“I never learnt to read or write, but I decided to learn to be able to read the Bible.” Pushpa, a young mother who lives in a small town of Udaipur, Rajasthan, was struggling in her daily stresses. Feeling the lack of opportunities that came with not knowing how to read or write along with the heart-wrenching fights she would have with her husband every day, kept pushing her closer to the edge.
“I felt like I didn’t want to continue living every time my husband and I would fight,” said Pushpa, remembering the pain of her unhappy marriage. Not only would her husband fight with her, but he would often beat her up for days. Pushpa felt trap. She spent her day doing the housework, tending to their cattle and raising their children. She felt unfulfilled in her life, with no way out.
One day Pushpa’s aunt suggested she start going to church to feel better and to find hope, even in her current situation. Pushpa remembers her experience of going to church, “The first time I went, I felt a little peace, the second time I went, I felt some more peace in my heart. This peace and hope just grew as I continued to attend church.” As Pushpa would see everyone reading the Bible, she felt the urge to read too. Initially, she felt at a loss because she had never learnt to read but being the woman she was, Pushpa managed to find a way to achieve her dream.
Pushpa reached out to some children she met coming back from school, and offered them a few rupees a day to teach her to read. To her delight, the children agreed. Pushpa’s classes began. Slowly, but steadily Pushpa learnt to read on her own, and enjoyed going through the many encouraging verses in the Bible. She proudly shared the verse that spoke most to her –
“The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.” Psalm 23:1
With each new verse Pushpa read she praised God for enabling her to read His encouraging word. Pushpa taught a few of her friends to read the Bible too. They would come together and read a few verses as they learnt to read.
Today, Pushpa’s children and her husband read the Bible and attend church. Ever since her husband started reading God’s word, he became more loving and caring towards his wife. Pushpa was delighted to see the drastic change in her family’s life and continues to praise God for his blessings upon her.
