As Talia approached her fifth year without a cure, even after visiting various physicians, her husband demanded she visit her parents for a while. And unsurprised to her, she has been at her family home since then and hadn’t seen her husband or children. She knew Omer would find a way to get rid of her because as the illness prolonged, her husband withdrew gradually as if she was already dead.
“Talia, how are you doing today?” asked her Aima. She visits her daughter regularly at the outhouse, keeping her company and was also a voice of reason.
A few weeks after she moved back home, she remembered waking from an afternoon nap to banging outside her bedroom window.
“Abba! What are you doing?” she asked surprised her father was doing the work his servants could have done or should be doing.
“My Angel, I can’t bear you being out here lonely constantly…” he replied as he continued his work. “Or seeing your Aima sitting on the floor when she wants to talk with you. I’ve decided to put a bench here, that we all can use.” Tears had filled her eyes as she had watched him work.
Dragging herself back to the present she answered her mother by asking the same questions she had asked over the years.
“Why is the Almighty One punishing me? What have I done wrong to deserve this?”
Her mother’s answer had always been the same, “We can’t question the Almighty One. He has His reasons.” Instead, this time she said, “Even though the flocks die in the fields, and the cattle barns are empty. Yet I will rejoice in the Lord!” It was one of Prophet Habakkuk’s sayings, it didn’t seem relevant to her since she wasn’t one of the animals mentioned. Yet, at the same time, she understood what her mother was saying.
Talia felt more like the lamenting prophet, Jeremiah: “I am the one who has seen the afflictions that come from the rod of the Lord’s anger. He has led me into darkness, shutting out all light… He has buried me in a dark place, like those long dead. He has walled me in, and I cannot escape. He has bound me in heavy chains. And though I cry and shout, he has shut out my prayers.” But she didn’t say it out, it would just increase her mother’s stress.
“I saw Chananel yesterday,” said her mother after a while changing the direction of their conversation. “He said he will visit later today…He’s been on a business trip.” He had told Talia he would be away the last time he visited her.
Chananel had been Talia’s childhood friend and as she grew up, she thought they were going to get married. But her father had put an end to their friendship and arranged her marriage to a friend of his—Omer’s father. To her surprise, once Chananel had heard that she was back home, he had visited regularly. He was one of those that sat on the bench outside her window besides her parents. She has wondered over the years why he wasn’t married. He was handsome, a successful businessman and most of all God-fearing. She had tried asking him but he was evasive.
As promised, he visited later that day. He told her about his journey and business trip.
“While I was on my trip, I heard about this man. Some are saying he might be Prophet Elijah or even Moses. He’s been performing miracles like raising the dead, opening the eyes of the blind and even releasing people from evil spirits.” He spoke with enthusiasm. “He is also a great teacher; I’ve heard him a few times. The great news is he is visiting our town soon…Do you know what this means, Talia? This is your time!”
(To be continued.)
Italics – Bible verses: Habakkuk 3:17-18, Lamentations 3:1-2, 6-7.
Stay blessed,
LaraLex
Hills and Valleys 