Moryom is only nine years old but has already endured a lifetime of bullying and discrimination. Her family’s faith has stirred up anger in their Muslim-dominant village. She has been kicked and beaten but forgives her persecutors. She must, because Jesus forgave her.
God, Please Don’t Let Them Persecute Me
Moryom sits cross-legged on her bed and prays for those who attack her. Hands clasped close to her face, she asks that they will love her and for the harassment to stop.
It’s a heartbreaking request for someone so young.
She has been beaten, bullied, mocked, and rejected by her community.
“Villagers don’t like us because we are Christians,” she says sadly.
Moryom’s father pastors a church on their property. Her mother teaches Sunday school and leads an adult literacy class. Both are converts from Islam, which almost always attracts persecution.
“Because we are Christian, we accepted Jesus into our lives, that’s why they treat us like this,” Moryom says. “Because Jesus died on the cross for my sins, I forgive my friends for their wrongdoings. I feel really sad. Sometimes I cry, but because I’m a Christian, I forgive them.”
Jesus, Her Happiness, and Hurt
Children in Moryom’s school don’t want to be her friend.
They won’t be seen with a Christian.
So, one day, when her classmate asked her to play, Moryom was excited.
It never once crossed her mind that her safety was at risk.
What happened next still saddens her.
“I was playing with one of my Muslim friends on the rooftop of my school,” she recalls. “Suddenly, she pushed me off [the one-storey building]. I had scratches all over my body, and I was hurt! When I complained to my teachers, they didn’t take any action. Only one teacher listened to me. I didn’t want to go to school anymore because my teachers weren’t listening to my problems. I got very angry but still asked Jesus to forgive them.”
As a child, Moryom is not spared the retaliation of villagers who feel betrayed by her family’s move from Islam to Christianity.
Like her, hundreds of children in Bangladesh—and millions across the world—suffer extreme bullying for following Jesus.
Being marginalised and isolated is more than some can take. Eventually, they walk away from God.
But Moryom loves Jesus.
He is the root of her happiness—and the reason for her hurt.
It is painful to be an outcast. But Jesus is worth it. Moryom is determined to live for Him each day and has plans to serve Him when she’s older.
“I want to be a teacher,” she says happily. “When I become a teacher, I will tell all the children about Jesus. This is my dream.”
Joy To The World
Moryom loves Christmas.
She cannot be part of Islamic festivities, which give her classmates another reason to mock her.
But when it’s Christmas, she can laugh, sing, and dance with all her heart.
Moryom has always loved gathering with Christians at church. It’s the one place she feels safe.
At Christmas, the crowd at her father’s church is more than usual. It’s Jesus’ birthday, and they congregate as a family to celebrate.
“On Christmas day, all our church members gather for the church service,” Moryom says happily. “We have lots of fun. We sing, dance, pray, and read Scriptures. We also wear new dresses. There are lots of people on Christmas day. I like it when we all come together. We celebrate Christmas because that’s Jesus’ birthday. It’s a lot of fun to celebrate Jesus’ birth by cutting a cake and eating it.”
In celebrating the birth of Jesus, Moryom is drawn to a powerful truth: that even Jesus, the King of Kings, was persecuted—as a child and an adult—but overcame.
Because of Him, she will too.
