEN PRISONER.
I WANT YOU TO LISTEN TO ME
REAL CLOSE.
RIGHT NOW THE OPPORTUNITY
IS AS GREAT AS IT'S EVER BEEN
AND YOU'RE GOING TO SEE
WHAT LOVE DOES.
LET ME TELL YOU THIS.
WE'VE HAD SOME PEOPLE
JUST LIKE YOU WHO SAID,
"YOU KNOW WHAT?
WE SO CARE
ABOUT SETTING THESE CHILDREN
AND THESE WOMEN FREE
WE'RE GOING TO PUT UP $320,000
TO MATCH WHAT YOU DO."
IT TAKES $128
TO RESCUE SOMEONE,
TO REACH THEM, RESCUE,
AND BEGIN TO RESTORE THEM --
$128 AND THAT WILL BE DOUBLED.
WOULD YOU RIGHT NOW
JUST WATCH AND LISTEN
AND SAY, GOD,
WHAT DO YOU WANT ME TO DO?
BECAUSE I BELIEVE HE WILL.
AND YOU ARE GOING TO SET
CAPTIVES FREE
BECAUSE OF GOD'S LOVE
THROUGH YOU. WATCH.
Kirie: I'VE TRAVELED WITH LIFE OUTREACH TO SEVERAL DIFFERENT AREAS
WHERE HUMAN TRAFFICKING IS A REAL PROBLEM.
I CAN'T TELL YOU HOW HORRIBLE THAT IS.
GIRLS WHO HAVE BEEN TRAFFICKED AT A VERY YOUNG AGE,
KEPT IN BONDAGE AND SLAVERY
AND LEFT BRUISED, BROKEN, CRUSHED.
Kirie: GOD, I PRAY THAT YOU WOULD SHOW YOUR PEOPLE
HOW TO LOVE THE BROKEN,
HOW TO LOVE THE CRUSHED.
SHOW US HOW TO MOVE THE MOUNTAINS FOR THEM.
WHAT BETTER SOLUTION TO A PROBLEM OF SUCH EVIL
THAN TO PREVENT IT FROM HAPPENING IN THE FIRST PLACE?
Kirie: I'M STANDING RIGHT NOW
ON THE BORDER BETWEEN NEPAL AND INDIA.
JUST IN THE LAST HOUR
WE'VE WATCHED THIS TEAM RESCUE SEVERAL GIRLS
WHO WERE BEING TRAFFICKED ACROSS THE BORDER.
THEY WERE ABLE TO NOTICE SOMETHING NOT RIGHT,
STOP THE VEHICLES, QUESTION THE GIRLS,
AND REALIZE THAT THEY WERE ACTUALLY BEING TRAFFICKED.
BECAUSE OF THEIR EFFORTS,
WE ARE STOPPING LIVES FROM BEING RUINED.
THE REALITY IS STARK.
THE MORE OF YOU WHO CHOOSE TO HELP,
THE MORE OF THESE YOUNG LIVES WE'RE ABLE TO SAVE.
Kirie: IF WE CAN KEEP THESE WORKERS,
THESE MONITORS ON THIS BORDER,
WE CAN PREVENT CHILDREN FROM BEING TAKEN INTO A LIFE
THAT THEY WERE NEVER INTENDED TO LIVE.
James: THAT BEAUTIFUL LADY,
KIRIE JAMES, WILL BE HERE
WITH BETTY AND ME TOMORROW;
JUST COMING BACK
FROM OVERSEAS,
RESCUING -- JUST BACK.
ELEVEN GRANDCHILDREN,
FOUR BEAUTIFUL CHILDREN,
LOVES PEOPLE;
SHE AND HER HUSBAND
HAVE HELPED US
FOR A LONG, LONG TIME.
BETTY, SHE IS COMING HERE
TO JUST SAY,
LET'S KEEP HELPING THEM.
WHAT GOES ON IN YOUR HEART
WHEN YOU SEE
THESE TRAFFICKED CHILDREN
AND REALIZE
THAT THOSE RESCUE WORKERS
AND THOSE MISSIONARIES
THAT OUR VIEWERS SUPPORT
THEY ARE NOT INEFFECTIVE,
THEY TOTALLY CHANGE
THE FUTURE OF THESE CHILDREN.
WHAT DO YOU...
Betty: AND THEY ALSO
PUT THEMSELVES IN DANGER,
JAMES, BECAUSE THEY HAVE
TO DO EVERYTHING UNDER COVER
SO THAT THEY DON'T GET CAUGHT
TRYING TO RESCUE
THESE PRECIOUS LITTLE ONES.
AND THEY ARE PRECIOUS
LITTLE ONES,
TO GOD ESPECIALLY.
WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY,
AND I CALL IT AN OPPORTUNITY
BECAUSE THAT'S
EXACTLY WHAT IT IS,
TO RESCUE THESE CHILDREN.
WE MUST DO IT.
I CAN'T EVEN IMAGINE
THE TEARS,
WHEN I SEE ONE LITTLE GIRL
SHEDDING TEARS,
HOW MANY TEARS SHE HAS SHED
HOPING THAT IT WILL BE
THE LAST FOR THIS REASON
THAT SHE IS BEEN CAPTURED
AND TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF.
PLEASE JOIN WITH US.
LET'S RESCUE THE PERISHING
AND CARE FOR THE DYING
BECAUSE A LOT OF THEM DO DIE
AS A RESULT OF THE NEGLECT
AND THE ABUSE THAT THEY
HAVE BEEN TAKEN IN BONDAGE TO.
SO PLEASE HELP US DO THAT.
James: YOU KNOW WHEN
WE TALK ABOUT RESCUING THEM,
THAT'S REALLY NOT
AN EXAGGERATION.
LOVE DOESN'T FAIL.
THE PEOPLE THAT GO THERE
WITH A BROKEN HEART
AND WITH LOVE,
WITH SUCH A DESIRE TO HELP,
THEY'RE IN MANY WAYS HELPLESS
WITHOUT OUR HELP.
WE'RE THE CONNECTION
THAT MAKES IT POSSIBLE.
WE'RE THE SUPPORT BASE.
WE'RE THE LIFELINE,
LITERALLY TO MAKE IT HAPPEN.
I'M ASKING YOU IF YOU WOULD GO
AND GET YOUR BANKCARD
OR GO ONLINE
OR DIAL THAT NUMBER
THAT'S THERE FOR PEOPLE
TO CALL FOR PRAYER
AND IT'S PAID FOR BY LOVE.
BUT WOULD YOU GO AND SAY,
"I'M GOING
TO HELP RESCUE ONE."
THEY JUST RESCUED SEVERAL,
KIRIE SAID, SHE WATCHED THEM.
THEY'RE HEADING THEM OFF
BEFORE THEY GET THEM
ACROSS THE BORDER.
THEY GO INTO AREAS WHERE
THEY KNOW THESE CHILDREN
ARE BEING RECRUITED
AND THEY SHOW THEM TRUE LOVE.
THEN WE GET THEM MANY TIMES
OUT OF THE BROTHELS
AND IT'S VERY DANGEROUS.
YOU ACTUALLY, LAST YEAR,
HELPED US BUILD
A SECURE PLACE
WHERE WE CAN TAKE THEM
AND THEY COULDN'T COME
GET THEM BACK.
YOU MADE THAT POSSIBLE. YOU!
WHO? PEOPLE LIKE YOU!
IF YOU'D SAY,
"I'M GOING TO DO WHAT I CAN"
KNOWING THAT BECAUSE
OF THE LOVE OF GOD
IN OTHER FRIENDS
YOUR GIFT WILL BE DOUBLED.
$320,000 AS A GIFT --
THAT'S HUGE!
THAT'S A LOT OF LOVE.
IT TAKES $128 AVERAGE
TO RESCUE ONE
AND GET THEM STARTED
IN RESTORATION.
IT WILL BE DOUBLED,
YOU'LL RESCUE TWO.
AND I ASK ALL WHO CAN,
AND IF YOU CAN
I BELIEVE YOU WILL,
COULD YOU GIVE $1280
TO HELP RESCUE TEN?
IT WILL NOW BE 20.
WHATEVER YOU DO
WILL BE DOUBLED.
FATHER, I PRAY
EVERYONE WHO CAN HELP
WILL JOYFULLY, GLADLY HELP
RESCUE THOSE PRECIOUS GIRLS
AND BOYS WHO ARE OFTEN
TAKEN IN JESUS' NAME.
WOULD YOU GO RIGHT NOW?
REACH OUT WITH ARMS OF LOVE
AND TOUCH SOMEONE,
SET THEM FREE?
PLEASE!
YOU CAN EITHER GO ONLINE
OR CALL THAT NUMBER.
WE HAVE SOME GIFTS
WE'RE GOING TO SEND YOU
TO SAY THANK YOU
AND YOU'RE NOT GIVING
TO GET A GIFT.
WE GIVE A GIFT TO YOU
TO BLESS YOU IN YOUR LIFE
AND YOUR SPIRITUAL JOURNEY
BECAUSE WE LOVE YOU
AND WE APPRECIATE YOU.
THANK YOU FOR REACHING OUT.
BEHIND THE BRIGHT LIGHTS
THERE'S A DARKNESS WHERE A WORLD OF INNOCENCE IS LOST
AND ABUSE RUNS RAMPANT
SCARRING THE SOULS OF CHILDREN
WITH NO ONE AND NOWHERE TO TURN FOR HELP.
WITH BODIES BROKEN AND HOPES CRUSHED,
THESE YOUNG VICTIMS ARE TRAPPED
IN A NEVER-ENDING NIGHTMARE.
TODAY YOU CAN SHINE THE LIGHT OF GOD'S LOVE IN THIS DARK WORLD
TO REACH, RESCUE, AND RESTORE THESE YOUNG ONES
TO THE LIFE GOD DESIGNED FOR THEM TO LIVE.
WITH A GENEROUS $320,000 MATCHING GIFT,
NOW YOUR GIFT OF $128 TO HELP RESCUE A CHILD
CAN BE DOUBLED TO HELP TWO CHILDREN.
YOUR $64 GIFT WILL BE MATCHED TO HELP RESCUE ONE CHILD
FROM THE HORRORS OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING.
AND A $32 MISSION RESCUE GIFT
WILL BE DOUBLED TO $64.
AND WITH YOUR DONATION OF ANY AMOUNT
WE'LL SEND YOU THE FAITH, HOPE, LOVE TEA TOWEL SET.
THESE BEAUTIFULLY WOVEN HAND TOWELS
ARE A WONDERFUL REMINDER
TO REMAIN STEADFAST IN FAITH, HOPE, AND LOVE EACH DAY.
WITH YOUR GIFT OF $128 OR MORE
YOU'LL RECEIVE THE LIFE-GIVING PROVERBS JOURNAL
BOUND IN GENUINE LEATHER.
THIS JOURNAL IS FILLED WITH WISDOM
AND DAILY ENCOURAGEMENT FROM PROVERBS,
FEATURING LINED PAGES FOR YOUR PERSONAL NOTES
AS YOU REFLECT ON GODLY INSTRUCTION
TO SUCCESS IN LIFE.
FINALLY, PLEASE CONSIDER A GIFT OF $1,280
WHICH WILL NOW HELP RESCUE 20 CHILDREN!
AND YOU MAY REQUEST OUR BEAUTIFUL BRONZE SCULPTURE,
"SAFE IN THE SHEPHERD'S ARMS."
PLEASE CALL, WRITE, OR MAKE YOUR GIFT ONLINE.
James: I WANT TO THANK YOU.
I WANT YOU TO KNOW
THIS PROVERBS JOURNAL
IS ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL!
BOY, DO WE NEED WISDOM.
I THINK YOU'LL LOVE
THE BEAUTIFUL TOWELS
THAT REFERENCE OUR FAITH
AND OUR LOVE.
AND I JUST WANT TO SAY THIS.
THAT IF YOU'D LIKE
TO HAVE SARAH MAE'S BOOK
BECAUSE YOU THINK
IT WILL HELP SOMEONE
OR HELP YOU, YOU SAY,
"WOULD YOU SEND THAT TO ME?
I THINK I NEED
WHAT SHE SHARES."
YOU HELP TOUCH SOME
OF THOSE WHO NEED OUR HELP,
YOU JUST ASK FOR IT,
WE'LL BE GLAD
TO SEND IT TO YOU.
WOULD YOU JOIN BETTY AND ME
IN SAYING THANKS TO SARAH MAE
FOR BEING SUCH A BLESSING?
WE APPRECIATE YOU.
GOD BLESS YOU ON YOUR JOURNEY
AS YOU HELP OTHERS.
THANK ALL OF YOU
FOR WATCHING AGAIN.
THANKS FOR HELPING US
SHARE LIFE EVERY DAY.
♪
DO YOU HAVE THE COURAGE TO BE HEALED?
BEST-SELLING AUTHOR, MARK RUTLAND EXPLAINS
HOW FAITH IS NOT THE ONLY VARIABLE NEEDED.
TOMORROW!
LIFE TODAY IS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE SUPPORTERS OF LIFE OUTREACH INTERNATIONAL.
YOUR GIFT WILL BE USED EXCLUSIVELY FOR THE EXEMPT PURPOSES OF LIFE.
THE MINISTRY FEATURES SPECIFIC OUTREACHES
AS EXAMPLES OF THE PROGRAMS IT SUPPORTS AND CONDUCTS.
GIFTS ARE CONSIDERED TO BE WITHOUT RESTRICTION
AS TO USE UNLESS EXPLICITLY STIPULATED BY THE DONOR.
THE MINISTRY IS A MEMBER OF THE E.C.F.A.