“Usually?”
“Well…there have been occasions when the incessant bell ringing disturbs the houseguests. Micah or I have been known to excuse ourselves from the table and put something on her plate…before taking the bell away.”
“You didn’t!” I said in total surprise.
“Oh yes! We have, and we will. Not that we want to. But she leaves us no choice.”
I laughed out loud at the thought of them snatching the bell from her. “What about the others?” I asked. “What are they like?”
“They’re basically the same, as each one is driven by pride and fear. But the little round man has been spotted peeking through the window at the gathering having dinner. And Grammy thought she saw him lurking on the porch during grace one night. We live in hope and give thanks to the One for His grace and mercy. Unfortunately, the round one is controlled by the others, and he seems to need their approval for everything. So, he does whatever he thinks would please them even though it would take a miracle for them to acknowledge his efforts. They’re far too self-absorbed to notice how hard he works for their attention. To them he is nothing more than a buffoon who exists for their bidding, and they consistently make him the brunt of their jokes. We all feel very sorry for him, but it’s not our place to intercede. We continue to pray that he will find the courage to stand against the will of man and find peace that comes from accepting the One into his heart.”
“Guard your heart with all diligence,” I said, recalling Grammy’s lesson.
“Amen,” my father said, before continuing his assessment of the four. “The angry man is the most difficult to love. He has tested us in that commandment more times than we can count. Still, we try to remember that even he was once a child, and we wonder what could have happened to have instilled so much hatred in him. He is very distrustful, that much we know. And furiously prideful! He holds himself in high esteem. In his eyes no one is more important than he is, and he treats everyone as if they are dirt under his feet. I believe he is exceedingly envious of whatever the woman he hates has. Most likely it is money and power, for those are the things he would covet. She has what he desires, and he believes she doesn’t deserve them; although somehow, he believes he does.”
Daddy frowned and shook his head at the ground.
“Another thing I’ve noticed about the angry man is that he’s always dressed in a highly starched white shirt with a blue necktie knotted tightly around his neck, even in the heat of summer. I’ve often thought that if he dressed more comfortably, perhaps he would be happier.”
He paused for a moment and then stood. “We should go in, honey. The guests will be arriving soon.”
“What about the other woman, Daddy? Can you tell me something about her?”
I was desperate to understand the four who repeatedly refused friendship and kindness for the sake of arrogance and pride. My heart broke at the thought that they might not ever be free of themselves. Could anyone save them?
“Okay, honey.” He smiled as he took his seat on the bench once again. “The other woman is a mystery. She doesn’t appear to be wealthy or powerful. In fact, I would bet that she’s quite common. Not poor. Just average. Like most of us. But I think she’s also very smart. And therein lies the problem. She is likely much smarter than any of the others, yet she has not achieved the status or respect she believes she deserves. She looks down her nose at all of society and wallows in the conviction that she is a highly intellectual and cultural being who is far superior to most of the world. Knowledge is a wonderful thing, but not when it’s only purpose is self-gratification.”
“This breaks my heart,” I said earnestly. “What made them the way they are, Daddy?”
“Oh, I don’t know, honey. It could have been any number of things. Fear. Rejection. Abandonment. Entitlement. There’s no telling what kind of demons they have encountered in their lives.”
“I think they all have too much,” I said in judgment. “Too much pride. Too much intelligence. Too much money.”
“There is nothing wrong with abundance,” he said, and I immediately felt very small. He gestured for me to sit beside him and then took my hand in his.
“Everything He created was meant to provide more than we might ever need or desire,” he explained. His voice was kind and reassuring. “Just look around you. He hasn’t skimped on anything. How many different types of trees do we need? How much sky? Could we ever count the colors that we see in a single day or number the stars at night? No. He is abundant in all that He does, and His pleasure comes from the glory He receives when we give Him thanks and praise. After all, we cannot do what He has done. And we do not own what He has given us. If we spend our lives pursuing possessions instead of the Provider, we will end our lives with nothing.”
I knew that what he said was true, but my heart remained desperate for those who would never hear the words he spoke.
“But the very good news is this,” he said with unwavering conviction. “We are so deeply loved and so greatly desired by the One that He waits for us. Just as a good father waits for wayward children to come home. He watches as we make bad decisions and choose poorly…even if it’s throughout our entire lives. He waits with a heart that is broken by rejection from those He loves so dearly. He never leaves us. He never forsakes us. And, at the moment when we see the Light…even if it’s before our final breath…He forgives us and rejoices as He welcomes us home.”
An image of the One as a good and faithful Father filled me with hope, and the knowledge that we are so loved by Him that He never abandons us…even when we have repeatedly rejected Him…penetrated every cell and fiber within me. And this truth was suddenly as much a part of me as the air in my lungs or the blood in my veins.
Daddy looked down at our hands that were clasped together and shook his head.
“It all comes down to the lies the Enemy tells us about ourselves. He tells us we can do anything we want to do and be whatever we want to be. That we don’t need to answer to anyone. He tells us we are the masters of our own fate and are fully sufficient in and of ourselves. He is the Great Deceiver, and he came to steal, kill, and destroy. The four people who sit outside at this table have bought his lies hook, line, and sinker. And yet…we pray. And set the table…just in case.”
“But what will happen to them if they’d rather die alone than accept the kindness of strangers?”
My father sighed and shook his head as he heard the question he’d likely asked himself a million times. “What indeed?” he asked softly.
I closed my eyes and bowed my head as I prayed with my whole heart for their salvation. A tear slid down my father’s cheek as he squeezed my hand.
“Let’s go in, darling. We’ve done all that we can out here.”
The house was spilling over with the sounds of laughter and conversation. After we were seated, and daddy said grace, Micah entertained the multitude with fish tales that were difficult for some folks to swallow. But there was no doubt in the minds of the happiest family that ever lived, as they had witnessed miracles far beyond what anyone could imagine, all by their faith in the One Who Provides.
Dinner sailed by that night and before we knew it, the guests had departed and the kitchen was cleared. Micah and I took one final walk to the yard with a plate full of scraps for our woodland friends. We placed the food under the giant oak, and Micah blessed those who would be fed. Then we walked slowly toward the house, too tired to take long strides. When we got to the porch, Micah asked if I wanted to sit outside for a while.
“I know you’re exhausted,” he said. “But the air is too lovely to pass up this evening. Just a few moments?”
I nodded. “It smells like honeysuckle.” I sat on the porch steps.
We sat in silence for a while, listening to the sounds of the earth and breathing in the cool night air. I rested my head on my knees and hugged my legs as my eyes fell closed.
“This was the best day of my life, Micah.”
“Yu
p,” he said, gazing into the evening sky. “Mine too.” He turned to me and smiled. “Until tomorrow!”
I nodded happily.
“Was the picnic table empty tonight?” I asked.
“No. They were here. But they didn’t stay. Too much laughter makes them uncomfortable, I’m sorry to say.”
“Hmmm. Why do they choose to come at all?”
“That’s an interesting question, little one. There certainly is no shortage of laughter around here. Maybe they’re hoping we’ll become as miserable as they are.”
The air was still and quiet.
“Why would they want that?” I asked.
Crickets had begun chirping in the thick grass, and I heard an owl in one of the juniper trees.
“So, they can be right.” Micah said.
Micah and I gazed toward the hooting owl as the words he spoke settled in our minds. We looked at each other and shook our heads.
“Not gonna happen,” we said together.
My eyes began to close, and I was suddenly too tired to move. Micah stood and lifted me up in his arms. He carried me to my room and tucked me in.
“Thank you,” I managed to say, “for carrying me.”
“You’re welcome, little one. Sleep in peace.”
It was no surprise that I did.
CHAPTER 21
FAREWELL, OLD FRIEND
The warm sun streamed through my window and announced a new day. I jumped out of bed in the rumpled clothes I’d worn the day before and turned up my nose at the stale smell that spewed from them. “Whew!” I declared after sniffing my shirt. It smelled as though we were very busy yesterday. I quickly ran to the bathroom to wash away my funkiness before going downstairs.
“You are bright and early today,” Grammy said, after giving me a hug. “Mmm! And as fresh as a daisy!”
“You should have smelled me when I got out of bed!” I laughed as I grimaced and pinched my nose. “Pee-yew!”
Grammy laughed as she smooshed my cheeks and planted a sweet kiss on my puckered lips. “Well,” she began with a smile, “I’m very glad you cleaned up before breakfast. Fresh daisies are a welcome addition to our table.”
She handed me a stack of dishes, spoons, forks, and napkins for four. I was a little disappointed that Micah wouldn’t be with us for breakfast. I loved everything about life in U-R-Here, but Micah made it exciting and fun. Maybe he would stop by later. I placed the plates on the table.
“Mira,” Grammy said, “let’s take a walk in the garden after breakfast. I’d like you to help me pick out the perfect flowers for Mrs. Kettle. The poor dear has been a bit blue the past few days, and I thought a lovely bouquet might lift her spirits.”
“Okay, Grammy. Can I come with you to see Mrs. Kettle? Perhaps two of us could cheer her up twice as fast.”
“That’s an excellent idea, dear. Mrs. Kettle loves it when you visit. But we’ll have to keep our eye on the time. I believe Micah is planning to stop by later this afternoon.”
A big smile overtook my face just when Mum and Daddy entered the room.
“Well, well, well!” Daddy said teasingly. “What’s given you a smile that stretches ear to ear? Did you hear your Mum and me coming down the hall?”
I giggled as he twirled me around by my finger as if I were a music-box ballerina. Mum came up beside me and kissed my cheek as I spun by her, and the day was officially underway.
“Daddy and I are going to take some things to the church this morning for a family who has just moved into the old Pritchett house in Anywhere,” Mum announced, when breakfast was nearly done. “They’re in need of just about everything, so we’ve packed up the truck and we’ll head out right after breakfast.”
“What are you giving them, Mum?”
“Things that have been very good to our family but that we don’t use as much as we once did. Your cradle, for one. Daddy made that before you were born, and it served you well. But now it’s time for it to be useful elsewhere. I know the family will be very grateful, as they are expecting a baby soon. Grammy made a beautiful quilt for the bed, and she knitted several sweaters and hats. The little one will be warm when the winter comes.”
“Do they have any other children?”
“Yes, they do. They have a little girl who is about to turn three,” Mum answered.
“Can I contribute too?” I asked, not knowing what I would give.
Mum, Daddy, and Gram looked at one another and smiled.
“Why, of course you can!” Mum said. “But we’d like to leave shortly, so if you’re finished eating, you may be excused to find your gift.”
“Thanks, Mum!” I quickly cleared my dishes from the table and then ran to my bedroom.
As I surveyed the room, I decided the perfect gift wasn’t in plain sight. It was hidden away, like a precious jewel. The old wooden trunk that sat at the foot of my bed suddenly looked like a treasure chest, and I was certain that the most amazing gift was waiting inside. The hinges squeaked as I opened the lid, and the warm scent of cedar filled the air. The chest was chock full of soft woolen blankets, crocheted hats, knitted booties, and pure white linen pillowcases that were embroidered by hand and lovingly stored away for an infant who was yet to be. I lifted the neatly folded piles and put them on the floor next to me. I still didn’t know what I was looking for…but I knew I would know it when I saw it.
An exquisite christening gown with matching bonnet and booties were wrapped in tissue paper and placed in a special box with a cellophane window on top. The box was sealed to protect the layers of lace from being damaged, but I saw small details of the dress through the translucent paper. I still didn’t know what I was looking for, but I knew for certain this wasn’t it.
A tiny brown-and-gold quilt lay beneath the box that held the christening dress. It didn’t quite fit in with the rest of the contents in the hope chest, as everything else was delicate, and the quilt had a sturdiness to it. I was curious as to what was under its lovely patchwork. But at the same time, I sensed that the quilt was very much attached to what lay beneath it, and somewhat reluctant to let me go farther.
“My dear quilt,” I said tenderly, “I know that you adore the precious treasure that you guard, for I believe I once loved it too. Just as I love you! I am so very sorry that I have waited so long to visit you. I do hope you’ll forgive me. And grant me permission to remove you from the chest so I might behold the gift you covet.”
I reached into the box and slowly lifted the quilt, then pressed it softly against my cheek. A familiar fragrance drifted past my nose, but the powerful scent of cedar made it difficult to detect. I closed my eyes and took a big whiff, hoping to awaken my olfactory memory. In an instant an image appeared in my mind that filled me with great joy and flooded my eyes with tears. My heart skipped a beat when I peeked into the old trunk and saw him laying comfortably in the basket I’d once turned into a bed. He looked exactly as I remembered…with long, floppy ears, soft, curly fur, and sad brown eyes.
“Spirit!” I gasped. I reached for the plush puppy that was once my faithful companion. I rocked him in my arms like a baby as I gazed lovingly at him. “I found you!” I said, swaying gently back and forth. “I’m so sorry that I left you alone for so long. Please forgive me!” I petted him gently behind his ear as I leaned down and kissed his nose. “Holding you now seems like the most natural thing I could ever do.” I gazed into his eyes. “And…I’m not sure that I can let you go now that I’ve found you.” I pulled him closer to me as I pondered this thought deep in my heart. “But, you see…there’s a little girl who has moved to Anywhere, and she’s going to need a friend. Not just any friend. But the very best friend anyone could ever have. The kind of friend you were to me.”
I wiped a tear from my eye with his furry paw and put his face next to mine. I thought about what it would be like if I kept Spirit instead of giving him away. “One thing is certain,” I said to my stuffed friend, “you are not going back in the cedar chest!” I shut the lid of
the trunk. “And if you stay here, you can sleep on my bed all day long.”
I stopped rocking and looked down at my sweet Spirit, knowing that I wouldn’t take him with me everywhere I went, as I once did. Leaving him on my bed as I went here and there without him would be nearly as cruel as leaving him in the chest—maybe worse.
“You deserve more than that, Spirit. You deserve to be properly loved.” I hugged him very hard. “I will never stop loving you. And I will never forget you. But this new little girl needs you. She will love you more than the whole wide world. She is your new wish come true. And even though she doesn’t know it yet…you’re her wish come true too.”
I looked into the sad eyes of my dearest Spirit and kissed his dark-brown nose. Then I wrapped him in the brown-and-gold quilt and headed down the stairs to the kitchen.
Mum gasped when she saw me holding Spirit in my arms.
Grammy whispered, “Oh, dear heavens!”
Daddy asked me if I was sure about giving Spirit to a child I’d never met, and I told him that she would know me by his love and that one day, we would have something very special in common that we could talk about.
No one said a word for a long time. They just smiled at one another and shook their heads. I knew they were fighting back tears because I was, too. Soon it was time for me to hand Spirit over to Mum and to a new life with a new little girl.
“We are not fond of good-byes,” Daddy said, when he saw my hesitation. “They are far too permanent. But if you’re ready, give him a kiss and say farewell, for you know you will see him again.”
I held Spirit close to my heart. “This is only farewell, my dearest friend. Be happy in your new forever home. Know that you will always be with me.”
Then with one last kiss, he was gone.
CHAPTER 22
THE ENEMY IS FEAR
Grammy and I cleaned up the breakfast dishes and got ready for our walk to the garden. I grabbed a pair of heavy gloves in case we picked some roses, and Grammy put a pair of shears in a large, shallow basket. Then we headed down the path near the woods. We hadn’t gone too far when I thought I heard something rustling in the bushes and sensed someone was watching us.
A Face Without a Reflection Page 17