Short Stories

---

Season of salvation
The Salad Bowl was a spacious, warm, and inviting restaurant with the best all natural buffet in town. The color scheme was forest green with hanging plants and various rare and beautiful flowers throughout. With three waterfalls, the sounds of nature in the background, and a health conscious menu, this was the place for all environmentalist and vegetarians.
Jan and Sue had eaten lunch together, four days a week for the better part of 15 years. It had become an anchor for a deep and abiding friendship. They had laughed, cried, and worked together. As Jan considered her friend, she knew that the relationship had been a work of God.
It was a beautiful afternoon and both women were glad to get out of the office. Jan could see that something was wrong with Sue. She was unusually quiet and toyed with her salad, eating very little. Jan wanted to say something, but knew in her spirit that it was time to wait quietly.
Have your way, Lord. She prayed within herself.
Several minutes went by before Sue looked up. When she did, Jan could see the turmoil etched on her face.
“You have been a good friend.” She began.
Sue was silent again but did not look away. There was a look of trust and sincerity in her eyes. There was also pain as tears began to well up.
Jan desperately wanted to say something to comfort her friend, but was restrained by the Spirit. Tears slowly began to flow down her cheeks as their eyes communicated much more than their words.
“I’ve seen him, you know.”
Jan just nodded her head and listened.
“It is hard for me to admit, but this Jesus that you talk about has to be real because I am sure that I have seen him in you. I have watched your kindness to everyone. I have seen you suffer loss and find peace and comfort in your God. I’ve been jealous at times.”
Sue wiped away tears now as her face tightened.
“I was taught from a little girl that religion was for the weak, for those who needed some belief system to make it through life. I only trusted in myself. That is all that I had ever known, until I met you.”
She smiled for the first time since they left the office.
“It seems like a lifetime since we met.”
She hesitated for a moment, going back in her mind.
“I remember thinking that we wouldn’t be able to work together for more than a month. I assumed that you would try to force you religion down my throat, but you didn’t. It wasn’t long before I knew that there was something different about you.”
Jan smiled but still said nothing.
Could this be the day, Lord? She prayed silently.
“When Carol passed, I was devastated, and I was only the godmother. I couldn’t imagine the pain that you went through.”
Jan felt the loss as if it were yesterday. Carol, her precious daughter, had been taken from her suddenly and unexplainably. She was five years old when she died in her sleep.
“I was angry.” Sue continued. “I wanted it to make sense, but it didn’t. I wanted to be mad at God, but I didn’t believe in Him. If there was a God, I could not understand how or why he would allow this to happen. I expected you to curse your God, or shake your fist at Him, or something like that. Instead, I saw you thank Him.”
She shook her head in amazement.
“I couldn’t understand why you would do that.”
“You actually committed her to Him. I knew then that you had more than a nice moral code. I wanted what you have from that day on. I have wrestled with the voices of my past and I have watched your love for your God. I have come to the conclusion that I have been wrong.
Sue looked at her friend of so many years, took her hand in hers, and asked the question that Jan had waited so long to hear.
“Do you think that your Jesus would have any use for a tired old woman?”
Jan looked at Sue with the tenderness of heaven and the joy of endurance.
“He has been waiting for you. He has so much for you. He promised me many years ago that he would draw you to Himself.”
Jan raised her hand to heaven and blessed the Lord for His goodness.
“He loves you more than you could ever imagine. Let me share what He says about His great love for you and then we will pray.”
So with her pocket New Testament and a heart of joy, Jan introduced her dear friend to her very best friend:
Jesus Christ

---

PLEASE ENCOURAGE AUTHOR BELOW LEAVE COMMENT ON ARTICLE