Page 39 - LIfesOuttakes4

was now hers to cherish or destroy as she desired.

Without even unwrapping it, Tatiana knew it was the

Bible. She thanked her grandmother, and said she would

truly cherish it and protect it.
Later, Tatiana had to flee Russia. Her husband had

been sentenced to work in some coal mines because he
stood up for a man in his military unit who was being

abused because of his religious beliefs. She made her way

to Finland, and from there to the United States, and though

she could take little with her, she took the Bible hidden

deep in her simple belongings.

As she finished her story, Tatiana handed the

beautiful book to me and smiled. “Now I read it every day,

and I don’t have to worry about who sees me.”

As I ran my hands over the word Библия

(Beebleeya) on its cover, I could only guess how much she

had risked to bring it here.

Now, every time I sit down to read the Bible with my

family, I think of Tatiana and her Russian Bible, and it

helps me to consider the many freedoms I am grateful for

that I usually take so much for granted.

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