Dear Peninnah

Dear Peninnah
“Where is your compassion”
[[Based on a True Story: 1 Samuel 1:1-8]]

Dear Peninnah,

 The thought of sharing a husband is quite disheartened but nonetheless your story includes Hannah and yourself sharing Elkanah. There isn’t much about you but what’s reveal is quite gloomy. You have children but your sister-wife Hannah doesn’t and you made her life a nightmare. You goaded her, badgered her until she fell into a state of depression. You rejoiced over her misfortune. You laughed at her pain. You made her feel defective. She wouldn’t eat but weeped all day. This torment went on year after year. Adding insult to her injury, you would provoke her even when she went to church. Even in an atmosphere that should be burden free you manage to bring a mental mass. Physically, emotionally, mentally and verbally you remind her inadequacies.

 Why? Where is your compassion?

 Clearly you have some deep seeded pain that you are dealing with and tormenting your rival eased your own pain. You are competing with Hannah for Elkanah’s love. The report says that when he gave portions of meat, you would get some but to Hannah he gave a double portion because he loved her.” Well, we didn’t have to hear he disliked you; it is obvious. To that extend you are missioned to bully Hannah until death. You have no keen awareness of the suffering that Hannah is enduring because it numbs your own pain.

 Modern day Peninnah, maybe sister-wife isn’t who you are competing with. Maybe it is the highest paid woman at work. Maybe it is the woman who sings all the solos in the choir. Maybe it is your most loved sister. Or maybe it is your neighbor with the beautiful life. So you find a little wound they’ve been trying to cure and scar them again. So you start your own little click to isolate them. You send out invites to your parties excluding her. You point fingers at her shame. You start becoming the #NightmareNeighborInHistory. This is the “Hurt people hurt people” ferris wheel that you are on. But you know what, you don’t have to assassinate other’s women’s joy because they have something that you want. You don’t have to un-scab another woman’s wound. Don’t rejoice over people’s afflictions or misfortune. Don’t torment people. Don’t go to church starting drama. Have compassion for women who are broken. You too are broken so, find a therapist to aid in your restoration. Go and heal your inner self.

Strongly together & Inspired by,

Friend

Is this “your story?” Can you identify with Peninnah? Do you empathize with her? Is her issue your issue? Here is the call to action: Share this post to help other women who need this. Please, use the hashtags #MyStoryIsInTheBible #IAmPeninnah