The Good Samaritan

This story is based upon the parable of the Good Samaritan. I wanted to make it a story of two unlikely people being brought together by the power of God and also make it a story about the power of Christian love and forgiveness. As the Samaritan was someone that was looked down upon during Jesus's time but was made the hero of the story by Jesus I wanted to modernize the story and make it applicable to us today while also paying tribute to the brave survivors of the Holocaust. During World War II approximately six million Jews perished in Nazi concentration camps. This story is dedicated to the memory of all innocent Jews who perished and is a testament to the power of faith and love. There will be violence present but it will hopefully be nothing too graphic for you guys and will try to focus mainly on the relationship between the two main characters. Now let us begin our tale. God Bless.

-Vegter999

A man was going down to Jericho, and he fell among robbers, who stripped him and beat him, and departed, leaving him half dead. Now by chance a priest was going down that road; and when he saw him he passed by on the other side. So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passes by on the other side. But a Samaritan, as he journeyed, came to where he was; and when he saw him, he had compassion, and went to him and bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine; then he set him on his own beast and brought him to an inn, and took care of him. And the next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper saying "Take care of him; and whatever more you spend, I will repay you when I come back." Which of these three, do you think, proved neighbor to the man who fell among the robbers? He said the one who showed mercy on him.

Gospel of Luke 10:30-37

Chapter 1

United States of America, Christmas Eve 2019

"Grandma! Grandma!" my two year old great-grandchild Addy came rushing into the house.

"Oh hello sweetheart! I said, a grin lighting up my face as I pulled her onto my lap, despite my old bones protesting the movement.

The rest of my children and grandchildren streamed into the house behind her.

"Addy, what have I told about running off by yourself?" her mother, my grandchild, Angela, scolded her.

"I wanted to see great-grandma" Addy replied meekly.

"I'm sure she meant no harm Angela" I said, gently.

Angela sighed.

"Promise me Addy that next time when you want to go see great-grandma ask me first."

"Ok" Addy replied.

Addy came me a big sloppy kiss on the cheek before scurrying over to her mother and they headed upstairs to unpack.

My six children and twelve grandchildren each came and gave me a hug and kiss on the cheek and I felt my heart warm at the sight of each of them.

It was tradition that all of my children and grandchildren would come to visit my husband and I on Christmas Eve every year.

"Where's Grandpa?" My grandchild, Ian, spoke up.

"Oh he said he'll be late back tonight so he won't be having dinner with us, but he'll be back after that and he'll open presents with us tomorrow" I replied.

"Good, it'll be good to see him."

Once everyone was settled in their rooms we indulged in a supper of ham, vegetables, and potato's and afterwards Addy was put to bed and all my children and grandchildren settled on the couches or on the floor in front of the Christmas tree, with me sitting in a comfortable chair facing them.

"What's the story going to be this year Grandma?" Angela piped up. It was customary that each year I would tell them a story on Christmas Eve after dinner.

"Well what would you like to hear?"

"A story of true love and about God" Ian said.

Immediately a story came to my mind though I was loath to share it with them because I knew it contained much hardship and tragedy.

"I have a story in mind but I must warn you parts of it are not happy at all."

"We're adults Mom, I'm sure we can handle it" my son Andrew said.

"Very well I will tell it to you."

I paused, thinking about how to begin.

Finally I said "Many years ago there lived a young girl..."

###

Auschwitz Concentration Camp, Nazi Occupied Poland May 1944

Lilla's POV:

The darkness was everywhere and I could just make out the huddled forms of my Mama, Papa, and sister Veronika and many others who were packed into the filthy cattle car with us. We had been on this train for days, having been taken away from our home in Hungary. I clutched my suitcase tightly, the only thing I'd been allowed to take with me as the Germans had rounded us up like cattle and forced us onto the train. Suddenly the wheels of the train slowly screeched to a halt and fear gripped me. What was going to happen to us?

My Papa must've felt me practically trembling because he reached over and took my hand, putting on a reassuring smile. I attempted to smile back but, the attempt was doomed to failure.

Suddenly light flooded the car as the heavy metal door was shoved aside and my eyes strained against the light for a second.

"Raus! Raus!" (Out! Out!) called a man in a grey SS officers uniform in German. Quickly each of us scrambled out of the train car. I huddled close to my family as we were lined up upon the pavement, hundreds of thousands of us stood there, men, women and children all with frightened looks on our faces.

"Leave your things here!" the officers called.

I was forced to let go of my suitcase and throw it into a rapidly growing pile of clothes, shoes, and other belongings.

We were then hearded inside a gate which had the phrase Albeit Macht Frei (Work sets you free) displayed above it.

I clutched tightly to Veronika and Mama, my hands sweating and my heart beating rapidly. Papa followed closely behind us.

Up ahead I noticed that people were being separated into two lines. A man I recognized as an SS doctor gave them a cursory glance then either gestured for them to go to the left or to the right. I noticed that those being in the left were mainly children and women with small children, and the elderly while those being put in the the right were younger and without children.

My heart pounded as I was shoved in front of the doctor. His cold blue eyes gazed me up and down and I felt as if I was about to die of fright.

The doctor grinned coldly at me like a snake would likely stare at it's prey.

Then suddenly he gestured to the right and I was pushed that way roughly by one of the officers. Veronika was next and she trembled before him and looked as if she were about to cry.

The doctor didn't even hesitate.

He gestured to the left.

As he did for Mama while Papa was sent to the right.

"Where are you taking them?" I cried in Hungarian.

"Schweige schmutzigen Juden!" (Silence filthy Jew!) one of the officers said in German and shoved me so hard I fell to the ground.

I quickly got up and we were led inside where our clothes were taken away, our heads were shaved and we had a bucket of water dumped upon us before the men were given thin shorts and shirts while the women were given thin dresses and a pair of shoes that hurt when you walked in them.

I then had a number tattooed in black ink upon my left arm and then the men and women were divided.

"No wait Papa!" I called in Hungarian, reaching for him as the officers shoved me away with the other women.

"Lilla!" he tried to rush towards me but was slapped in the face by one of the Kapos and fell to the ground.

And that was the last I saw of him as I was led away.

Hey guys I know this is really sad but I promise things will get better as the story progresses so I hope you will stick with me. Please review and let me know whether or not I should keep going. God Bless.