Beyond C – Part 2

 Good morning, FFFs,

After the troubling news of this week, and the difficult news of yesterday, you may not feel like calling today a "good day." But it is. It's good because God is already here. He already knew what was going to happen. It didn't take Him by surprise, and He still has a plan. His purpose is so much greater than our own. I know it's hard to see beyond the right here and right now, but let's look up. Let's turn our eyes to the ultimate Author and Finisher and rest in the fact that He will finish the story. He will use even this seeming disaster for His glory.

Okay, my little sermon is done.

I haven't done much writing this week. Part of it was because I was finishing up some things, part of it was because of the trouble going on and I just couldn't seem to focus. However, I did write my "Anything" story. If you don't know what that is, a group of us from KDWC decided it would be fun to all write a short story for the title "Anything" and share them at camp this month. I had originally planned to write something different, but . . . *shrug*

Speaking of camp, we only have a little over a week left before it starts up again. The time has gone by very quickly. At least for me.

How has your new year gone so far. (All politics aside.) Mine has been good. I've gotten some things organized and tidied, and have taken care of odds and ends. I still have more that I'd like to do, but I feel like I've made good progress.

But here is the next part of this story. I hope you enjoy it.

 

Beyond Comfort

Part 2

*

    The whole room smelled. And it wasn’t a pleasant smell either. Jessica glanced around and saw cribs lining the walls and bumped up against one another to form a sort of island in the middle. Every crib had at least one baby. Some babies cried, others whimpered or lay with wide eyes. Some had bands of cloth tying their arm or leg to the side of the crib. Jessica felt tears sting her eyes. How could anyone treat these precious babies this way? She wanted to gather them all up and take them home. She knew families who would open their arms and their hearts to these unwanted little ones.
    “Jessica,” Miss Pendleton called quietly.
    Blinking back the hot tears, Jessica hurried across the room.
    “I know this is hard,” Miss Pendleton murmured. “I want to take the babies away myself. But these caregivers are doing the best they know how. That’s why we came. To help. Can you change diapers? Cuddle babies?”
    “Yes.”
    “Good. Then let’s get to work.”
    Soon Jessica was busy. She cuddled babies, changed diapers, sang softly to some, played peek-a-boo with others, gave bottles, and tried to give every child she could a little attention.
    When she reached out an empty arm to take another baby from Dr. Lewis, he gave her a quizzical look. “You already have a baby, Jessica.”
    “I know, but this arm is empty. I have twin nephews back home, so I’m used to having a baby in each arm.”
    Dr. Lewis made no comment but placed the crying infant in her arm.
    Softly, Jessica began to sing as she gently swayed and bent her knees in what her mom termed “the baby bounce” move. When the little one began to quiet, she pressed a kiss to the wispy black hair. One of the Chinese women came to take the other baby who had fallen asleep, and when her left arm was empty, Jessica cuddled the still fussing baby close and began to hum. The child calmed and relaxed, one hand gripping the neckline of her shirt. If only . . . Jessica bit her lip and refused to finish the sentence.
    “Keep these little ones safe in your arms, Father,” she whispered as tears blurred her eyes.

    Leaving that orphanage and all those precious little ones was the hardest thing Jessica had ever done. She didn’t say one word on the drive back to the compound, and when Mrs. Kelly asked her if she was all right, she nodded. But she wasn’t all right. Not really. Her heart had been broken, torn into pieces, shredded by each tear, each soiled diaper that hadn’t been changed, each smelling baby she had cuddled in her arms.
    She went to her room that night and lay staring at the ceiling in the dark. She had known this trip would take her beyond the comfort of everything she had always known, but she hadn’t expected it to be quite so hard.

*

    The weak crying of a small baby made Jessica look up from the weeds she was pulling in a flower bed near the front gate. It was too windy for the youngest members of the orphanage to be outside, but she knew she heard a cry. Standing up, she looked around. The gate opened and she saw May Ling, one of the caregivers at the center hurrying toward her with a blanket-wrapped bundle in one arm and a basket in the other.
    “What is it?” Jessica asked, reaching out for the bundle without thinking.
    “Someone left a baby.” May Ling released the crying baby to Jessica. “A girl. We must get her inside.”
    Jessica cradled the baby in her arms and crooned to it softly as she matched steps with May Ling. “Poor little thing, did you get left? It’s all right now. You’re safe. We’ll get you clean and warm and put some milk in your tummy. Shhh, now.” She wondered if the baby would understand her better if she could speak Chinese. Did babies understand any language?
    There was a flurry of Chinese words when May Ling and Jessica entered the Baby House, as one of the buildings was called.
    “You go on,” Jessica said, waving away one of the other volunteers who offered to take the child. “I’ll stay here with the baby for a bit.” Nurse Pendleton took the child, and moments later Dr. Lewis arrived. Jessica could only stand by and watch helplessly as the baby was examined, washed, and dressed in clean clothes. A bottle was fixed and held to the baby’s lips, but the child continued to cry.
    Dr. Lewis turned his head and saw her. “Do you want to try, Jessica? You seem to have a way with little ones.”
    Nodding, since she didn’t trust herself to speak, Jessica took the infant and held it close to her heart, humming the first thing that came to her mind as she gently swayed back and forth, bending a knee slightly with each movement. Gradually the crying ceased, and Jessica shifted the baby so she could see her little face.
    The little eyes were closed and the tiny mouth moved in little sucking motions.
    “Poor thing,” Jessica murmured to the baby. “You are hungry but were too frightened and tired to eat.”
    “It looks that way.”
    Startled, Jessica turned her head and saw Dr. Lewis, two of the “aunties,” and the tall young man who had carried her pack at the airport. She couldn’t remember his name. They were all watching her, and she looked away feeling shy.
    “You want me to take her now?” May Ling asked, coming forward.
    “No, I think she’d wake up and start crying again.” To her relief, Dr. Lewis agreed with her, left directions for a bottle to be ready when the child woke up, and then left with the tall volunteer.
    Jessica didn’t mind how long she had to hold the baby. Somehow it helped ease the pain of the day before, knowing that this child would have love and attention. “Precious little thing,” she murmured, dropping a light kiss on the tiny head nestled under her chin.
 

How was your week?

Are you still enjoying this story?

Would you like to write a story titled "Anything"?