The parson was trying to get back into the routine of living. He and Charlie Brown, his faithful cannine companion, had resumed their morning walks around the Quik Trip, America's best convenience store stop. Then they headed down the back roads, over the wooden bridge, past the hawk's nest and over to the church.
The parson gathered the sympathy cards and other mail from the box and headed inside to check the phone messages.
He plopped himself into the rocker that had not held his weary body in two weeks. Charlie Brown curled himself into a ball in the corner with a grunt. The parson began to open envelopes, sorting the cards from the other mail. He had not opened a dozen when the door banged open. Charlie Brown raised his head quickly, but spying the source of the noise tucked his head down again.
“Hi, Parson,” squealed Helen Morris, a energy-filled three-and-a-half year old. She bounded across the room and leaped into the parson's lap.
She'd barely settled on the parson's lap when her mother entered. “I'm sorry, Parson,” she said. “She saw your car and got excited that you're back.” Helen's mom then asked, “How are you coping.”
“I'm okay for where I am,” said the parson. “She's not bothering me. Let her stay a few minutes.”
“Are you sure? I'm just taking a quick inventory of the pantry.”
“I'm glad she's here,” said the parson.
Helen's mom left. The parson asked Helen about her day. She said it was a good day. The parson asked her about her brother. He learned he was fine and was off with her daddy. And then Helen brought it up.
“Mom told me that Ms. Parson is with Jesus.”
“She is,” said the parson. “She is.”
“Who's going to teach my Sunday school class?”
“I don't know, Helen. Who taught it last Sunday?”
“Ms. Redding taught it. She was pretty good. We had fun, but Ms. Parson used to color with us.”
“She liked to color.”
The parson decided to change the subject. “So, Helen, did you ask Santa to bring you anything?”
She squirmed around to look the parson in the face. “I asked him to bring me three rainbows.”
The parson was surprised. “You asked Santa for a rainbow.”
“Yes, three rainbows.”
“Why do you want a rainbow?”
“'cause. A rainbow is a promise from God. That's what my Aunt Verna said.”
“A rainbow is a promise from God, Helen. I think that's a wonderful thing to ask for.”
“Thank you,” she said. “I hope I get it, but it's pretty big for a sleigh.”
The parson was about to attempt to explain how big Santa's sleigh really was when Helen's mother returned. Helen jumped off the parson's lap before her mother told her to. As her feet hit the floor she proclaimed, “Bye, Parson. I have to go.”
“Bye, Helen,” said the parson, smiling. “Have a good Christmas.”
“I will, Parson,” she said. She turned to leave with her mother but then turned back and came to the side of the parson's rocker. She cupped her hands to whisper a secret. The parson leaned down.
“I'm going to ask Santa to bring you a rainbow, too.”
Praying for you, and for God's promises.
Posted by: Songbird | December 23, 2010 at 07:13 PM