| The Nigerian jihadists massacred her brothers, abducted “Lilly” and held her captive in their forest headquarters. They planned to force her – a Christian wife and mother – to marry an Islamist fighter.
By the time she escaped nearly a year later, her village – those who survived Boko Haram’s attack – had fled to a safer part of Nigeria.
The displaced villagers found temporary shelter and are rebuilding their lives.
Lilly [not her real name] called her husband. She found her way to the camp of displaced villagers.
But before she arrived and reunited with her family, the village chief met with her husband.
The chief knew something. He needed to help this husband accept his wife – and the new baby she was carrying.
They remembered that Joseph welcomed pregnant Mary and raised her son Jesus. And because of Jesus, God adopts us into His family.
The chief’s wise counsel led to the village embracing Lilly’s child with love, not hate.
They took the Christmas story to heart.
They took their faith seriously – that “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” John 1:5. They would let God’s love conquer Boko Haram’s attempt to destroy them. |
