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I quickly stepped into the restroom only to behold Maria sobbing against the sink halfway to her knees, as several men stood around looking helpless as to what to do in the situation. The men's eyes traced over to me and I gestured toward the door behind me and roughly said, "Get out!
My tone and manner were not nice and the men practically tripped over each other in their haste to vacate the restroom. I came up behind Maria and pulled her up more onto her feet, as I turned the faucet on to wash away her vomit. It didn't smell nice, but it was a mild thing in comparison to the sights and experiences that I'd had before in life.
The poor girl was shaking to death. This was so not the Maria I had thought I had known. I pulled her hair back and leaning over I got a paper towel, which I got wet and started to mop at her face with.
She glanced up briefly into the mirror to meet my eyes, "Thank you."
She was becoming more aware of her surroundings again and with that progression came embarrassment. Maria was a proud woman, who prided herself on control and this whole scene was abjectly nightmarish in terms of embarrassment.
"Terrifying isn't it?" I said only loud enough to be heard over the running of the water faucet.
She glanced back up into the mirror as her mind left the thought of how embarrassed she should be for a moment. "What?" She asked.
I elaborated, "To be chastised, disciplined, heavenly spanked if you will."
Her corresponding shiver was answer enough to my question.
I held up a palm full of water to her mouth for her to wash her mouth out even as I said, "A thing to remember in this moment is that no matter how scared you are God still loves you."
She spit the water out and looked up her eyes miserable looking in their reflection from the mirror, "I made Him angry! I……"
"His anger passes quickly and yes even though angry He loves you still." I said consolingly as I rubbed her back softly.
"How can you be so sure?"
"Because just like a parent, who truly loves their child will discipline their child when he's done something wrong, He disciplined you. It is a pattern of love that bears witness to how God lovingly admonishes those of us who believe in Him. When He stops disciplining you is when you should be truly afraid."
Maria looked up, "I don't ever want to make Him angry again! It felt……."