AHAVA – THE PROSTITUTE

My name is Ahava, which means “love.” The work I do is devoid of love, but it brings in the necessary means to provide for my family. I am a prostitute. I began this journey at the age of 13. I came from a family with ten daughters. My father realized that he could cash in on those daughters even though we were young and untouched. It became my profession from that time until my life was changed.

Prostitution is frowned on by the leaders of the synagogue. However, in ancient times, when a wife was lacking the ability to produce children for her husband, she could call on a surrogate to do what she couldn’t do. In most cases it was a slave who fulfilled the job description. In cases like mine, I was sold to the highest bidder to sell my body as a vessel whereby lust could be satisfied for a price.

I’m nineteen now. I cannot tell you how many encounters I’ve had over the past six years. I can tell you that none of them included love of any kind. I was merely an instrument to entertain those with enough money to pay for it. I hate what I do. I cannot walk through the streets without veiling my face. Other women point their fingers at me and describe me as repulsive. I must keep myself well-groomed and dressed to allure any future customers. That in itself costs money. It’s important to look beautiful, but I feel nothing but ugly and dirty. I don’t feel good about what I do, or how others look at me. I know the church leaders will shun me if I come near them. Often, they make an example of me and what they refer to as my disgusting lifestyle.

I’ve longed to find someone who really loves me for who I am. I sometimes wish that I had been raised in a different part of the world, but I knew I couldn’t escape from what I’ve become. My sin is much too great to be forgiven. My dreams include having a husband and a family, but I know that dream will never come true since I’m already considered damaged goods. I’ve felt so hopeless and crushed.

One day, I stayed in the shadows as a man called Jesus was talking about sin. He must’ve been speaking directly to me. I knew that continuing to do what I had become enslaved to, would make me unworthy to even ask for forgiveness. Even so, I could tell that everyone in the crowd had some kind of sin in their life that they struggled with too. The man told the crowd to come to Him for rest. He promised to give it to those who asked. I wondered if I might be among those who would find rest in Him. As I watched and listened, I could tell this man was like no other. His voice told me that I had a place in His Father’s kingdom. His eyes carried compassion and love. This was the love I never knew. It was pure and honest. He said that if we confess our sins and repent of them, God will forgive us. Then we must walk away from that sinful existence and begin anew.

That day, I became one of His followers. The things He had to say gave me hope for a new life. Maybe that life would not be here on earth, but I was promised an eternity in heaven. He never said that my days would be easy. He told us that we would experience difficulties and burdens in this life. He also said that through all of it we can count on His presence – His comfort – His peace and love. He turned my life around by the Son of God.