Confession of a Gambler by Rayda Jacobs

Bismillah
This past weekend on Saturday I finally finished the book my husband was busy competing with for attention, and I must say for such a well written book I am disappointed in the ending but I guess it is the author’s right. The book is based on a woman who gambles to ease or run away from her pain. She is an addict and it takes her long enough after the usual experiences of a gambling addict such as borrowing money and being in a position of plain desperation until she sees that she has got a problem. Yes she goes through tough experiences but what annoyed me while reading the book is that she falls into doing the same sin over and over again and justifies it. We all have our addictions but there should come a time when we redeem ourselves, repent to God and walk away, which is what I thought will happen to the character in the end, she will redeem herself and not gamble again instead of making it out as a naughty act she might visit from time to time. However I must say that Rayda is a great writer, very detailed, very graphic as well. I am looking forward to reading her next book.
Some sins sometimes are great obstacles to overcome. The juiciness of gossip, the relief a lie brings instead of facing the bitter truth and its consequences, the enjoyment of the excitement of adultery and the thrill and power of oppressing someone. But at the end these to lead to nothing but total destruction of the soul and when we justify our sins we are opening a window to make them habitual and a habit becomes who you are. You are no longer someone who gossips, but you become known as THE gossip, THE liar, THE oppressor, THE adulterer. What a bad name to have!
We are human and it is in our nature to sin, but it is also in our nature to resist and train our conscious to help us with the will to resist sin. Another issue that brings us to sin is the lack of life in our own lives. We gossip about others because we have idle minds, and lack fruitfulness in ours. We oppress others as we find lack of control in our own situations.
God did not prevent us from doing certain acts except for our own benefit. If we would focus all this great energy into planting something positive into our lives or even better is to contribute something positive in someone else’s life. We will receive a much greater rewards than the instant satisfaction of a sin. Let us pull each other up; it is a great effort but a greatly rewarding one too.
Peace!