Puzzle House

by Duncan, Lillian;

  Jarrod touched the rainbow. “You know rainbows signify God’s promises, right?”

  “To not destroy the earth with another flood.”

  “True, but I think it’s more than just a promise about that. Grandma says it’s a promise He will love us always. And that even though we have rain, there’s beauty that comes from the rain.”

  Nia thought of the storms she’d already weathered in her life. “I like that. I was a little surprised that my puzzle turned out to be a picture of The Puzzle House. What do you think it means?”

  He smiled at her. “What do you think it means?”

  “You’re just like your grandma. I don’t know. I’ve seen The Puzzle House in the summer and now the winter. So, I’m guessing this means I’ll be seeing it this spring.”

  “Could be. Grandma’s waiting for you. You better go on up.”

  “Aren’t you coming?”

  “She wants to talk with you alone.”

  With each step, her reluctance grew. As she approached Rachel’s room, Nia took a deep breath then knocked.

  The door opened.

  “Oh, Nia. I’m so glad you’re here.” Cooper’s arms went around her. “I… well. I’ll let Rachel talk with you first. I’ll be back in a few minutes.”

  Rachel was lying in bed, her eyes were closed. She didn’t look well. She opened her eyes. “Oh, Nia. It’s so nice to see you. Come sit with me, sweetie.” Her voice was soft. Weak.

  “What’s wrong, Rachel? Are you sick?”

  “I believe my puzzle’s about to be finished.”

  As the meaning of Rachel’s words hit her, Nia shook her head and backed away from the bed. “No, no, no. That’s not true. You don’t mean that. God wouldn’t do that to you.”

  “Everybody dies, Nia. It’s a part of life.”

  “But you can’t. I need you. Everybody needs you.”

  “It’s not me you need. It’s God. We all need God. Remember that always. God will see you through whatever happens in your life. The good times and the bad.”

  “But I…I love you.”

  “And I love you, my dear, sweet Nia. That’s why I wanted to talk to you before I go.” Rachel reached for her hand.

  Nia reached out for her. When their hands met, Nia felt warmth, a calming peace.

  Rachel pulled her to the bed. “Sit with me. I need to tell you something.”

  Nia sat down. “What’s wrong with you? I just don’t…can’t the doctors do something? And what about God?”

  “God has been so good to me. I’ve had a wonderful life. More than I ever deserved. And I’m ready to see Jesus again. It’s been way too long since I saw his beautiful face.”

  “No, you have to fight it, Rachel. Have faith that you can get better. That’s what you taught me. Now, I’m telling you. You gotta have faith, hope, and love.”

  “I do, my sweet Nia. Faith that I’ll be in heaven soon. Hope that the Father will tell me, ‘Well done my good and faithful servant.’ And love. Oh, so much love. I can’t even express it in words.”

  “But what about Cooper? He loves you so much. He won’t—”

  “He does love me, but he’ll be OK. Because of his own faith. I didn’t take this journey alone. We’ve been in it together from the start. And you’ll be here to help him with his sadness.”

  “Me?”

  “You.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “Do you remember how I told you that you were special?”

  Nia nodded, unable to speak past the lump in her throat.

  “And you said I probably told everyone that. And you were right I do. But I always knew you were different. More special. At least to me.”

  “Because…I was going to be your last…the last person you healed. And if you hadn’t been in the hospital that day, my mom and my auntie might not have lived and then I never would have been born.”

  “Again, that was God. I was just the cord. I had a suspicion about you from the moment your aunt contacted me. And then when I saw your finished puzzle, I knew I was right.”

  “Right about what?

  “Nia. Do you know what your name means?”

  She shook her head.

  “In Swahili your name means purpose.”

  “I didn’t know that.”

  “Nia, I believe you have a great purpose in this life. God saved your mother and auntie and grandmother for a purpose. So you could be born. And then you got sick for a purpose. To bring you here. To The Puzzle House. So we could spend time together. So you could come to know God more fully.”

  “Why?”

  “Each of us has a purpose in this life. When God creates us, His touch lingers for just a moment or two. In that touch, he gives us talents and passions. That is His gift to each of us. Our gift to Him is to use them to honor Him.”

  “Like you have.”

  “Like I’ve tried to do. I believe you have a purpose. Here at The Puzzle House.”

  “Here?”

  “It’s why God brought us together. I believe your purpose, my dear Nia, is to take my place here at The Puzzle House.”

  “Take your place? What do you mean?” But even as she said the words, her mind flashed to her puzzle, now on the wall downstairs. A picture of The Puzzle House with that perfect, beautiful rainbow. Was that God’s promise to her?

  “I believe God is giving you the same choice he gave me. To be a healer.”

  “A healer? No. He wouldn’t do that. There’s nothing special about me. I can’t even pass biology. I’m a nobody.”

  “God doesn’t create nobodies. We’re all special to Him.”

  “I’m not that special. Not like you are. It was enough that He chose to heal me. That’s more than I deserved.”

  “Love isn’t about deserving. It just is.”

  Tears streamed down Nia’s cheeks. “Are you sure the doctors can’t help—”

  “I’m sure. But it’s not about me right now. This is about you. I know you’re young and you’ll be faced with many decisions and choices that could lead you down a wrong path. I believe your path is my path. I believe in the gift God’s given me. And to you.” Rachel still held Nia’s hand.

  It was so warm. “I still don’t understand why you think that I…I can ever be like you. That God would ever listen to me and answer my prayers. The way He does yours.”

  “Because you’re an answer to my prayer. I know that. Whether you choose to continue the work here at The Puzzle House or go a different way. You have been given a gift. The gift of healing. But it’s up to you to open it or not.”

  A healer? Could that really be true? A spark jumped to life inside her. Could she help other people? The way Rachel helped her and Brandon and so many others. “I could never be like you. As good and kind and patient as you are. I could never be like you.”

  “You don’t have to be like me. God created you just the way he wanted you to be. He loves you just the way you are, my sweet Nia.”

  Nia closed her eyes and prayed. Really, God. Is this true? You want me to be a healer? As if in answer to her question, the hand Rachel held in her own tingled. The warmth, the peace spread from her fingers up through her arms and to the rest of her body.

  Very softly, Rachel asked, “Do you feel it?”

  “I feel it.”

  “God is here with us. He’s asking you the same question He asked me long ago. Do you want to be a healer? Before you answer, know that it won’t be an easy journey. In fact, it could be a difficult journey, but He will give you all you need for the trip.”

  Nia squeezed Rachel’s hand. “I do. I want to help people. I want to be a healer.”

  “And I believe it will be so.”

  They sat together holding hands until the heat receded, but the peace remained.

  Finally, Rachel smiled. “You should go get Cooper now.”

  “Now? It’s time now?”

  Rachel nodded.

  “But there’s so much I need to know. To learn. You have to te
ach me.”

  “Not me, God. You have all you need for the journey. Just remember the foundation. The frame.”

  “You mean God’s Word.”

  She nodded. Her eyes fluttered. “I…need…Cooper.”

  Nia jumped off the bed and ran to the door. When she opened it, Cooper stood there along with other family members. Through tears, Nia managed to say, “She wants you.” She stepped aside as the family filed in and turned to leave.

  Cooper held out his hand. “Nia, don’t go. We all want you here.”

  The others made agreeing sounds.

  “But…”

  “This is where you belong.”

  Nia took his hand. Her daughter placed a hand on Rachel’s head. Jarrod placed his hand on her shoulder. The others did the same. When they were finished, each was holding someone’s hand and touching Rachel.

  “I love you, Grandma,” Jarrod said.

  “I love you, my beautiful grandson.”

  “Grandma, that’s not what you say about boys.”

  Both of them smiled at the other.

  Rachel’s eyes fluttered open, and then shut for a time. Each time she opened them, she smiled at someone in the room. They would come close and she would whisper a special message to them, but Cooper’s hand stayed in hers.

  Finally, she looked at Cooper. “Thanks for…loving me.”

  “It’s been my pleasure.”

  “I’ll see you on the other side.” She closed her eyes.

  For a long time no one spoke.

  Then Janet began to sing. “Amazing grace…”

  The others joined in. When the song was finished, Rachel opened her eyes. She met Nia’s gaze. “Don’t…forget…about the love.”

  And then Rachel’s eyes closed for the final time.

  Epilogue

  Five Years Later

  Carrie Singleton stared out the windows of her car as she adjusted the turban on her bald head. She glanced at her husband driving.

  He must have felt her gaze because he smiled at her.

  “I think this is a mistake.”

  “You tell me that after we’ve driven six hours to get here?”

  “Well, I didn’t think so when we started out, but I think so now. The closer we get the more I think it’s a mistake. There isn’t anything anybody can do. The doctors said so.”

  “Sounds as if you’re chickening out to me.”

  “Not really. Well, maybe. But why waste a week of my time here? I’d rather be with you, and I doubt anything miraculous will happen to me. I’ve prayed and prayed. And so have you. God’s not listening to us anymore. Maybe it’s time for us to accept…the inevitable.”

  Her husband shook his head. “What a person thinks is what a person becomes. You think no miracle so you get no miracle.”

  She held up her hand as if to ward off his words. “I know. I know. I’ve heard it all before. But really—”

  “Too late now.” Her husband turned into a drive. “We’re here. And there’s no way I’m turning around and driving back home with you in the car.”

  “It’ll be a waste of money.”

  “They aren’t charging a penny. It’s supported by donations only. Remember?”

  “And a waste of time.”

  “God is never a waste of time, my dear Carrie. At the very least, you’ll have a nice, peaceful vacation. One you more than deserve.”

  Carrie looked at the scene before her.

  A young woman led a beautiful brown and white horse around the pond with a child on it. The woman looked up as they drove closer to the house. She said something to the young boy on the horse. He slid off and then she handed him the reins. She walked over to them.

  Carrie didn’t get out of the car.

  The girl came to her side. “Morning. Welcome to Puzzle House. I’m Nia.”

  “You’re Nia. I didn’t know you were so…”

  “Young. I am.” She shrugged.

  “Thanks. But I’ve changed my mind. I don’t—”

  The girl opened Carrie’s car door. “I know exactly what you’re thinking.”

  “I doubt that very much.”

  She grinned at Carrie. “Sure, I do. You’re thinking, what can this young, black girl teach an old, white lady like me. Right? Not that you’re all that old, but you get what I mean. No offense meant.”

  Carrie chuckled. “I wouldn’t have said it exactly like that. And no offense taken.”

  “But I’m pretty close?”

  “I’m not that old.”

  “Very true. Sort of old compared to me, though. But as I said, I’ve been exactly where you are now.”

  “I doubt that.”

  “I was fifteen and the doctors told me there were no more treatments left to help me. That’s when my Auntie brought me here. If I’d had the energy I’d have been kicking and screaming. But at the time I could barely walk.” Nia leaned down and looped her arm through Carrie’s. “You can always change your mind if you want. You’ve driven this far, might as well come in for a visit. So what brings you here?”

  Carrie allowed herself to be pulled from the car by this beautiful young girl with such a sweet smile. “My husband.”

  “That’s very funny, Carrie. Very funny. Is it OK for me to call you Carrie? Or I could call you Mrs. Singleton?”

  “Carrie’s fine. So do you think you’ll heal me?”

  “Only God heals, and there are many different ways to be healed, Carrie. That’s between you and God.” Arm in arm they walked toward the house. “All I’m here to do is to help you with your puzzle.”

  Author’s Note

  Dear Reader,

  Like Rachel. I was diagnosed with Neurofibromatosis Type 2 in the spring of 2012. It’s been a difficult journey and it continues still. Unlike Rachel, I’d been studying God’s Word for many years before I heard the words, “you have brain tumors.”

  1 Thessalonians 5: 16-18 says, “rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances for this is God’s will for you.” Whenever I read these words as I took my journey, I would tell myself that I would give thanks in all circumstances but I would never be grateful for the circumstance of brain tumors.

  However, Puzzle House would never have been written if I hadn’t been diagnosed with brain tumors and NF2. So even though I still can’t quite say that I’m thankful for the brain tumors, I can say that I’m thankful that I can use my experience to help others who may be suffering.

  Just as healing comes in many different forms so does suffering. Like me you may be suffering physically, or you may have lost someone you love or a financial crisis or… The list can go on and on. But if you draw near to God, He will be there waiting for you.

  That’s His promise and I’ve found it to be true again and again.

  I’m human and unlike Brandon, I’ve had more than my share of pity parties. But afterwards God gives me the strength to stand back up and keep moving forward. And He will do the same for you.

  Thank you…

  for purchasing this Harbourlight title. For other inspirational stories, please visit our on-line bookstore at www.pelicanbookgroup.com.

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