The Baby Chronicles

by Beatrice Bruno

  “Ohhh,” she groaned as she bore down. She looked over at her sister-in-law and murmured quietly, “Please help me. Help my baby, sis.”

  Realizing that Maybelle was going to be all right, Florina cried tears of joy. The hospital was another five miles away. Florina had to make a quick decision right now. She knew the baby needed to be born and that the birth was happening quickly.

  Florina made a decision. Moving quickly before she gave herself a chance to think about it, she retrieved a pair of scissors out of one of the drawers in front of her. She cut off her sister-in-law’s soaked panties. Maybelle’s water had broken long ago while Alton was battering her.

  Florina alerted the driver and his partner as to what she was doing. It wasn’t as though she hadn’t done this before. A nurse for almost twenty years, she had delivered many babies. She knew this delivery would be quick because of the trauma. It would also be almost painless considering the pain Maybelle had already endured.

  “OK, honey,” she said to Maybelle. “On the count of three, I want you to push as hard as you can,” she instructed. She didn’t expect Maybelle would be able to push much. However, Maybelle surprised them both.

  “In … the … name … of … Jesus,” Maybelle grunted purposely, punctuating each word with a strength she didn’t realize she had. She gave a shout of triumph at the fact that she and the baby had made it through.

  When she said, “Jesus,” the baby’s head quickly popped out from between her legs. Florina caught the baby and helped Maybelle by gently tugging the baby as it came out completely. Without looking below the waist of the baby, Florina quickly anchored the newborn in the crook of her left arm. Able to use both hands now, she firmly grasped the umbilical cord and cut it.

  Now that the task of bringing a child into the world was completed, Florina found a thermal blanket to wrap the newborn in after she spanked the baby to help it cry. Quickly finding another thermal blanket to place over the mother, Florina then looked to see what everyone else would want to know. Glory Hallelujah! It was a she!

  “Maybelle,” she said to the exhausted new mother. “You have a beautiful baby girl, none the worse for wear.”

  Florina wrapped the baby in the blanket. She handed her to her battered and eager mother. Florina let the guys up front in the ambulance know they had a baby who was in fine condition and that they could slow the vehicle down.

  The ambulance arrived at the ER door within a few moments. Florina saw Emmaline and Stanley frantically waiting for them. No sooner had the ambulance pulled up to the door than Stanley flung open the doors to see if his daughter was alright.

  Maybelle smiled weakly at her dad. She was still in pain but ecstatic that she had made it through. She decided then and there that this would be the last time Alton would have the opportunity to abuse her. And he definitely would not abuse her baby. She had not been raised like this! She would not allow her daughter to be brought up in an atmosphere of anger and abuse.

  Maybelle decided to bring charges against Alton to keep him away from them for a while. Even though she knew she would always love Alton, she now realized she had to think about her baby as well as herself.

  “Daddy,” she spoke quietly. “Here’s little Emmaline. You should have heard her cry when Florina spanked her,” Maybelle continued with a weak smile. “She sounded like Mom does when she’s upset.”

  Stanley Carter glanced at this amazing young woman God had allowed him to father. At twenty-four, his daughter had endured some things he wished could have been avoided. Thank God she had made it through! He vowed to God and to himself that these things would not happen again if he had anything to do with it.

  He and his wife peered at the little face in the blanket. Little Emmaline Ruth Johnson, their newest granddaughter, was born into brutality … but born nonetheless. They wondered who this child would eventually become.

  Tears flowed as Maybelle and her family went into the emergency room. Weak and still in pain, Maybelle told her parents all that had occurred and what her plans were. Her mother wept softly as she listened to the pain and agony in Maybelle’s voice as she admitted the three previous miscarriages had been caused by Alton. The main reason Maybelle hadn’t said much about his abuse was because she hoped they could work through his problems and bitterness.

  Stanley and Emmaline glanced at each other, tears flowing freely from them both. They assured Maybelle that none of this was her fault. They also assured her they would stand with her no matter what decision she made concerning Alton. Knowing it would be a long, hard road, they prayed that God would keep them on the path He had made for them and that they would do it for His glory.

  Eternity

  “Angel Ehcol, you will be assigned to Emmaline Ruth Johnson along with angels Axel and Virdon for her entire sojourn on Earth. She will endure much but she has My joy within which will strengthen her for what she will do for the Kingdom of God. Darkness attempted to eliminate her before birth into the Earth-realm. The Light of the Lord has prevailed. Stay with the child. There is much I have for her to do,” commanded Jehovah God.

  The angels bowed in submission to their beloved Creator. They vanished as they entered the Earth-realm. Each angel looked forward to spending time with this child. Created to serve her, they would serve her well. They knew God had given them all they needed to serve her.

  Bringing up a child …

  History Lessons

  TWENTY-TWO

  In the Garden …

  Eve considered the beautiful creature standing before her. It possessed silky skin with many different colors coursing through. If the creature turned a certain way, the color of its skin changed.

  Eve looked into the beautiful, soulful eyes of the creature, beautiful dark-brown eyes, which seemed to draw her into its very depths. Attempting to look away, she found herself compelled to look back into those hypnotic eyes.

  Standing on his legs, the serpent exulted in the power he had been given to mesmerize this woman who was created to take dominion over him and all the others called animals. After his discussion with Lucifer, the serpent was more than willing to help Lucifer deceive man so they could be in charge of the Earth.

  “Sooo,” he hissed, his forked sliver of a tongue slipping from his mouth as he coyly, subtly spoke to Eve. “Has God told you to not eat of every tree in the Garden, Eve?” he slyly asked.

  “Yes,” Eve said sadly. “We can eat of the fruit of all the trees in the Garden except that one,” she answered, pointing to the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.

  “But why?” the serpent asked silkily. He was prompting, tempting her to really think about why she couldn’t eat from that one tree. “Why can’t you eat from that tree? Look at it. The fruit on that tree seems to be larger and fresher than the fruit on the other trees, doesn’t it?” the serpent asked again.

  “Yes, I know,” answered Eve, torn now because she really wanted to understand. “But God said we can neither eat from it nor touch it. If we do, we will die.”

  The serpent knew immediately that he had her. He knew what the Creator had said to Adam before Eve was created. The serpent had been there, lurking in the bushes as God walked through the Garden with Adam, pointing out things and giving him instruction.

  He was there when God told Adam, “But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.”

  The serpent had heard it all. He had waited for just this moment. He realized that if he could deceive the woman, half his mission would be accomplished.

  “Eve, God didn’t mean you would physically die when He said that to Adam,” he deceitfully explained. “He meant you would be dead to hearing Him because you would become more like Him. You would become a goddess and know as much as He does about all He has created,” said the serpent matter-of-factly, his sibilant tongue curling in and out of his mouth.

  He knew he had her. Her eyes changed and understanding bec
ame clear. He could tell she understood what he filled her mind with.

  “What!” she exclaimed indignantly. “We won’t die but will become intelligent? Is that why we can’t eat from the tree?” she asked, anger growing at the thought.

  The serpent watched Eve, observing as she became highly agitated at this new development. She got up from her seat across from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Slowly walking toward the tree, Eve looked at it from different angles as she approached it.

  “Eve. No.” said the Voice.

  She stopped about ten feet from the tree and looked around. Seeing no one, she stood there and listened. Nothing.

  Taking another tentative step toward the tree and taking care not to touch, Eve very slowly walked around the side of the tree. It was a beautiful tree. The bark on it was new and supple, thick. The leaves were a vibrant green with rosy-colored blossoms all over the top branches. Then, she saw the fruit.

  “Eve! No! Stop!” the Voice said urgently this time. “Think about what you are doing.”

  “Eve,” spoke the syrupy sweet voice of the serpent. “Look at that fruit,” he tantalized. “Mmm,” he tempted. “That fruit is sooo gorgeous,” he hissed. “Look at that firm skin. What’s that? Is that juice oozing out of the skin?” he tempted her more than she had ever been tempted before.

  “Eve, please,” pleaded the Spirit of God.

  He followed this unlikely duo as they moved closer to the forbidden tree. He watched for Eve’s soul. He knew the commandment of the Lord.

  Eve stopped again, indecision etched on her face. She peered closely at the piece of fruit. It looked so pretty and harmless. Surely God didn’t mean what He had said about dying. Surely He would want Eve and Adam to partake of this beautiful fruit that would make them even as He was. Surely!

  Eve contemplated these “surely’s” as she slowly reached toward the piece of fruit on the lowest branch closest to her. As her outstretched hand reached toward it, the serpent coaxed her even more.

  “That’s right, Eve,” he said compellingly, excitement coursing through his very being.

  He knew he had her. He didn’t want to rush her as he enjoyed the sweetness of this triumph against the Hated One.

  “Look at it, Eve,” he whispered in her ear as the thought of possessing this one piece of fruit mesmerized her. “What a pretty color!” he coaxed. He knew it was only a matter of time.

  “Eve,” the Spirit of God gave His final plea. “Don’t …” he whispered as her hand finally touched the fruit.

  Eve pulled the fruit from the stem and tentatively regarded it.

  “I didn’t die,” she audibly whispered, amazed that God hadn’t struck her down yet.

  She brought the piece of fruit to her nose, brushing it against the tip. Although it felt fuzzy, the skin was smooth. She breathed in its fragrance, closing her eyes to discern the fragrance.

  She heard that tiny Voice again.

  “It’s not too late yet, Eve. Put the fruit down. Walk away,” she heard.

  She knew the voice of the Spirit of God. She had heard it many times before. Previously, she had always done as the voice directed. This time was different. This time she was different.

  Eve bit into the fruit. Savoring the pungency that overwhelmed her taste buds, things began to happen to her. Looking at the piece of fruit, Eve saw more in her hands than was really there. For the first time, she saw … herself—her hands, her feet, her body.

  For the first time, Eve really looked at her body. She considered her skin—the texture, the color, the smell. She felt the hair on her head—long, thick, heavy. She looked down at her feet, looking at the toes, the toenails, her long, shapely legs. Eve was amazed at what she was discovering about herself after one bite of the forbidden fruit.

  “Oh my! I must share this with Adam,” she excitedly said as she ran looking for her husband.

  She looked around as she ran through the Garden, seeing things as though for the very first time. Catching sight of Adam in the process of tending the Garden, she ran to him and said, “Adam, I made a new friend today—the serpent.”

  “Oh, did you now?” Adam rejoined, noticing a subtle change in his mate. “Where is this serpent?” Adam asked curiously.

  “Oh, I left him over by the fruit trees. He showed me this marvelous fruit. It is so delicious!” Eve said boldly. “Why don’t you try a bite?” She extended the fruit toward Adam.

  Adam looked at the piece of fruit. He realized he had never seen this type of fruit before. There was something different about it.

  “Where did you get this? We’ve eaten from all the trees. I don’t remember ever having any of this fruit before,” he said, confused.

  “Oh,” said Eve. “This is from that tree in the center of the Garden,” she explained. “You know, the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Didn’t God say we would die if we touched the fruit?” she asked.

  Horrified, Adam breathed, “Eve, what have you done?” as he backed away from her.

  TWENTY-THREE

  Adam knew what God had said. He had shared those same words with this woman whom God created to be his wife. He shook his head in pain and confusion, not knowing what to do or expect from God.

  He loved this woman who was flesh of his flesh, bone of his bone. God had joyfully created them to be together so they could have many children and populate the Earth. Oh, what a wonderful relationship he had previously shared with God!

  Looking around himself and up to the sky, he realized God would be arriving at any moment to visit, giving him further instructions on what He wanted done in the Garden. Adam knew he had to make a decision.

  He refocused on Eve as she asked, “Adam, why did God lie to us? I touched and ate the fruit and didn’t die,” she said convincingly. “Here.” She pushed the fruit toward him. “Try it. It’s delicious.”

  He loved this woman. The decision was made. He bit into the fruit.

  In Eternity …

  “And that’s what happened on Earth, spirits,” said History Angel Fonorel.

  “And it is my one regret,” said the ancient voice approaching the pre-born spirits. “I am Adam, the first man created by the hands of Almighty God. God is merciful. That is why I stand before you now,” Adam explained, white hair flowing down his back and over his white robes.

  The spirits flowed to this kind-faced man.

  “What I did was wrong,” Adam continued. “I cannot justify my actions by saying that my beloved wife Eve caused me to be disobedient to the Almighty. I chose to be disobedient to the Almighty because I placed my wife and my flesh above what God required of me,” Adam sadly explained.

  Angel Fonorel stepped back so Adam could stand before these Earthbound pre-born spirits.

  “History lessons are important in Heaven as they teach lessons for the present and the future. Because of my disobedience,” continued Adam, “I had to work from that day forward by the sweat of my brow. Up until that time,” he explained, “things in the Garden tended to take care of themselves. I was merely the caretaker.”

  “Our Creator, God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, are all very capable of getting things done on Their Own. But They decided to create human beings to take care of everything on the Earth for Them. God also created us to have fellowship with Him so He could bless and enjoy us.” Adam paused as a twinkling flash came forward to ask a question.

  “Father Adam,” Darwin respectfully asked. “What was it like being the only one of your kind on Earth, you and Mother Eve?”

  Adam looked at the pre-born spirit, long ago memories in his eyes.

  “By the time God created Eve,” he began, “I had already named all the animals and plant life. He had given me a grand home to live in, a place I could go into each evening at the end of my day’s work to relax and enjoy. I was able to communicate with all the animals. It was interesting listening to them,” he chuckled quietly.

  “I had a dog named Erasmus. He kept me company as I walked
the Earth taking care of all God had provided for me. Each and every day I spent many hours talking to God about the things He wanted me to do on the Earth. At the time, I was the only one of my kind and the Earth was huge. So one day God made a decision to give me a mate, one who would help me tend the Garden and populate the Earth. That’s when He created Mother Eve,” Adam continued, thinking back to when God brought Eve to him.

  “She was and is the most beautiful of all God’s creation. When I saw her I knew she was what had been missing in my life,” Adam stated, staring out into space as he thought of getting to know the woman who had been created just for him.

  “Children,” he said, “when you are allowed to go to the Earth, know that God has created someone just for you. No, not in the same way He created Eve and me. Nevertheless, God has someone especially for you.” Adam concluded his talk with the pre-borns.

  Angel Fonorel came forward to thank the ancient man as he walked off into eternity. As he turned to leave, a beautiful young-looking woman took his hand. It was Eve. She had the loveliest mane of shiny white hair flowing down her back.

  The pre-born spirits all drew their attention back to the angel as he spoke.

  “Children, when you become a part of the Earth-realm, you will have many instances of learning about the things Father Adam has just told you. On the Earth, these lessons will be classified as ancient history …”

  “Angel,” interrupted William. “Will we remember any of what Father Adam just told us when we enter the Earth-realm?”

  “No, William, you will not,” answered Angel Fonorel. “You will be in a learning phase when you reach the Earth. Although Heaven will be ingrained in you, you will have to learn all about God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit as you grow up on the Earth. When you return here for the Judgment Seat of God, the previous knowledge you learned here will be returned to you. God chooses to send you down to the Earth as an infant,” he explained. “Some of you will be called to preach the things you will learn here. Some will be writers. Unfortunately, some of you will turn away from everything you will learn here, but God has a purpose for it all. Let’s now prepare for our next speaker,” Angel Fonorel said as the pre-born spirits became restless from having to pay attention for so long.