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WhtDove Member Rara Avis
since 1999-07-22
Posts 9245Illinois 
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I think I need to add a bit more of the story...I sure hope many of you if not all of you will be intrigued enough to find these books. Hadassah stroked her mother's hair again. Silence lay upon her like a hot shroud; the pain in her empty belly was almost beyond endurance. Only yesterday she had wept bitterly when her mother had uttered thanks to God for the meal Mark had been able to scavenge for them: shield leather from a dead Roman soldier. How long before they all died? Grieving in the silence, she could still hear her father speaking to her in that firm but gentle voice. "It's not possible for men to avoid fate, even when they see it beforehand." Hananiah had spoken these words to her scant weeks ago-though now it seemed like an eternity. He had prayed all that morning, and she had been so afraid. She had known what he was going to do, what he had always done before. He would go out before the unbelievers and preach about the Messiah, Jesus of Nazareth. "Why must you go out again and speak to those people? You were almost killed the last time." "Those people, Hadassah? They're your kinsman. I'm a Benjaminite." She could still feel his gentle touch on her cheek. "We must seize every opportunity we can to speak the truth and proclaim peace. Especially now. There's so little time for so many." She had clung to him then. "Please, don't go. Father, you know what'll happen. What'll we do without you? You can't bring peace. There is no peace in this place!" "It is not the world's peace I speak of, Hadassah, but God's. You know that." He had held her close. "Hush, child. Do not weep so." She wouldn't release him. She knew they wouldn't listen-they didn't want to hear what he had to tell them. Simon's men would slash him to pieces before the crowd as an example of what became of those who spoke for peace. It had happened to others. "I must go." His hands had been firm, his eyes gentle, as he had tipped her chin. "Whatever happens to me, the Lord is always with you." He'd kissed her, hugged her, then put her away from him so he could embrace and kiss his other two children. "Mark, you will remain here with your mother and sisters." Grabbing and shaking her mother, Hadassah had pleaded, "You can't let him go! Not this time!" "Be silent, Hadassah. Who are you serving by arguing so against your father?" Her mother's reprimand, though spoken gently, had struck hard. She had said many times before that when one did not serve the Lord, they unwittingly served the evil one instead. Fighting tears, Hadassah had obeyed and said no more. Rebekkah had laid her hand against her husband's gray-bearded face. She had known Hadassah was right; he might not return, probably wouldn't. Yet, perhaps, if it was God's will, one soul might be saved through his sacrifice. One might be enough. Her eyes had been full of tears and she could not-dared not-speak. For if she had, she was afraid she would join Hadassah in pleading that he stay safe in this small house. And Hananiah knew better than she what the Lord willed for him. He had placed his hand over hers and she had tried not to weep. "Remember the Lord, Rebekkah," he had said solemnly. "We are together in him." He had not returned. Hadassah leaned down over her mother protectively, afraid she would lose her, too. "Mother?" Still no response. Her breathing was shallow, her color ashen. What was taking mark so long? He had been gone since dawn. Surely the Lord would not take him as well... In the silence of the small room, Hadassah's fear grew. She stroked her mother's hair absently. Please, God. Please! Words wouldn't come, at least not any that made sense. Just a groaning from within her soul. Please what? Kill them now with starvation before the Romans came with swords or they suffered the agony of a cross? Oh, God, God! Her plea came, inarticulate and desperate, helpless and full of fear. Help us! Why had they ever come to this city? She hated Jerusalem. Hadassah fought against the despair inside her. It had become so heavy, it felt like a physical weight pulling her into a dark pit. She tried to think of better times, of happier moments, but those thoughts wouldn't come. [This message has been edited by WhtDove (edited 02-20-2000).] |
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WhtDove Member Rara Avis
since 1999-07-22
Posts 9245Illinois |
I hope you have all been able to read this one, I didn't know. |
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