Hate came robed in silence
By Kathy Yoder

Hate came robed in silence one bright and sunny day. He walked up to the children. He said, “Do you want to play? I know a game so very old. It was here before your birth. It takes no time to learn it. It’s filled with magic, with mirth.”

And so the children made two lines, with a chooser on each side. They battled over whom they picked and the losers left behind.

“I won’t take her. She’s too slow.”

“And he’s way too fat.”

“She’s not very smart, you know.”

“His voice squeaks like a bat.”

Hate stepped in and shook his head. “You’re doing it all wrong. You’re acting like weak amateurs. Remember, I am strong!”

He taught them with proficiency, his talents so sublime. He had the weak kids crying. “Hey, honesty’s not a crime!”

Hate makes them feel like nothing. He steals their hopes and joys. He tramples on their spirits. He turns them into toys. This one’s a marionette. Hate holds all the strings. He makes the puppet hurt himself. He makes another scream.

Then Hate saw her. A pretty girl so nice. He set his sights on wooing her. He figured out her price.

“Would you like to be famous? Admired? Adored? Forget the life you’ve lived so far. Renounce the name of the Lord. I’ll take you all around the world. I’ll give you what you want. You only have to worship me and assist me with the hunt. I need to find more kids like you – innocent, sweet, divine. You’ll help me trap each one of them. Together, we’ll make them mine.”

She said “Yes!” without a doubt, a thought or even a prayer. She said “Yes!” with her mind, thinking her heart wouldn’t care.

It was such a long time ago, but I saw her one yesterday. She looked happy, young and pretty, but her eyes gave her away. They were empty. Cold. Lifeless. God’s love could not be seen. Something had a hold on her -- something horribly mean. When Hate wasn’t looking, she whispered secretly, “Keep the children away from him! Keep the children free!”

“Did you say something, my dearest Dear? Did you tell her that I’m so nice?” Hate stared at her with eyes as cold as frozen mice. Then he grabbed her arm and roughly yanked her from me. I didn’t have the chance to say, “Pray! God will set you free!”

I asked the Lord to help her. I cried on her behalf. “Lord, kick the enemy in the head. Don’t allow him one more laugh.”

But life’s not predictable. Life’s never cost-free. I prayed for her, but she chose her own path to eternity. She didn’t ask for forgiveness. She stuck to Hate like glue. She’d forgotten about the Lord of light and His love for me and you. She could have asked the Lord for help, but she didn’t even try. Hate kept her bitter, confused. Eventually, she died.

Hate came robed in silence one bright and sunny day. Because no one was watching, all the children ran away. At first, the kids left in their minds, but their bodies stayed behind. Eventually Hate took all of them. Hate is never kind. By the time the parents noticed, it was entirely too late. The children grew into adults spending their lives with Hate.

So, if Hate comes robed in silence one bright and sunny day, stand up and speak the truth. It makes Hate run away. Make sure your children know the Lord. Keep them from Hate’s dark night. Tell them of God’s perfect love. He’s the Way, the Truth and the Light.

Hate came robed in silence one bright and sunny day. All the children were praying in church, so Hate ran away.