....ANNA....
It was dark inside the cupboard; it smelt kind of fuzzy too. The smell didn’t bother Anna though, and neither did the darkness. In fact, Anna wanted it to be dark. The darkness was safe, at least it didn’t keep reminding her of the pain in her heart; the way the birds’ songs and the morning sunshine had. So there she hid, in the darkness, where no one would find her.
She plucked at the fraying bits of her shoelaces, feeling each bit of string unravel faster, then slower, then faster again as she tugged it harder! It felt a bit like her life! The helpless shoelace could do nothing about the reckless tugging that was pulling it apart, much the same as she could do nothing about the way her life was falling to pieces around her.
What was it that daddy always said? She thought. A memory flashed into her mind, her bed and her daddy tucking the covers tightly around her chin. Ah yes, this was just after mommy died, Anna remembered. Daddy said,” If ever its dark and you are lonely just think of her, and she will be in your heart.” Now daddy’s gone too! The tears were warm on her cheeks and they made wet patches on her knees as she laid her head on them. He’s gone, he’s gone! It felt like the darkness was drowning her from the inside out.
A little stream of light shone in from between the cupboard doors, Anna gazed at it. There it was, a light, a light in her darkness. She watched the dust float through it. All of a sudden she felt strangely at peace, as if someone had whispered right into her heart,” Anna everything will be ok.” Only minutes later, Pastor Maxwell peeked inside the dingy cupboard to find little Anna curled up on the floor, fast asleep!
“Yes, thank you. That will be fine. We will see you around lunchtime then. Goodbye.” Pastor Maxwell slowly placed the phone back on the hook. He turned to his wife and smiled, “That, my Love, was a Miss Amelia Jones, and she will be coming to lunch. I think our prayers have been answered!” Reading off of the note paper he had used to jot down the information, he began. “Amelia Jones, aged 36 and a Christian, married to Brian Jones aged 38, also a Christian. They have been praying about an adoption ever since they found out that Amelia was barren, three years ago. Just last week, two days before Anna’s father died, God gave them the go ahead and now six days later he has answered their requests in the form of Anna.” Pausing briefly to make eye contact with his wife, Pastor Maxwell smiled and began again.” Brian and Amelia live on a farm named Potterby, about twenty minutes south of here.” He looked up, “that will mean we can visit with Anna, and she can still visit her fathers grave!” Excitement welled up within him, “Oh, praise the Lord who works all things together for the good of those who love him!”” Yes, praise Him!” Mrs. Maxwell replied, “But darling,” she quietly reminded her husband, “we must also ask for wisdom, this is a big decision and we must not make it without Him!”
Anna watched the young couple across the lunch table. At first she was not sure who they were but something made her want to like them. They were so happy; it was as if each of them had some exciting secret bubbling up inside. Both smiled at her lovingly and each of them had hugged her when they were introduced. She decided that she did like them, and listened intently as they spoke to the pastor and his wife.
For Anna the days that followed were a whirlwind of pain, hope and a newfound friendship with Brian and Amelia. They had been around every day since that first lunch time. They had played hide and seek, gone to the park, and spent hours together just enjoying each other’s company.
Today had been a little strange though, well actually very strange. Anna sat on the end of her bed staring at her teddy. She pondered over the events of the day. They had been sitting on the park bench underneath the willow tree when Amelia had asked her; it all seemed like such a fuzzy dream now! She looked over to the door and stared hard at the silhouettes of her suitcase and toy box against the wall. It’s true, she thought, I really am going! She had been to Brian and Amelia’s house before of course but this time she knew it would be different, the front door would be her own front door and the little pink bedroom would be her very own bedroom! The tears welled up in her eyes; it just wouldn’t be home, well, not home as I know it she thought. She curled up on the end of her bed and was soon fast asleep.
Pastor Maxwell stepped cautiously through the doorway of Anna’s room. He gazed silently down at the tiny, sleeping form of Anna, curled up tightly in her blankets. His heart ached! “Lord,” he prayed silently, “Lord, watch over this little one for me!” Slowly, he sat down on the edge of the bed and reaching out he gently placed his hand on her shoulder. “Anna, sweetheart wake up.” The little form stirred and rolled over to gaze sleepily up at him. “It’s your big day honey!” he found himself saying. He tried to sound enthusiastic, but the sight of this brave, smiling little girl looking up at him only made him want to scream, “God, why is this world so unfair?” He patted her gently on the head, “come on, breakfast is ready!”
Brian and Amelia were standing on their front drive as Pastor Maxwell pulled up to the house. Anna noticed they were standing arm-in-arm as her parents used to; the lump crept back into her throat. Pushing it aside, she jumped out of the car and ran too hug first Brian and then Amelia. Pastor and Mrs. Maxwell followed behind at a slower pace, watching happily as the young couple finally embraced their long awaited child. Much later that day, as they drove home, a peace flooded their hearts and they worried no longer for Anna, because they knew, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that she would be ok! Her Father was continually watching over her, and in Him alone they had placed their trust.
As he was walking down the hallway to bed Brian heard a tiny snuffling noise. He stopped outside Anna’s door. Listening carefully he heard it again. As he opened the door and stepped into the room Anna hid underneath her pillows. She had heard him come in. Gently he scooped the tiny girl up into his arms and sat holding her quietly. He prayed, and prayed desperately, as he rocked Anna back and forth in his arms. Slowly, the sobs subsided.
Anna realized that something was happening to her. Deep inside her heart the darkness was melting and tiny rays of light were beginning to appear, just as they had leaked through the cupboard doors only a few weeks ago. Almost as soon as she realized this was happening, she felt the same voice whisper right into her broken heart,” Anna everything will be ok,” and now she knew it would be.
Brian laid Anna back down into her bed. She fell to sleep so fast, he thought. Then tucking her in, he turned and left the room. Looking back he saw her lying fast asleep directly in the beam of light that streamed through the half open door. In that moment he knew that she would be alright, everything would work out fine, for that was what his Father had promised.
............Gaydre Egan............
Unknown "Lailaith" Peaceful
- 16 years, 8 months, 24 days ago
