Introduction
During the 1950s Sixto, an Indian in Latin America, married Isidra; they had eight children, the first being born in 1953. It was not a happy family; Sixto was in a bad mood nearly all the time, frequently became drunk and sometimes even beat his wife and children. However, with all his defects, he was hard-working.
Sixto spoke his native language, but the children grew up speaking Spanish. His first son, Bernardino, was aware of the unhappy family situation; he also was mistreated by Sixto. On one occasion, when Bernardino was 18, he asked his mother, Isidra, why she simply did not leave Sixto? But she decided to keep living in the family, even though it cost her so much suffering. After that Bernardino went through a phase where he did not communicate with any of his relatives for three years.
During this period, Isidra was often worried and upset, fearing that she had lost Bernardino forever. She prayed often, and made novenas, for his return. Three years later, when he returned and she saw him, she was so happy she burst into tears.
A Secret Kept
During those unhappy years a strange event happened to Isidra. She never told anyone about it. However, during the last two years of her life, she guessed that she had only a few years left upon earth. Therefore she decided to reveal the secret to one of her daughters. One day she arranged to be alone with Maria Luisa and told her the following.
The Secret Revealed
One day Sixto had beaten her severely in one of his drunken moods. She was recovering, alone, from the shock, hurt and humiliation. Then she saw a vision: a man clothed in white appeared to her, and took her in vision to a dark valley, where she heard the cries and screams of tormented souls. Then the man dressed in white transported her to a heavenly realm of profound peace and ineffable happiness. She wished she could have remained there forever. But her desire could not be granted. The man told her that it was the will of the Lord for her to return to the earth, so that she could teach the people about God. Then he left her, and she found herself again in her poor ranch. The man dressed in white was Jesus Christ himself.
It was as if God had told Isidra, “Do not be afraid of your husband or saddened about your suffering. In the end everything will turn out well, all manner of thing shall be well.” In those moments Isidra learned more about the horror of being eternally separated from God, the torments of condemned souls, and the incomprehensible joy of being with Him eternally in the heavenly Jerusalem, than if she had read many books or heard sermons.
The last part of the message was a puzzle, an enigma, a riddle. Isidra was illiterate, a peasant woman with no education at all. Her religious knowledge was minimal. Being without training, she was not capable of training others. She could not possibly be considered a teacher, except in the sense that one may teach by giving a good example, and witness by the testimony of good works in silence. After this event, Isidra was seen often in the parish church, praying.
Isidra never told anyone, except Maria Luisa, about her vision. She carried her secret to the grave. Bernardino was not present when she died of cancer in 1984, but he did attend the funeral. His mother's death affected him deeply and caused a mild depression that lasted six months.
The Trail of Tears Ends in Everlasting Happiness
ISIDRA did not have much, in her pilgrimage through life, except suffering, humiliations, trials and tears. However she did receive one privilege: she was taught by Jesus Christ Himself. Her life was a confirmation of the verse of Scripture: “It is written in the prophets. And they shall all be taught of God.” (John 6:45, Isaiah 54:13). “I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.” (John 14:18) Christ made up for her poverty, her humiliations and suffering, by visiting and teaching her in person. Now she is in the city of everlasting happiness, the heavenly Jerusalem, where all prophecies are fulfilled, all promises kept: “For the Lamb who is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.” (Revelation 7:17) “The Lord God will wipe away tears from off all faces: and the rebuke of his people shall he take away from off all the earth: for the Lord hath spoken it.” (Isaiah 25:8).
A few years later Sixto died. The youngest son, Venancio, inherited the ranch. It is suitable to register and record these events in writing. Tragic events sometimes demonstrate how God uses the wickedness and malice of men to effect a greater good. “But as for you, you thought evil against me: but God meant it unto good,... to save much people alive.” (Gen. 50:20) “And we know that all things work together for good, to them that love God.” (Rom. 8:28) “All things:” --even what happened to Isidra and her children.
For his anger endures but a moment; in his favor is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning. -- Psalm 30:5
The righteous cry, and the LORD hears, and delivers them out of all their troubles. The LORD is near to them that are of a broken heart; and saves such as be of a contrite spirit. -- Psalm 34:17-18
Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you: But rejoice, inasmuch as you are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, you may be glad also with exceeding joy. -- 1 Peter 4:12-13
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