Cup of Bitterness Cup of Joy

Cup of Bitterness Cup of Joy spans about 65 years in the lives of two young girls who were sexually abused as young children. Elizabeth is a pastor's daughter who was molested on the one occasion that she was left with someone other than a family member. Mara is the child of a woman who sells herself to men and has no apparent concern for the welfare of her child. Mara is physically and sexually abused by this woman's husband.

Mara is befriended by a teenager who comes briefly into the home to escape the juvenile justice system of New York City. He takes her to New York to get her away from, 'Old Rat.' Throughout her life there are people besides George who love Mara and seek to help her, but she is unable to wholly receive this love because she has so much pain and anger as a result of men raping and generally using her. In her fear and hatred of men and unwillingness to turn her life over to the Lord, she becomes a homosexual.

Elizabeth also fears men and does not deal well with relationships, but because she has a loving supportive family and looks daily to the Lord for guidance her life flows mainly in tranquil paths. However, she does not have a real relationship with a man (not sex but give and take and trust) until she meets Bart Franklin, a pastoral student, who challenges her to be honest, to put the Lord first, and not to run away from situations.

This the story of two girls whose lives are briefly intertwined in childhood and then years later are interwoven by God's grace and wonder once more.

Their bitterness has turned to joy. .