Stories from HEAVEN'S LIBRARY Vol. 1     DFO

For Young and Old

[Words in italicized brackets are defined at the bottom of the page in the original layout file]

INTRODUCTION
         Hi, guys--of all ages! I've come to tell you some big news! This is not Mama, this is not Grandpa, this is not Peter. In fact, you've never heard of me before, because I'm a ghost! I'm one of God's good ghosts who has been sent to tell you the latest.
         We heard you guys like stories! Mama told us that she wanted to have more stories for you young people. She prayed and asked Jesus about it and right away Jesus said, "Hey, all you ghosts, spirits, and departed people, do you guys want to help Mama and the Family? They need stories! Are you willing to tell them some of the best stories they've ever heard?" And guess what we said? "Cool!"
         So if you've been feeling bored and have been wanting to get your hands on some really good stuff to read, well, look no further!--Because this is it! As we go along, we're going to be telling you some of the most exciting, adventurous, awesome stories that you've ever heard. Real far out! Some of them might be a little weird, some might be a bit simple, some might be a little funny and some might be a little sad, so hang on! You're in for a Heavenly adventure!
         We have stories on every subject you can possibly imagine--animal stories, adventure stories, spy stories, space stories, true history, stories about nature--you name it! Even personal lessons and testimonies from all kinds of people up Here! There is something for everybody--young and old. We're going to start pouring them down! You can send up your requests if you'd like a certain type of story, and we'll try to send one down as fast as we can--maybe even through you!
         Now, you're probably thinking, "What did he say? Did he say he was a ghost?--And these stories are coming from Heaven? You mean from the spirit world? How does that work? How can that be?" Well, that's right, that's what I said! Don't try to figure it out, 'cuz it's just a miracle. It's just one of those things that only God can do. It's supernatural! God has worked it out so that all of us spirits and people and ghosts and beings in Heaven can tell you stories, because He loves you.
         Some will be true stories that happened exactly as they're told, others will be based on true events, with some added details, and still others will be like parables or fables. There will be plenty of variety. As I said, there is something for everyone. And if the stories in this first book aren't what you're looking for, well, stick around--there are plenty more to come! We're just getting warmed up.
         There are so many of us up Here waiting to tell you our stories, and just like you, we have a variety of styles. Some of us are writers, some are poets, some are gifted story tellers, and some are just folks who want to tell you their stories in their own words as it happened to them.
         So, isn't that awesome? Are you happy? We hope so. Let us know how you like them, and if you do like them, we'll keep telling you more!

AMARIS
An Eastern Tale, as told by Shehezerade

I - Once upon a time
         The smell of incense was thick in the air as Amaris lay sprawled on her bed. Always graceful and dainty in public, this was her one time to relax and be herself. This was Amaris' favorite place of all, her most private chambers, behind the many folds of protective curtains that separated her from the servants and ladies-in-waiting that stood without.
         Amaris was a petite but shapely teenager, with soft golden hair that fell clear to her feet when she let down her lovely tresses (a thing which did not happen very often). She had almond-shaped eyes which sparkled and danced.
         Amaris stretched her arms way up, and wiggled her torso from side to side. Ah, relaxation! Such a word was scarcely within her vocabulary, for it seemed that her every waking moment was taken up with rituals, ceremonies and pageantry* of the sort that often made her cringe. Not that she didn't like it, but it just had its times! [*pageantry: a colorful or dramatic display]
         Her thoughts were interrupted by the gentle pinging of a bell. It was the entry bell, the equivalent of a knock upon the folds of her curtains.
         "Do come in," she spoke softly.
         It was Jordan, her most trusted eunuch. "My lady," he said, "the king wishes me to inform you that he would like to see you presently. He is readying himself in his chambers, and will join you in the palace gardens."
         "Very well," Amaris responded. "Tell His Majesty that I will be there."
         Jordan was gone, and Amaris once again descended into the depths of her thoughts.
         Whenever she was troubled, she pictured herself descending into a deep cave-like hole in the ground. She would climb down a ladder, into the stone-hewn, circular pit. At the bottom was a chair, and there she would sit and ponder her life until such a time as she felt it was safe to return to the outside world again. This meditative ritual did not always provide relief, but seemed to give her some comfort when things became a bit too overwhelming.
         In her mind, she was climbing down that inner ladder now, and having positioned herself on her chair, she thought about her life.
         "My God!" she exclaimed. The sound of her own voice startled her. She continued on--still aloud, but lowering her voice so the servants would not be alarmed.
         "How have I come to this place? What am I doing here? Here I am, residing in the palace of one of the most powerful monarchs of the East, as though I were royalty myself!" She shook her head to one side, leaning over towards the mirror that hung by her bed, and watched as the golden curls tumbled out of her headpiece and fell around her shoulders. "That feels so much better," she sighed.
         The bell outside rang again, and she hastily returned her hair to its semi-permanent placement. She drew the veil down over her face and her robe around her slim frame, and stepped out from behind the curtains.
*
         Once in the palace gardens, Amaris felt very small indeed, dwarfed by the beauties that surrounded her. Tall trees of many shades of green towered above her, and tropical flowers of all kinds bloomed in abundance. Exotic birds of paradise sang in the trees. High above it all, the midday sun smiled, adding a touch of warmth and serenity* to her anxious heart. [*serenity: calmness]
         She did not have to wait long before she heard the swishing of robes approaching behind her. She did not turn around at once, but waited, grasping a wooden railing with her slender white hands, and looking off towards the horizon.
         A low mutter sounded behind her. She could tell that the soldiers and servants accompanying the monarch were withdrawing. She turned to face His Royal Highness King Merchal. As always, Amaris caught her breath at the impressive sight. Brightly and lavishly arrayed, he was the picture of riches and elegance. His brown face was more than half-covered by white, bushy whiskers. Beneath thick eyebrows, his fiery blue eyes smiled kindly at her.
         Rising from the deep curtsy which served to hide her awe, Amaris timidly accepted the king's outstretched hand.
         "My lord," she began, "I am honored at this request. I am filled with wonder that you would wish to see me. But I am your humble servant, and please know that your wish is my command. You have but to utter your request and "
         "Silence, child," the king interrupted. "I have not come to petition you. I could have done that formally. I need to speak with you about a matter of great importance. Come." He grasped her arm, and they began to walk.
         "Amaris," the monarch's voice softened, "you know that I care about you a great deal. I have raised you all these years as my own daughter. It has brought me great joy to watch you grow, and to see you learn and become such a lovely young woman. You have helped to fill the void "
         His voice trailed off, and for a moment, Amaris forgot everything. She was no longer an eighteen-year-old woman; she was no longer in the presence of the most powerful man in the country. She was suddenly a little girl again, impulsively flinging her arms around the neck of the man who had been so kind to her. How she wished she could ease his pain!
         "But you have, my child," Merchal said, looking into her eyes, "you have given me simple, childlike love, and for this I am truly grateful. And that is why I now must come to you and tell you the truth, so that you may decide for yourself what course your life should take."
         Amaris felt like her insides were freezing up. Somehow, she had known that this day would come, and she had looked forward to it with a mixture of dread and anticipation--anticipation and curiosity at being able to at last know the secret of her life, but dread at the thought that what she would learn could tarnish her life, perfect as it now seemed.
         But she had a great love and respect for her monarch, and she knew that whatever he chose to do, he did so after a great deal of silent prayer and meditation. And therefore she knew that whatever it was, it would be the best thing, when all was said and done.
         "The path your life may take, my dear," Merchal's voice was soft as they continued to walk through the lush greenery, "may be full of twists and turns. But always remember to keep your eyes on that light in the sky. Keep your eyes looking upward, and you will have the strength to see your quest through till the end."
         Amaris nodded, and swallowed hard, hoping to suppress the tears that were hiding below the surface. She didn't know why she felt almost engulfed by a feeling of loss. The king hadn't even finished talking yet!
         "My child, you were very young when you were brought here to me." He sighed, and his eyes took on a faraway look, as though he was contemplating a day long since gone by, with a mixture of pain and regret.
         "In truth you were as much a boon* to me as you may have felt that I was to you. After the tragic death of my angel of light, and with her my dearest child, I had no reason to live, no hope to go on. If it had not been for my duty to my people, I probably would have sunk into a living death. [*boon: a timely blessing or benefit]
         "But then you came, and it was as if you took the place of my own child, and you brought back life and joy into my world. You saved me. And when I realized that God had sent you to me, I swore to Him an oath. On that day I cried tears of thankfulness as I realized that my life and my sanity had been restored. I promised to God that one day I would return you unto Him, when the time came."
         The king paused for a moment, looking at a bush of lovely yellow blossoms. He plucked one, and held it out. "Stay pure, my dear," he said. "Always soak up the dew of the morning, as I have taught you. Always dig your roots deep into the fertile soil, and close your petals to the harsh rays that would dry you up and blemish your soul. Share your beauty freely, as the gift of God that it is. May the warmth and light of your love be a strength to many, as it has been to me." He pressed the stem of the flower tightly into her hand.
         "And so, Amaris, the time has come. Not many days ago, as I sat upon my bench beneath the stars, communing with my Maker, I felt a Voice speaking within my being. I knew that it was time for me to let you go."
         "But father!" Amaris began. "My lord, I cannot "
         "Make not haste to speak, little one." The king was, as always, patient but firm. "Hear through my tale till the end, and then make your decision. For the choice is yours. God knows that I would have you stay here until the very last of my days, but for my part, I must fulfill the promise I have made unto Him Who is Most High, to return you back when His time was right. And from there, the choice must be carried on by you."
         Amaris walked on in silence, wondering what this great mystery could be that the king seemed so hesitant to tell her.
         "On that long ago day--which was to end up so blessedly, but to which I awoke dreading life itself and feeling as a lesser dreg of society than those misfortunates who found themselves in chains at my command--I told my God that He must give me a reason and a purpose to my life. Before this time, I had held my God in high esteem, but He always seemed fairly distant from me. However, on this day I heard His voice speaking to me, as a hushed whisper within the innermost recesses* of my soul. It is a blessed sound which I have heard many a time since then, and which I love to hear. But it was altogether new to me then. [*recess: a remote or secret place]
         "This voice of Majesty instructed me that I was to go into the city, and that in the marketplace He would tell me what I was next to do. As I arrived in the midst of the bustling square, my attention was drawn towards a large vendor of slaves. I felt the Most High Being guiding my gaze as I passed over one and then the other. And at the very end of the row of miserable souls, I saw "
         Amaris smiled in remembrance of that moment. The visit of the king that day was one of the very few things there had been to smile about for a long time before that!
         "I saw a small, frail little slip of a girl--barely five years old, or so I thought."
         "Although I was well past my sixth birthday!" Amaris burst out eagerly.
         "And so I was to find out. For it seemed to me that the dove of God settled down upon your golden hair, and your whole body was illumined* in a glorious light divine. It was so very real to me that I looked around about myself anxiously, to see if others were taking note also of this glorious miracle. But everyone was jostling and shouting and pointing towards the slaves that appeared to be more useful or marketable. As I paused before venturing in closer, I heard that Voice speak to me once more. Would you like to hear what He said?" [*illumined: to light up or glow with light]
         Amaris nodded. She had never heard this story before, as from her childhood she and her adopted father had agreed never to talk about her past. Now a whole new perspective on her life was being opened up.
         The king pulled a weather-beaten scroll from his pocket, and Amaris looked on in surprise.
         "Did you dictate those words to your scribe right in that very marketplace, before all those people?" She couldn't help being amused by the thought.
         "Of a truth I did!" King Merchal chuckled at the recollection, and seemed rather surprised himself. "I am not very sure just why I felt so compelled to do so, but I know that many is the time that in reading over these Words I have been grateful that I did. They have been an enormous source of strength to me."
         He began to read, slowly and solemnly:
         "On this day, let it be recorded that I, the Lord God above all gods and the Most High above all beings, have heard the request of your heart, and have given unto you the answer to your petitions. This frail creature upon which you see a portion of My Spirit descending is the embodiment of My response to you. For you she has been sent, and her life has been prepared for this purpose. She shall bring great joy and strength into your life, and give you new meaning and purpose. She shall be all that you have asked for. And yet, there shall be a cost on your part.
         "For in the day that I shall speak forth My voice unto you, you shall return her unto Me. For she is to be My servant. Yours is the task of grooming her and teaching her, and then she must be entrusted into My hand for such a time as I shall see fit, to complete a very special mission which I shall reveal to her at a time appointed. Give her unto Me at the time of My request, and it may be that she shall be returned unto you in due season."
         For one long moment, it seemed that every plant and creature in the grove held its breath. The king courageously cut through the silence. "So you see," he smiled at her tenderly, "you have been promised and spoken for already. I cannot but comply with His orders."
         "I understand, my father, I do. But what do I do now? What does He want of me?"
         The king looked away for a moment and then replied, "I have not been shown clearly where you are to go or what you are to accomplish. All I know is that you must set out on a journey for God, not knowing what will be your final destination or why your journey, simply trusting that as you take this first step that I shall outline to you, God will reveal His great plan to you."
         "I believe, but I don't know if I can trust Him as I see that you do."
         "My child," the king spoke wisely, "if you do not yet feel that you can trust the Most High Lord above all, then think upon this humble servant of His. Have you fared well in your time with me?"
         "More than all things, my lord. You have brought me into your own household as though I were flesh of your flesh. I have been given the place of an heir, and the unconditional love given to an offspring. I trust you implicitly and I love you with all of my heart."
         "Thus and more do I feel for my Creator," the old man spoke humbly. "So can you not transfer that same love and reverence and confidence which is in your heart for me, unto One for Whom I feel the same? If you are not yet able to leave everything out of love for Him, will you do it out of love for me?"
         There was nothing to decide. Amaris knew that she would do anything for this one who had done so much for her.
         "Indeed, my lord," she bowed her head. "I submit unto your will, and I will perform the will of Him Who is Most High."
         The king placed his arm around the shoulders of the young one whom he loved so dearly. "Now come, child," he said, "let us talk about where you shall go from here."

II - In Search of Destiny
         The sun was still high in the sky as Amaris turned her eyes for the last time to look at the palatial mansion that she had come to know as home for so many years. Bathed in the warm golden rays of the afternoon sun, it seemed to glow with an almost unearthly light. "I feel like I'm leaving Heaven," she whispered to herself.
         She had already bid farewell to the king, but she could see him still, standing on the balcony of the upper floor of the palace. Even from her distance she could see the tight lines on his face and the whiteness of his knuckles, as he clenched the railing. Amaris knew full well that this was probably one of the hardest things the old man had ever willingly done. And, despite her own anguish of heart, she marveled at God's power to bring so great a king to such a decision.
         "What a love my sovereign must have for his God," she mused, "that he would concede to such a thing while he yet lives."
         Now he was waving; a brave attempt at a smile playing at the corners of his mouth. But she could almost see the well of unshed tears glistening in his eyes, and knew it was only a matter of time before they made their presence known. That she could not bear. She had to be on her way.
         "Farewell, my lord," she called out. "Farewell."
         Suddenly she felt as though something were taking hold of her, a power beyond her control. She fell to her knees in the grass. She felt words spinning through her mind. Chosen for Me! Chosen for Me! Give unto Me your all and I shall return unto you the desires of your heart!
         Amaris felt as though she were gasping for breath. "I do!" she whispered. "I do give all my God!"
         As abruptly as it began, her experience ended. The world returned to its normal shades and colors, and everything seemed as it was. The king stood still in his place, looking somewhat puzzled, yet now with more of a tranquil peace in his eyes, as though he, too, had partaken of the experience.
         Still somewhat shaken, Amaris waved her last farewell, and boarding the litter*, she gave the order to move forward. Her adventure was beginning. [*litter: an enclosed or curtained couch mounted on shafts and used to carry a passenger]
         *
         A curious sense of anticipation filled Amaris' heart as she adjusted to the monotonous jostle of the litter, as its bearers trod the dusty roads. This was certainly unlike anything she had ever experienced. She reached her hand to her breast and pulled out a medallion, which hung on a chain around her neck. She pressed it to her cheek, hoping to still feel some of the warmth of its former owner, her most-loved father, the king.
         For a moment, her eyes misted, but she determinedly brushed aside memories, and concentrated on the medallion. It was circular, plated in gold and with a large image of a sun impressed in it. In the lower corner of the sun was the image of a bird in flight--motionless, yet bursting with life, captured and immortalized forever to tantalize* the mind and imagination of all who gazed upon it. [*tantalize: tease; showing something but keeping it out of reach]
         She turned the piece over, and read the inscription--although she could just as easily have recited it from memory: The journey of one's life begins with the discovery of one's soul. As my God hath said, "Search for Me and I will be found of thee." Every being is created for the purpose of fulfilling his destiny, that purpose for which his God hath created him. I go in search of my destiny, for with it I will find my God.
         No matter how many times she had read them, these words still sent a shiver through her entire being. Amaris pulled her wraps closer around her shoulders. She gently tugged on the thick drapes hiding the outside world, and peered through the small opening made. An ominous cloud loomed directly ahead, blocking the last rays of warmth from the setting sun.
         Jordan approached, as the men slowed to a halt. "It looks like a downpour is approaching, my lady," he said. "We'd better take shelter and continue when it has passed--that is, if it is still light enough to travel."
         Amaris desperately wanted to keep moving, but another look at the sky convinced her that her servant was right.
         "Very well. Do as you see fit," she conceded. "Is there a place nearby where we may make refuge?"
         "I see a trail going up to a rocky crag* in this mountainside. I dare say that we shall find shelter a-plenty in that direction. Although " Jordan cocked his head to one side hesitantly, looking at his mistress with an amused smile. [*crag: a steep or rugged piece of rock forming part of a cliff]
         "Speak on, man!" Amaris felt comfortable and natural with him. "Say your mind!"
         "It may be that my lady would do better on foot," he said gently. "The path is steep and we would not want a spill."
         "I am able to walk, Jordan!" she said, in mock haughtiness. "You needn't be shy about asking me. Yes, I shall most certainly dismount here."
         She pulled back inside the canopy and put on her walking sandals, then pulled her thick robe over the thinner satin traveling gown she wore. On a sudden impulse she reached across to the shelf and pulled from it a leather pouch, which she placed beneath her robe. Adjusting her headpiece, she jutted her hand daintily out of the curtained opening. Jordan took her hand firmly and helped her climb out.
         "Thank you again, my man," she smiled at him.
         "Duty alone, O royal one," he whispered coyly.
         Two armed escorts started first up the path, followed by Jordan and Amaris. Two maidservants followed dutifully behind. And taking up the rear were the four litter-bearers with their now much lighter burden, tottering precariously back and forth as they climbed the narrow pathway.
         The drops were beginning to come down now. Amaris pulled the cloak back from her face, upturning it toward the heavens. First she gazed at the gray, shapeless mass above her, with the drops falling like tiny bits of crystal. Then she shut her eyes, and opened her mouth wide, stretching forth her tongue to catch some of the tiny droplets of refreshment.
         A jab in her foot brought her back to reality, as she stumbled on the rocky path. Jordan caught her, and reprimanded her with a glance. "Eye the road, my lady; the way is treacherous."
         Amaris smiled. It felt good to be out in nature. Somehow, she felt more in her element here than in the palace life she had grown accustomed to.
         I suppose this is the best of both worlds, really. I get to be royalty in the countryside! How I wish they could see me now! A shadow flashed across her face, but was gone before it had time to make a dwelling place. She had long ago resolved in her heart not to keep looking back in life. The past is past, and we must go forward with the present, for indeed, there is enough of that to occupy all of our time and energy!
         "Before us!" the first soldier called out over his shoulder. "I see an opening in the rock!"
         "And none too soon!" one of the maidservants wailed plaintively. "For I was not made for treks such as this!"
         Everyone laughed. They were a friendly group, having learned that their mistress was somewhat less formal than the traditional royals, and, while maintaining her status and dignity, was still glad to have a relaxed air about her, and did not mind friendly chatter amongst them.
         In seconds they had arrived at the mouth of the cave, and waited while the front guard ventured inside. He reemerged shortly, and with a nod, beckoned the rest to join him.
         "Well, it's not the palace, that's for sure," one of the soldiers said. "But it's dry and free from drafts, and that will do us well enough, I believe."
         One of the maidservants scurried around to bring pillows and bedding from the litter to prepare a place for her mistress, while the other placed some food on a wooden tray and carried it to where Amaris had now settled down in a cushioned corner.
         Amaris took the tray as she surveyed her new lodging. Makeshift torches cast copper-colored streaks around the cave, which was not more than six large steps across in either direction. A dark passageway continued off on the right side; to further hidden mysteries, no doubt.
         She sighed. "Be near me, Jordan," she said.
         "At your service, as always." The man came forward and offered his strong shoulder as a resting place for her weary head.
         "Perhaps we should all take some rest now, while we may," Amaris softly murmured, as she felt her own thoughts drifting heavenward. "For the way before us may be long, and we shall need all the strength we can muster." She opened her eyes for a moment and, smiling, caught the eye of one of the litter-bearers. "And I would say you need much more rest than I do!"
         The soldier blushed at the show of attention from his mistress, and the company settled themselves into positions of relative comfort, and slept.
*
         Several hours must have passed when Amaris woke with a start. She had no idea what had awakened her, but she felt compelled by some unusual sense of urgency. She stepped over Jordan, who was still asleep, and made her way to the front of the cave.
         The night had now well fallen, but the rain had stopped. The air smelled fresh and clean, with the heat and dust of the day all washed down into the muddy river below. Amaris filled her lungs with the crisp air, and sighed contentedly.
         But what was wrong? Why did she feel a strange knot in the pit of her stomach? She shrugged. I must be getting jumpy after all my years behind palace walls, she thought. I see nothing wrong here.
         But there was something wrong, and she knew it. She was nearly startled out of her wits by a loud shout coming from inside the cave. She screamed, and poised herself to run, but it was only Jordan, who ran out looking like a man whose worst nightmare had come upon him.
         Seeing Amaris, he stopped abruptly, and tried unsuccessfully to regain his composure.
         "Oh, madam oh, God oh, I thought you I woke up and you were gone. I thought you had been taken or " He leaned wearily against the rocky mountainside. "Praise be to God, He has kept you well, as I had entrusted Him to."
         Amaris felt a curious warmth at seeing what a fright her seeming absence had caused. But she was intrigued by his last words.
         "You entrust me to God? I did not know that you knew of God."
         "Indeed I do, my lady," Jordan spoke sincerely, and his brown eyes seemed to glow in the soft moonlight. "For He has been more to me than any other, and to Him I do owe my life and my all. He " The man faltered, and reached his hand into the air as if chasing an elusive word, " He is everything to me."
         "You sound a great deal like another man whom I have heard speak not many hours before," Amaris smiled. "Well, I would say that a love for God does certainly produce fine men!" With a lift of her eyebrow and a tilt of her head, she turned again towards the mouth of the cave.
         But Jordan caught her arm before she could change her footing. "Wait, madam," he said hesitantly, his voice taking on a more serious note.
         "What have you to say?" her eyes narrowed. "There is something wrong, isn't there?"
         "The soldiers, madam, and the maidservants. And the litter-bearers, with their burden they're all gone!"
         "Gone?" Amaris' eyes widened in horror. "Are you certain?" She wrenched her arm free of his grasp and burst through the opening of the cave. A dim flicker of light burned on the floor where Jordan's hastily-lit torch had been thrown to the ground. And surrounding the gloomy shadows: emptiness. A pile of cushions in the corner where Amaris had slept, a few scraps of food alongside the far wall, and then nothing.
         Amaris could hear Jordan's irregular breathing behind her, sounding worried. "Why, what shall we do?" she continued. "Why? Where? I I am just so stunned that I am at an utter loss for words. How could they?" Her blue-gray eyes filled with tears.
         Jordan stood silently behind her. He was unable to think of anything comforting to say, and so determined that he was better off remaining silent.
         Then she brushed her hand determinedly over her face, and turned resolutely towards him. "We must go on," she said firmly.
         "My lady," Jordan spoke hesitantly, "I would suggest going back to the palace for another litter and escort. We could also give word to your father, that he may send out search parties for them. They will be caught in no time. I feel that it would not be safe to continue this journey on our own."
         "Jordan," Amaris looked him right in the eye, "you have told me of your God, and that you have committed our lives into His hands. As powerful as He is, the One Who sees and knows all, do you not suppose that He is even now guiding us?"
         Jordan did not answer.
         "Do you not think that perhaps His hand guides us in ways unbeknownst even to our own minds? I do not know why, but I feel deep inside that we must go forward, and let nothing deter us from our mission. What say you?"
         Jordan hunched his shoulders and raised his hands. "What can I say? My lady speaks with a wisdom I did not know she possessed. I would say that my lady learns quickly."
         "Then let us make our way onward!"
To be continued

PERIL ON FISHERMAN'S CREEK
         Monica was just 15 years old and had her whole life ahead of her. Every day when she woke up, she looked forward with anticipation to life and all that it brought her way. She was happy and cheery, a ray of sunshine in the lives of her family and friends and all those who considered themselves fortunate to know her.
         One of Monica's many joys in life was the half-hour bike ride home from school every afternoon. Her home was in a semi-suburban, semi-rural area, and she delighted in all the beautiful sights and sounds of nature that filled her senses. She loved the feeling of the crisp autumn wind blowing through her hair, the soft light of the afternoon sun glistening on the treetops and surrounding hills, the wild flowers growing by the road sides, the quaint bridges over the creeks and brooks, and the birds flying in beautiful formations across the rainbow-hued clouds in the sky.
         Monica had lived in this hillside area since she was six, yet it seemed to get prettier every day. As she and her best friend, Annie, rode their bikes home from school on just such a day, they never guessed that something was about to happen to them that they would never forget.
         They soon reached the shortcut home. It was an old country trail that led off the main road and through the forest. Although the trail was a bit rugged, their sturdy mountain bikes were able to handle the terrain quite well. Soon they were out of the forest and climbing the last hill, from which Monica's house could be seen.
         They stopped for a moment at the top of the hill to catch their breath. A short distance down the path lay the old wooden arc-shaped bridge that crossed over Fisherman's Creek. --Why they called it that no one knew, as it was more a raging river than a creek, and only a few men had ever caught a single fish there. The fish were too smart to even show up in this part of the river, as the current was fast and strong. The river's bed was full of rocks of all shapes and sizes, and just a few hundred yards downstream, the rushing waterway led to a waterfall, which cascaded down into a lake, bordering a lovely little secluded* picnic spot. This was one of Annie and Monica's favorite places to spend a Sunday afternoon. [*secluded: quiet and undisturbed]
         On the other side of the river, towards Monica and Annie's homes, was an old deserted country mansion. Its many gardens--though by now overrun with weeds and vines--were filled with a variety of colorful flowers.
         Annie got back on her bike and started rolling down the hill towards the bridge. She jokingly looked back at Monica and called, "Race you the rest of the way!"
         Monica, who relished* the challenge of winning anything, immediately jumped on her bike and speeded up, overtaking Annie. But that bridge over Fisherman's Creek was over 100 years old, and the speed with which Monica's bike approached the old bridge was just a bit too much [*relished: enjoyed]
         As Monica sped across the bridge, it started shuddering. When she was halfway across, some weakened boards collapsed under her, sending Monica and her bike plunging towards the swift-moving water! Annie was too shocked to scream. Monica plummeted* downwards, it seemed as if in slow motion, yet Annie couldn't do a thing to help her!--She barely escaped falling in herself, as she jerked the brakes on her bicycle, managing to stop just a couple of feet before the broken bridge. [*plummet: to fall sharply]
         Annie panicked, realizing that she might have just seen the last of her best friend. Help was nowhere to be found. Although their houses were practically within sight, there was now no way for Annie to reach her home on the other side of Fisherman's Creek. In order to get help, Annie had to either go back into the town where the school was, or go back to the main road which circled the forests and the lake. Either way, it would probably be dark by the time she found help. Certainly Monica would not survive that long.
         Having no choice, Annie turned around and started cycling back towards town as fast as she could. She had to find a phone to call for help, and let Monica's parents know what had happened.
         Meanwhile, Monica had been carried nearly 50 feet downstream. She was now caught between two sharp and slippery rocks halfway across the river. Gasping for breath, she thankfully realized that her head was still above water and that she could still breathe, although the water was gushing and splashing all over her. But she was trapped, and couldn't move her legs at all.
         "Oh, God," she prayed, "please get me out of here! I'm too young! I'm not ready to die. There are so many things I want to do and experience, so many things I need to learn, so much more I should do with my life. My family needs me. Please don't let my life end now. Please! Send someone--anyone--to find me and get me out of here somehow."
         By now the sun was slipping behind the nearby hills. The evening mist was beginning to roll in. Annie had made it back to the town, and had phoned Monica's parents, letting them know what had happened. Monica's parents called the emergency rescue service, who immediately dispatched* a rescue team. However, with darkness closing in, and the winding and narrow paths and trails leading to the bridge over Fisherman's Creek, it would take the rescue team at least half an hour to be on the scene. [*dispatch: send to a specific place]
         "We'll do our best," assured the dispatch officer, "but we can't make any promises that we'll be able to find her."
         Monica was soaked to the bone and her whole body shook and shivered from the cold. Even if she could free her legs from the rocks, she couldn't risk moving out of her protected position to try to cross the river, because she'd certainly get carried away.
         Then, even if she did make it to the river's edge, she'd still have to climb 20 feet up the riverbank. As cold and weak as she now was, she probably wouldn't be able to make it up the slippery rocks. If she got carried downstream any further, the raging current would sweep her over the precipitous* waterfall. But she knew she couldn't last long where she was, and if nothing else, she would freeze before anyone found her. [*precipitous: extremely steep]
         Then she saw him. At the top of the riverbank stood a man about her father's age. He was wearing overalls, an old flannel jacket, and a pair of knee-high green galoshes*. He carried an old-fashioned lantern in one hand and a fishing pole in the other. [*galoshes: large waterproof boots]
         Over the noise of the rushing water, she heard him shout, "Hold on! I'll be back for you in a few minutes!" Then the stranger disappeared into the darkness. Monica's head felt light, and she wondered if perhaps she was delirious. Maybe she hadn't really seen this man after all.
         After about five minutes--but what seemed like an eternity--the man returned, this time carrying a heavy chain. He threw the chain strategically* across the river so that it hooked onto a rock a little ways beyond where Monica was trapped. [*strategically: in a carefully planned way]
         He secured the chain on the side of the river where he was standing, and carefully climbed down the rocky ledge leading to the river. He helped Monica get a firm hold on the chain while he freed her trapped legs. Together they inched their way across the stream, and up the rocky slope onto dry ground.
         This kind man then picked Monica up and carried her towards the large deserted mansion, setting her down on the front steps while he opened the door.
         Monica was both surprised and delighted to see a fire blazing in the hearth. He picked her up again, sat her down in an armchair beside the fireplace and wrapped a thick blanket around her.
         "I always thought this house was deserted," Monica mumbled. "Did you just move in here?"
         "No, no, child," he answered. "I just come here every now and then to do some fishing."
         "But " Monica began.
         "Shhh, child." he said soothingly. "Just relax, try to calm down and don't worry yourself. You're fine, you're safe, and everything's gonna be okay." Monica was so exhausted that she soon drifted off to sleep.
         By this time the rescue team had arrived, and the search spread out on both sides of the river. A helicopter flew overhead with bright floodlights. There were ropes, ladders, and a dozen pairs of eyes carefully scanning the scene for any sign of Monica. Monica's parents and sisters, and Annie and her family all stood watching nearby, praying and hoping for the best.
         After having thoroughly checked the area, and not finding any signs of the teenage girl, the rescue team decided to move downstream toward the waterfall to see if they would find Monica--dead or alive--in the lake below.
         By the time the divers had surfaced, there was still no trace of Monica. The rescue team and all of Monica's loved ones were completely mystified and horrified as to what could have become of her.
         With tears in their eyes, the two families climbed aboard the rescue service helicopter, which dropped them off at their house just a few hundred yards beyond the stream. Monica's mother, Lucy, opened the door and there was Monica!! She was sitting at the kitchen table, trying to call Annie's house to find out where everybody was!
         They all cried and laughed and hugged. It finally got quiet enough for Monica to recount to them what had taken place. As she described the hero who rescued her, her dad, John, asked, "Did he give his name or say what he was doing here, where he was from or anything? We must find him and thank him somehow."
         "Did he carry you all the way here?" her mom asked.
         "I don't know who he was and I don't know how I got home!" Monica said. "I just remember sitting in the armchair in the old mansion. He must have brought me home while I was asleep, because the next thing I knew, I was lying on the living room couch!"
         There was a moment of silence, broken by Annie's dad, Mike. "You all wait a minute. I'm going back home to get something I want to show you." He came back with a photo of a man who he thought fit the description Monica had given of her rescuer.
         "Yes, that's him!!" Monica confirmed excitedly.
         Annie's mom and dad looked at each other for a moment, and Mike quietly said, "That's Don Silver, one of the only two men who ever caught a fish in Fisherman's Creek."
         "Wasn't he the one who lived in that old country mansion a long time ago?" Annie inquired. "And who took you and all your pals in the neighborhood fishing when you were a kid?"
         "That's right, Annie," her father confirmed. "But he died ten years ago. He was 80 years old. After that, the rest of his family moved away to another part of the country."
         Monica was dumbfounded. "You mean to say I was rescued and carried home by a dead man? But how could that be?"
         "Well," said Mike, "I guess God sent him down from Heaven for a night, and let him enjoy being in the prime of life* here on Earth again, visiting the house and hillside he so loved, fishing in his favorite stream, and then be there to save your life and to bring you safely home! Praise God!" [*prime of life: the time in someone's life of greatest strength or activity]
         The next day both Monica and Annie went over to see the mansion where the man had first brought her. Monica had a strange feeling that they would find the house as it had always been. When they pushed open the front door, they had to clear away the dusty cobwebs before they could even step inside. And the fireplace? There were no charred remains of burning logs, no embers, no, not even so much as ashes. Only a thin layer of undisturbed dust

THE BEGGAR
--A modern-day parable, told by Jesus
         I see a beggar sitting on the side of the street. He is saying, "Nobody loves me! Nobody cares. If only I had some food to eat. Why doesn't anybody give me food?"
         A little old lady walks by and says, "Here. Here's an apple for you."
         The beggar says, "I don't like apples, I want an orange!"
         She walks along her way, slightly hurt at the rejection of the beggar for not receiving her deed of kindness.
         "Nobody loves me," the beggar says. "Nobody cares. If only I had a job I could make money, and then I'd be happy."
         A gardener walks by and tells the beggar, "Come work with me! I'll give you half the earnings."
         "What is the work?" the beggar says.
         "It's gardening--pulling weeds, cutting grass, trimming bushes, working amongst God's creation."
         "Oh, no, no, no! That's not the kind of work I want. Besides, the bushes make me sneeze! Weeding hurts my knees. No, that's okay, I'd rather not do that kind of work."
         The gardener moves along, somewhat offended that he was rejected in his offer to give half of his pay to this lonely beggar.
         "Nobody loves me. Nobody cares," moans the beggar. "I have no one to talk to, or to be with."
         A kind woman with one leg hobbles along on her crutches, crosses the beggar's path and says, "Come, let's have a cup of coffee and enjoy each other's company."
         Excited about the possibility of a warm cup of coffee with a female, the beggar looks up. But as he sees that she only has one leg, he says, "No, no, I've had enough coffee today. I have to stay out here and earn my keep."
         The woman hobbles along, hurt because of the beggar's rejection of her offer.
         The beggar continues, "I'm so cold. I'm so hungry. I'm so tired."
         A nice man walks by and offers the beggar a blanket which he had in the back of his car. It's discolored from the sun beating upon it.
         The beggar says, "No, no! It's discolored, and it's not my color anyway. I would rather have a different one. No, thank you. I don't want your blanket."
         The gentleman moves on, hurt because of the rejection of his offer.
         An angel appears and says to the beggar, "You know, if you would eat the apple, the Lord would give you a taste for them. If you did the humble gardening jobs, the Lord would heal your knees and your hay fever.
         "If you learned to give happiness to others, and to not judge by outward appearance, the Lord would give you more fellowship, and give you more happiness.
         "If you learned to receive the gifts the Lord has for you, without analyzing and judging them, you would find that they are bread, and not stones. Be open to what the Lord has for you. Do not be closed to the hand that reaches out to help you."

JET THE PUPPY
         Amanda was nearly nine years old, and her brother, Mark, had just turned eleven. They lived in the days before cars and airplanes in a little ranch house up in the hills with their mommy and daddy. Their nearest neighbor lived 10 miles down the little dirt road that led to the village.
         Mark and Amanda went out every morning to do their chores. They milked the goats, and had made a game out of gathering the eggs from the hens, seeing who could find and collect the most. Then they would go inside the house and review the Bible verses their daddy had taught them, while Mommy fixed breakfast.
         Today was a special day because the big black mama Labrador retriever had a litter of puppies. Now the puppies were old enough to take to the village to sell.
         "Oh, Daddy, please can we keep one?" Amanda said, looking at the puppies that Daddy had now put into one box.
         "Sure, Pumpkin!" said Daddy, handing her the cutest, chubbiest puppy in the box. "Just be sure you take good care of him and don't let him wander off into the forest."
         "Sure thing, Daddy!" Mark said.
         "We will!" Amanda chimed in.
         Daddy headed off to the village to sell the other puppies, while Mark and Amanda worked hard on their school work. They knew that as soon as they were done they would get to go outside and play with their puppy. They named him Jet, because he was jet black.
         School time was over and Mommy gave them permission to go play outside. Mark and Amanda picked Jet up out of his little box and carefully carried him outside, past the chicken coup, past the goat pen, past the stalls where the horses were kept, and out to the very edge of the ranch.
         They played with Jet for some time, throwing sticks and watching him run to get them and bring them back. They chased Jet and tumbled with him and brought him a little bowl of goat's milk for a snack. He quickly became their best friend and playmate.
         It soon began to get dark and they heard Mommy ring the dinner bell from the porch. Mark said to Amanda, "Mommy told us to go in once it got dark."
         "Aw, but it got dark so fast," said Amanda.
         "Okay, let's just play for a few more minutes," Mark said, as he picked up a stick and threw it as far as he could. But he wasn't looking where he threw it, and the stick landed right at the edge of the forest.
         Jet bounded off after the stick. But instead of picking it up and coming back, like he had done all afternoon, he kept running right into the forest and didn't stop. Amanda let out a shriek. Mark chased after Jet till he reached the edge of the forest. He couldn't see Jet anywhere.
         Mark began to run again, when Amanda, remembering what Daddy had said about the forest being a dangerous place, cried, "No, Mark! Don't follow him into the forest!"
         Mark went just a little further, then turned around and came back. "I can't see Jet anywhere."
         "Oh, I'm so scared, Mark," said Amanda. "We should have gone inside when we heard the dinner bell."
         They waited and looked for a few more minutes, but Jet was nowhere to be seen. Then they walked back to the house where Mommy was waiting for them.
         It was hard to tell Mommy and Daddy what had happened, because they both knew that if they had obeyed, everything would have been okay.
         The kids looked at each other. Amanda started crying as Mark explained how their little puppy had gotten lost in the forest because they didn't come into the house when they should have.
         As they ate supper they heard rumbling clouds overhead. Soon rain began to splatter on the window panes. It was getting cold and daddy threw a couple of bricks in the fireplace.
         While Mark and Amanda got ready for bed, Daddy pulled the hot bricks out of the fireplace. He carefully wrapped them in blankets, putting the bricks at the bottom of their beds to warm up their feet.
         Mark started praying, "Jesus, this is a difficult way for us to learn that it's important to obey right away, and to come in when we're told, even if we don't understand why. We know it's good for us and that this is going to help us learn our lesson. But please, Jesus, don't let Jet get hurt or die because of our mistake. Please help him to find his way home."
         "Please, Jesus," Amanda whispered.
         It was hard to sleep that night. Mark and Amanda lay in their beds listening to the rain and the thunder.
         Early the next morning the rooster crowed and the kids went out to milk the goats and collect the eggs. But this time they didn't run and play their usual "collecting game." They both thought about Jet, the forest and the rain, and how everything would still be all right if they had only come in when Mommy had called them.
         The hens were huddled together in the corner of the chicken coup, clucking noisily and making quite a ruckus.
         "What else has gone wrong now?" Mark muttered to himself, as he walked over to check it out. Moving the chickens aside, he looked down and there was Jet! He was cold, dirty and ragged, but he was alive and unhurt.
         Mark called out to Amanda, "Jesus forgave us and He brought Jet home!"
         From that day on when Mommy would come to the porch to ring the dinner bell, Mark and Amanda raced each other to get home as quickly as they could. They now knew it was better to obey right away, and to come in when they were called.

JAMIE'S FRIENDS
         Summer was over and school bells were once again beginning to ring. No child in Georgia was looking forward to that "back to school" time of the year, yet perhaps Jamie was the least anxious of all to return to the classroom.
         Jamie was a shy, introverted* boy. How he longed to have friends and to hang out with the popular crowd; how he longed to be invited to sleepovers, camping trips and cookouts with the other boys. But it seemed this would never be [*introverted: quiet and keeping to one's self]
         Jamie was handicapped. His legs were stiffened by arthritis, and he was forced to wear leg braces, which gave him an awkward limp. He wasn't able to run, jump and play as the other children did. It seemed he was always being left behind.
         When it was time for recess, all his classmates jumped up from their desks and bounded outside to the soccer field. Jamie could only look on with that longing look in his eyes. By the time he hobbled out to the field, it was nearly time to come in again. He was never able to join in the fun, or participate in the games.
         PE* was an hour of depression for Jamie. All he could do was look at the other children's legs, how they were able to jump rope, hop, leap, skip and run, while he was not. His legs didn't work like the other children's did. [*PE: "Physical Education" or class time for exercises and sports in school]
         So Jamie buried himself in his studies. He was an excellent student, always at the top of his class. He excelled in every area, yet this too was a source of difficulty for Jamie. He was the brunt* of classroom jokes. He was the nerd. He was the studious boy who couldn't "enjoy life." He wasn't "normal," according to the other kids. [*brunt: main target]
         During the summer, Jamie's family had moved and he was now beginning fifth grade in a new school. As he pondered his fourth-grade memories, he felt that nervous feeling from his throat down to his feet. His head pounded, as through it raced countless worst-case scenarios* of all that could go wrong this school year.
         Last year it had been a daily bummer to go to school, having to face all those kids who would ridicule and mock him, who would call him names, and who would purposely run, hop and skip beside him, just rubbing in the fact that he couldn't. [*worst-case scenarios: the worst things that could happen in a certain situation]
         How could other kids do that to me? Jamie thought, as he got into his mom's car.
         "Well, Jamie," said his mom, "it's a new school year. Just think, you're going to have a new set of schoolmates and a whole new class of kids that you can become friends with."
         "Oh, Mom, you know it doesn't work that way. Nobody wants to be friends with me. Kids just don't like me. They think I'm weird. They think I'm strange. I'm not like the rest of them, so they don't like me, and they don't want to be around me. Besides, I don't like being around them either, 'cause they're not nice to me."
         "Now, Jamie ," his mother said, pausing for a moment. "You are not different from the other kids. You are just the same--inside. Your legs might be different, but that doesn't make anything else about you different. The kids just don't know that--and you've got to show them. Things can be different this year, if you'll just reach out and be kind and friendly to the other kids. I know you'll find some friends, honey. But you've got to do your part. You can't expect the other kids to do it all. Remember, it takes two people to be friends."
         Jamie thought about what his mother had just said. Inside he knew it was true. He certainly hadn't given the situation much cooperation. When the other kids would tease him, he would allow it to make him sullen*, unhappy and upset. Surely that couldn't make them want to be friends with him. [*sullen: gloomy, sad]
         A little realization popped into Jamie's head, Hey! Probably most of the kids at school have never seen me smiling or happy. They probably think I'm always sad and upset. No wonder nobody wants to be friends with me!
         A smile came over Jamie's face as he thought, I'm going to try to start this school year off right. I really want some friends, so I'm going to try to be friendly.
         "Here we are, Jamie. Have a good day, honey. I'll be here to pick you up at 3 o'clock, and you can tell me how your day went. Okay?"
         "All right, Mom. Thanks for bringing me to school. I'll see you later."
         Jamie always had to press in more than the other kids, since it took him longer to get around as he walked the halls to his new classroom. Kids rushed past him on every side, hurrying to get to their classrooms, laughing and talking with friends, and whispering behind the doors of the hallway lockers.
         Finally Jamie arrived at his classroom. Most kids were already seated, and roll call was just about to begin. His new teacher, Mrs. Kate Noelle, looked kind. Once she noticed that he had braces on his legs and had a difficult time walking, she switched his desk to one on the front row, so that he wouldn't have to walk to the back of the class.
         That was sure nice of her, Jamie thought as he walked to his seat. So far, so good.
         As Jamie walked across the floor, he had a hard time looking any of his fellow students in the eye. He was trying to look friendly and as normal as possible, yet he couldn't help but think that they were all staring at him, wondering what in the world was wrong with his legs and why he was limping.
         He sank down in his chair with a feeling of despair. Oh, it's not going so great after all. Why would any of these kids want to be my friend, when they could be friends with someone else who isn't handicapped? After all, I can't even go running or playing with them. I can hardly walk. That's stupid of me to even think that any of them would want to be my friend. I'm just being wishful.
         Jamie's thoughts were broken by Mrs. Noelle's ringing voice, "Roll call time!" Jamie glanced upwards to watch Mrs. Noelle begin to read off each student's name. As each name was called out, that student stood up, acknowledging that they were present.
         "Jamie Lee Wilster!" The classroom seemed perfectly silent at that instant, as Jamie struggled to push his chair back from his desk, in order to stand up. The seconds seemed like hours, and he felt the heat from every eye in the room being focused on him. He could hear what he thought the other students were thinking about him
         "Look, he can't even stand up!" "What's wrong with him, anyway?" "Boy, he's not going to be any fun at all." "What am I going to tell my other friends?--There's a handicapped boy in my class!"
         Once Jamie had freed himself from his chair and was again seated, Mrs. Noelle calmly said, "Thank you, Jamie. In future roll calls, you will be exempt* from having to stand." [*exempt: free from having to do something]
         "Special treatment for the handicapped kid, eh?" a voice called out from the back row.
         "Billy Kenter! That comment was not called for," Mrs. Noelle quickly retorted, then glanced down at Jamie, hoping he was all right.
         Now Jamie knew. Things weren't going to be so easy after all. His fears turned into reality once the recess bell rang, and Jamie looked out the window to see Billy--soon to become his personal "bully"--round up all the other kids. It was obvious that he was a classroom "cool cat," and that the other kids listened to his every word.
         How am I going to get myself out of this? Jamie thought, putting his head on his desk.
         He was startled by a young voice, "Hey, it's okay. Don't let that bother you. What Billy says isn't all that important."
         "What what do you mean? Who are you?" Jamie barely was able to get the words out of his mouth as he lifted his head to see a girl standing a couple desks across from him, holding a book in her hand.
         "I'm Jenny Mariner, one of your classmates. Nice to meet you."
         "Uh uh, nice to meet you too. Aren't you going to go play outside?"
         "Well, I'm not so into that. I take ballet lessons after school, so I don't really need all that running around. Besides, I prefer reading. How about you?"
         "Oh, yes I mean, reading is one of my favorite things to do. I've got quite a library at home. You should see it."
         "Well, perhaps some time I will," Jenny responded, as she sank down into her chair and began reading intently.
         Whew! Jamie's heart was pounding. Someone had actually talked to him. Someone had actually taken an interest in him. Someone had come up to him and said hi and introduced themselves. What's more, it was a girl! Jamie could hardly believe it.
         Jamie flashed back to a couple months earlier when the last school year had ended. Summer vacation was before him, and he should have been as happy as any other child in Georgia. Yet he was not. School had not ended well for Jamie. Yes, he had received all of the honor roll awards that could have been gotten, but that didn't matter to him. He had no friends. He wasn't invited to any of the after-school parties that all the other kids were talking about and preparing for. He felt so left out.
         Dad and Mom, sensing the problem, had decided to take Jamie and his younger sister, Kelly, out for a camping trip. They wanted to do whatever they could to take his mind off his sadness and depression. While the camping trip was fun, and Jamie loved to be with his sister and parents, those bad feelings kept haunting him.
         Finally late one night, Jamie got his flashlight and crawled out of the little tent that he and Kelly shared. He put his coat over his pajamas, threw on his slippers, and hobbled a short distance away from their camp. Tears streamed down his face as he thought about his legs, and how he would never be like the other kids. Then he sat on a rock and started to pray.
         "Jesus," Jamie muttered, "Dad and Mom tell me that You love me, and that You care for me. I believe them, because I know that they love me, and that they would never tell me something that wasn't true. I don't know if You can do this for me or not--maybe I'm too bad for You to hear me and answer my prayers--but my prayer and wish is that You would send me a friend. I don't know how to be friends with the kids at school, and I need help. Would You just help me somehow?"
         Jamie's reminiscing* on his family's camping trip was short-lived, as he was brought back to reality when Mrs. Noelle tapped her pointer on the blackboard. [*reminiscing: thinking back on past events]
         "All right, class time's beginning. Let's get out our history books, everyone."
         As Jamie opened his history book, he couldn't help but think, Is this the answer to my prayer? Is Jenny the friend that God is sending me? Could He really be answering my little prayer from that night, so many months ago? I'd totally forgotten about that!
         The day had come and gone, and Jamie was absorbed in his studies. So absorbed, in fact, that he stayed at his desk for five minutes after the bell had already rung in order to sort out his papers, and to jot down a few more notes off the blackboard.
         "Jamie," Mrs. Noelle said, as she headed for the classroom door, "you seem to be a most attentive student. I like that, and I think we'll have a lot of fun learning together."
         "I think so too, Mrs. Noelle. Thank you."
         So Jamie was alone, or so he thought, when he felt a hand tap him on the shoulder. His head spun around to see Jenny standing beside him, with book in hand.
         "Oh, you scared me! I thought I was alone in here."
         "I'm sorry I scared you, Jamie. I didn't mean to. I just wanted to say goodbye. See you tomorrow!"
         "Uh, goodbye! See you tomorrow too " Jamie said, with a smile on his face.
         Jamie's spirit felt lighter, and it seemed so much easier to get up from his chair and begin the trek* out to the parking lot where Mom would be waiting for him. [*trek: slow-moving and difficult journey]
         "So Jamie, how was your first day of school? I came a little early today, and just happened to bump into your new teacher, Mrs. Noelle. She seems to be such a nice lady."
         "Yes, she really is, Mom. And I had a good day!"
         Surprised at Jamie's enthusiasm, she smiled and said, "Well, Jamie, that's just wonderful! I'm so happy for you. You'll have to tell me all about it on the way home!"
         Days passed, and Jamie and Jenny became better friends. Now it didn't seem to matter much to Jamie when Billy would corner him against his locker, or would threaten to beat him up, or would call him names in front of the other kids.
         Now that Jamie had Jenny as his friend, he was so happy that all the rest didn't seem to matter much. Now he didn't care whether or not the other kids liked him, or whether they were his friends or not.
         One day when Jamie and Jenny were talking, Jenny said, "Jamie, I have something to tell you, but I don't think you're going to want to hear it."
         "What is it?" Jamie cautiously asked, a million awful thoughts racing through his head. She's going to tell me that she's not going to be my friend anymore, he thought and cringed*. [*cringe: to anxiously expect the worst]
         "Well, Jamie," said Jenny, "I'm very happy to be your friend, but I don't think it's right for you to not care about any of the other kids. It seems like it doesn't matter to you whether or not they are your friends, or whether they say good or bad things about you. I know that they're not being very nice to you, but you're not going out of your way to be friendly or nice to them either. Actually, now it seems like more and more you're just pretending that they don't even exist."
         Jamie was silent for a moment, as he pondered what Jenny was saying. It's true, he thought to himself. Now I don't care about the other kids. I don't care if they're not nice to me, and I don't even want to try to be nice to them.
         "Oh, I see what you mean," said Jamie. "I guess you're right. But am I supposed to be the one to be nice to them, when they're the ones saying mean things to me? I don't think that's fair."
         "Well, just because things don't seem fair to you, or it seems like someone else is being mean to you or unloving or unkind doesn't mean that you don't have to be loving and kind and friendly to them. You'll never get any friends like that. The way to get friends is to be friendly, even if it doesn't seem that the other person appreciates your kindness, or responds right away."
         "Okay, okay. I think I understand. I'll try to do something about that, and be nicer to the other kids. I'll try to be friendly. It's not that I don't want to be friends with the other kids, it's just that it doesn't seem like they want to be friends with me."
         "Well, like I said, sometimes you have to be the one to take the first step."
         "All right, I think I can do that with all the kids, except for Billy."
         "What do you mean, 'except for Billy'?"
         "Well, Billy's such a bully. He's always picking on me, and threatening to beat me up. He calls me bad names in front of the other kids, and is so mean to me. There's no way you're going to get me to be nice to him, when he's such a jerk to me."
         "Oh, Jamie. I think Billy is the one person that you need to be friends with the most."
         "That's ridiculous! Billy hates me, and I don't like him one bit. Besides, he can do all the things that I've always wanted to do, but can't. Then he picks on me, and I can't do anything about it. It's not fair that I have to be the one to be nice to him."
         "What are all the things that he can do that you can't do?"
         "Well, he can run and play sports. He's on the baseball team, and I've always wanted to play baseball, but of course, I can't. He's tough and macho, and has all the kids around him all the time. I've never had any friends. You're one of the first friends I've ever had. Plus, he's cool*." [*cool: neat, far-out [Note: The word "cool" can have different meanings, depending on how it is used.]]
         "You know what, Jamie? Sure, a lot of kids might think that Billy is cool. He can do all those things that you've always wanted to do, but can't, because of your legs. But God made you the way you are for a reason, and He didn't take away the use of your legs and give you nothing in return. He gave you something to replace what He took away."
         "And what's that?" Jamie shot back.
         "It's all those nice things inside you--the things that made me want to be your friend. It's your kindness and patience. You're such an interesting person, and you're not foolish and silly like the other kids. Plus, almost anybody can be cool on the outside, but only Jesus can make you cool on the inside, and that's what you are."
         Jamie just sat there silently for some time. Everything Jenny had said was true, but it seemed like it would be so difficult to be nice to Billy. What if when he tried to be nice to Billy and talk to him, Billy would just make fun of him all the more?
         "Come on, I know you can do it. Please try it. I believe that things can and will work out, and you'll be so much happier once you and Billy can be friends. Just start with something simple. Just be kind to Billy. Just say something nice to him. I know it's going to be hard, but it's worth it, I know."
         "Okay, okay. I'll think about it more and I'll try."
         "Thanks, Jamie. Well, I guess I'd better go home now. It's starting to get late. See you tomorrow at school!"
         "Okay. Bye, Jenny!"
         This was not going to be an easy task. But Jamie knew that Jenny was right, and he wanted to at least try, if for no other reason than that Jenny was his friend, and had asked him to.
         The next day there was an extended recess, so the guys all got together for baseball practice. Jamie sat watching through the window. He saw Billy get up to bat and make an incredible hit. For one second, Jamie thought, "Gosh, I can't believe it! How can he play so well and be so good at everything, when he's such a creep? It's just not fair!"
         Then he remembered what Jenny had told him: "Just start with something simple. Just be kind to Billy. Just say something nice to him."
         Jamie thought, Okay, I've got to think good thoughts. I can't be thinking bad thoughts about Billy, or I'm never going to be able to truthfully say anything that's nice to him.
         Soon recess was over, and Jamie headed into the hallway on his way to the bathroom. All the guys from his class were coming in from the baseball game.
         All of a sudden, Billy tripped and everything he was carrying flew out of his arms and landed on the floor. Billy's sunglasses shot down the hallway, landing nearly at Jamie's feet.
         What should I do? Jamie thought? All eyes were on Jamie, as everyone knew how Billy picked on Jamie, and how Jamie must hate him.
         He paused for a minute, and then bent down to pick up Billy's sunglasses. The hallway grew silent as Billy slowly walked over to Jamie. Jamie half-smiled and held out the sunglasses to Billy.
         Billy didn't smile. He snatched the glasses out of Jamie's hand, and proceeded to open his locker and stuff all his things in it. Jamie took a step towards him and said, "Hey, Billy, you played really well today. I was watching you."
         Taken by surprise, Billy said, "You were watching me? Hey, thanks!" Then Billy realized that all his friends were standing around him. The tone of his voice quickly changed and he said, "Well, yeah, it's my game after all, isn't it? It's certainly not yours."
         Their exchange ended there, and Jamie felt sad inside. He had tried his best to be kind, and it seemed to have almost worked for a minute, but then it didn't last so long. Jamie told Jenny about what had happened, and she encouraged him to keep trying.
         "That was just perfect," she said. "I wish I could have been there to see you. I'm so proud of you! I know it's tough, but I'm sure Billy appreciated your kindness. He just couldn't let himself show it cause all his other buddies were around, and he wouldn't want them to think that he's getting soft on you. Try to understand how he must be feeling and thinking."
         "Yeah, I guess I can imagine it would be difficult for him too, huh?"
         Days passed, and Jamie kept up his efforts of being kind, not only to Billy, but also to his other classmates. Similar instances occurred with Billy, where he seemed to be almost friendly towards Jamie, but then would snap back into his cool* self. [*cool: unfriendly or unresponsive; indifferent]
         Yet Jamie had to admit that Billy, although not totally friendly, was certainly not as rude and mean as he was before. He never called him names anymore, and didn't pick on him or bully him. So maybe it was worth it after all.
         Jamie began to get happier. Not only did he have Jenny as a friend, but he knew that he was doing his best to be friendly to the other kids, even if they weren't always so nice to him in return. That gave him a certain sense of satisfaction. Things had gotten better between him and the other kids, and he was glad about that. Yet he wasn't at all prepared for what was coming around the corner.
         It was Friday afternoon and the last hour of school for the day. Mrs. Noelle told everyone to put away their books and pack up their belongings.
         "What's going on, Mrs. Noelle?" Jamie asked. "Isn't this last hour our grammar review?"
         "Yes, Jamie, it normally is. But we're doing something different today." Jamie looked around the room. This was very unusual. But none of the other kids seemed to be worried in the least.
         Strange, Jamie thought. Okay, whatever.
         "Once everyone is packed up, then everyone head to the gym." Mrs. Noelle said. "Oh, Jamie and Jenny, you two can go to the library and read."
         Hmmm, that's odd, thought Jamie. Turning to Jenny, he said, "Why is everyone else going to the gym, but you and I are going to the library?"
         "Well, I'm not sure," Jenny said calmly. "Maybe it's because we're not the sporty type, and everyone else is. Mrs. Noelle knows that you and I are bookworms*, so maybe she's just letting us do what we enjoy. Let's not worry about it." [*bookworm: a person who enjoys and spends much time reading books]
         "Okay, sounds good," Jamie said, and off they headed to the library.
         Within about fifteen minutes, the library silence was broken as Mrs. Noelle cracked the door and said, "Okay, you two, back to the classroom. Time is up."
         "What happens now?" Jamie asked.
         "Come on, come on, you two!" was the only response.
         Jamie and Jenny approached the darkened classroom door.
         "What happened to the lights?" Jamie questioned.
         Jenny pushed open the door and pulled Jamie in by the hand.
         "Surprise! Surprise!!" shouted all his classmates.
         The lights turned on, and before Jamie's wide eyes was a decorated classroom, with all his classmates sitting on their desks, smiling--and this was all for him? He couldn't believe it! He must be dreaming!
         But no, he wasn't! On the colorfully decorated blackboard were written the words, "We think you're the greatest, Jamie!" He glanced around the room, and yes, there was Billy! Even Billy had a party hat on, and was joining in on the fun!
         "Come on in, Jamie! Come on in and sit down here at the front of the classroom," Mrs. Noelle said cheerily. "This is going to be so much fun! Okay, who wants to tell Jamie what's going on here?"
         "I do!" rang out a voice from the back of the classroom. All heads turned to see Billy, his face lit up with a big smile as he made his way to the front of the class.
         "Well, Billy," Mrs. Noelle said, "I'm very happy to have you explain to Jamie what all this is about. Go right ahead!"
         "Okay everyone," Billy began, "I've got something to say here that's very important. I don't get up here very often in front of the whole class and talk to you all, and as you all know, I hardly ever talk to Jamie. So this is meant to make up for all those times when I didn't say anything nice to you, Jamie.--Or even worse, when I said bad things to you. Hey, I'm sorry, Jamie.
         "We all here have been talking about you, Jamie. You know, when school first started and we first met you, we didn't know anything about you, and we weren't very nice to you. But now that we know you better, we've all seen what a nice guy you are. We all have been talking about it, and we decided that we wanted to make you our 'favorite student' of the class.
         "Not only are you our favorite classmate, but we think you're the bravest one too. All of us who don't have anything to complain about, who are healthy and can run around and do all the things that you would like to do, were ashamed to realize that you were the one who was kind to us, when we weren't nice to you.
         "So we all want to apologize for that, and especially me, 'cause I think you're a really great guy, Jamie. I want to be your friend, and we all do.
         "So this little party is just to kick off all of our friendship with you. We want to say thanks for letting us be your friends. We don't know how you did it, how you managed to keep being nice to us when we should have been the ones being nice to you. We all think you're the greatest in this class!"
         With that, Billy came up to Jamie, and gave him a hug and whispered something in his ear. No one heard what he said, but it must have been good, 'cause Jamie broke out in a smile and Billy returned to his seat looking happier than he'd looked in a long time. They were friends, and so was everyone in the classroom.
         Jamie couldn't believe it was really happening. But the party wasn't over yet.--It was just the beginning.
         All his classmates came up and started talking to him, and then each one gave him a small gift that they'd gotten for him. Then out came the snacks--cakes, cookies, biscuits, juice and treats that each kid had brought with them from home.
         "Gosh, guys. I don't know what to say! I'm speechless. You all are wonderful, and I couldn't want any better classmates than you all. Thanks a million!" Jamie said.
         Then Jamie remembered. "Everyone, I've got one other thing I want to tell you. Remember Billy said how he didn't know how I did it?--Being nice to you all, even if you all weren't nice back to me? Well, I want to tell you a little bit about that. It wasn't always that way.
         "A couple of months ago, I prayed and asked Jesus for a friend. He answered my prayer, and He gave me a best friend--Jenny. But not only did Jesus answer my prayer for a friend, He gave me even more than that. He gave me a friend who taught me how to make friends.
         "Jenny helped me to learn to be nice to all of you. So I can't take any of the credit for being a nice guy. I'm normal, just like the rest of you. It's just that God answered my prayer, and gave me a friend who taught me how to be friendly."
         "He sure did," said Billy, from the back of the room. "Not only did God teach you how to make friends, but God showed all of us how He wants us to be, and how great it is when we're all friends together. And He also taught us how we're all just the same. Your legs don't make any difference anymore. You're just as normal as the rest of us. It's so incredible!"
         It certainly is incredible! Jamie thought to himself. And what Billy said proved true: Jamie's legs did not make a difference for the rest of his life. He had learned how to overcome his handicap and how to find love and friendship--by giving love and friendship to others.

End


Copyright (c) 1998 by Aurora Productions