“Wow… What a tribulation!” the talk show host exclaimed, his eyes wide with astonishment. “Now, Madeline, since you can evidently hear Him so clearly, tell us, is there anything else that the Lord has to say to the people of the nations?”
I turned toward the camera and spoke with conviction, “This is what the Sovereign Lord says, ‘To every idol, every person who’s claimed a false god over the Lord Almighty. I have only just begun ... Listen to my words, unfaithful people of the lands. I will send a hurling ball of ash on my plains that will shake you. That will get your attention. I am not one of change; you may persuade me with your repentance, but my decisions are just and holy for I am righteous. I see it all, I hear it all. You think I am deaf; you think I am blind! AH, MY ANGER BURNS AGAINST THESE NATIONS. MY HAND CURLS IN RAGE.’”
“‘I will be quick to save my people, but hesitation will flee with the people who disown me. I provide the water over the plains, the air that you breathe. You blink because of me. AH! Rip your shirts and cover your heads. I am coming. Yes, I am coming …’”
I walked into my old room, scanning things that I’d no longer missed. I grabbed the photo of me and Abby. Oh, how much I’ve missed you, I thought to myself. All of this, I continued, is just so hard to believe, even though I lived through it. I stared at the photo and heard soft footsteps enter my room. I gasped under my breath and looked where they were coming from, with wide eyes as my chest tightening.
“It’s okay, honey. It’s just Momma.”
Tears filled my eyes as I shook my head, “I am sorry.”
“No,” she said and rushed toward me and enveloped me in a tight embrace. “Don’t ever be sorry for this, Madeline.”
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“I just don’t know how to get over it.” I dug my head into her shoulder. Smelling her aroma, I grasped her shirt, fingers tightening around it as if this was a dream. “I don’t ever want to disobey you again.”
“Oh, honey,” she said, and sniffled, slowly caressing my head. “I never want to let you go.”
“Jesus saved me, Mom.”
“I knew He would.”
I quickly looked at her, still grasping onto her denim cotton blue shirt. “But … I can’t help but wonder why He didn’t save Abigail, even though I know why.”
She brushed her hand over my face and said, “Some things you can’t understand, and that is okay. The only thing you can do is trust Jesus to heal you from what you went through. And, please know that I will always be here to listen.”
Dad came in, and as he saw Mom embracing me, he embraced me, too.
I gasped as several tears ran down my face, saying, “I love you, Dad, I love you guys so much.” I tightened my jaw, feeling so much relief that I finally got to speak to them again.
Kord rushed in and squeezing himself in, he enveloped my waist, excitedly saying, “We even have meatloaf now every Friday!”
I laughed under my breath and shuffled his hair, feeling such bliss, such joy – that the terrors of my time in that abyss – started to drift back into my mind for another day.
Mom and Dad tucked me in as Kord went off to bed. As they left, they both kissed me on the cheek and uttering a soft, I love you, they switched off the light and closed my door.
In relief, I pulled the covers over me but in hesitation from the cold breeze trailing in my room, I got up and walked toward the window. I reached for the handle, smelling the salty breeze.
Suddenly, I heard the snap of a finger as if someone was trying to gain my attention. I rubbed my eyes and everything became bright. Opening them, I gasped at my sudden change of scenery. I was back on the pier with Abigal. Are you serious, Lord, I thought, What is going on? Wasn’t I already here?
“Maddy!” Abigail snapped at me again. “Come on, Ash is waiting …”
My mouth flung open. Again? We’re really doing all of this again!
A flutter tickled against my heart, then in a soft encouraging voice, the Lord said to me, I have only just begun …
