Cup of Bitterness Cup of Joy

Cup of Bitterness Cup of Joyspans about 65 years in the lives of two young girls who were sexually abusedas young children. Elizabeth is apastor's daughter who was molested on the one occasion that she was left withsomeone other than a family member. Mara is the child of a woman who sellsherself to men and has no apparent concern for the welfare of her child. Marais physically and sexually abused by this woman's husband. Marais befriended by a teenager who comes briefly into the home to escape the juvenilejustice system of New York City. Hetakes her to New York to get heraway from, 'Old Rat.' Throughout her life there are people besides George wholove Mara and seek to help her, but she is unable to wholly receive this lovebecause she has so much pain and anger as a result of men raping and generallyusing her. In her fear and hatred of men and unwillingness to turn her lifeover to the Lord, she becomes a homosexual.Elizabeth also fears men and does not deal well withrelationships, but because she has a loving supportive family and looks dailyto the Lord for guidance her life flows mainly in tranquil paths. However, shedoes not have a real relationship with a man (not sex but give and take andtrust) until she meets Bart Franklin, a pastoral student, who challenges her tobe honest, to put the Lord first, and not to run away from situations.Thisthe story of two girls whose lives are briefly intertwined in childhood andthen years later are interwoven by God's grace and wonder once more.Theirbitterness has turned to joy. .