LIGHT IN DARKNESS

LIGHT IN DARKNESS  By Tessa Harvey THE STORM "But, right now, Phil, you have a bite. Come on, let's reel it in. It looks a whopper! Well done, buddy."      Phil flushed with the praise and the exertion of fighting the fish. Right now he was busy, but he intended to think about all this, about whether he chose to walk in the storms of life with the light of Christ or curse the unfairness of the world and walk on in darkness and bitterness. Only he could choose.     But first there was food to think about!     "Come on, dad. Race you home! I'll get the fish cooking!"     "Cheeky blighter," grinned his dad, hurrying through the grassy track to their old vehicle. Joy threads the days, if we let it. THE END FOR NOW

LIGHT IN DARKNESS  By Tessa Harvey THE STORM "Jesus smiled at Glad and the child was gone. It cried at the separation and so did my wife." Bill continued, his voice breaking, "Like the child, she so wanted to stay with Jesus. But it was not yet time."     At the hospital, the doctors were removing all the monitors from the dead baby. Pierce and Lois had pushed their way inside and were holding the child, weeping. Both were actually praying - broken, difficult prayers.     The doctors left and the nurse, Alice was watching over them. The baby cried a little. The blue skin turned softly pink and rosy and then she opened her eyes, looked at them intently, then went to sleep, well and peaceful."     "And they go to church sometimes, and like it," added Phil, himself still uncertain about all this. But the change to his mother had been real. She now seemed lit from within. "Dad," Phil suddenly asked, "there's a girl I like. We want to b...

LIGHT IN DARKNESS  By Tessa Harvey THE STORM Phil  asked, "I knew she thought she did." With sudden clarity, the young man realised his mother usually did not lie.     His dad paused. They had reached the riverbank, and the dark water swilled by, surging and swollen by recent rainstorms.      The two men cast their rods into the quieter pool, eddying near the bank. They had to be careful not to catch their lines on driftwood, piled nearer the shore.     "Your mother did, I believe, really see Jesus! She saw Him carrying a tiny baby and somehow knew this baby belonged to Pierce and Lois. The child was looking at Jesus and smiling, even though it was so young. The Lord was gazing with perfect love at the child, then He turned to face Gladys and His face shone with great grace and light. Power emanated from Him, the power that formed the universe into being. Glad knew Jesus was asking her what she would like to see happen in her life and in the...

LIGHT IN DARKNESS  By Tessa Harvey Phil ambled along beside his dad. It was a glorious late autumn day. Leaves drifted down, turning into a crunchy carpet underfoot. Belatedly, Phil realised he was scuffing the leaves as a child might, making small piles and treading them underfoot.     He could smell the odour of the leaves, warm and brown, which was stupid, he thought. How could you smell that?  He caught his dad watching out of the corner of his eye, a small smile curving his lips.     Bill had been spending much more time with him lately. Phil decided not to sulk, and hoisting the fishing rod more securely over his shoulder, he talked to his father about something had bothered him for a long time - his mother.     His dad listened attentively. "Did mum really see Jesus?"

LIGHT IN DARKNESS By Tessa Harvey THE STORM Years ago she had been taken to church by well-meaning people and for a while had been taken in by the sham and pretense. It was just a drama show, calculated to please and appease people, a good money -earner for the ones in authority. Then life had happened.     Alice had met the suave, charming doctor and had been swept off her feet. They were soon married, everyone approved, their happiness was perfect...until Alice had conceived. She was delighted, but her husband demanded that he be the centre of her world.  The pregnancy wasn't planned. He declared the foetus had to go. But Alice had bonded to the tiny life growing within her.     She appealed to her parents, her friends, the church, but no-one wanted to know. Never had she felt so alone.  

LIGHT IN DARKNESS  By Tessa Harvey THE STORM Alice looked warily at the child, uncertain how to proceed. She knew she could not leave her here alone. Just then a heavily pregnant young woman hurried into the room. She chided the child, then sat down awkwardly on the available chair.     "Hope is here, mum. So am I."  Lacey spoke hesitantly, wondering if she should wake the older lady. But Gladys opened her eyes and looked around. "Yes," she said, wonderingly, "Hope is here and you, Lacey, and we are not alone," repeated Gladys, her eyes shining bright and clear.     "I saw Jesus. He came into my nightmares and all is well." "He loves you too,"  Glad declared with great conviction, turning to Alice. "  You are precious to Him and honoured and He loves you! God loves you, dear!"     As soon as she could, Alice hurried to care for other patients, a storm raging in her heart, almost equal in intensity to the earlier ferocious wea...

LIGHT IN DARKNESS  By Tessa Harvey THE STORM Alice had been re-rostered to a women's ward after a hasty cup of tea and a warm scone. It tasted delicious with the butter melting into the welcome treat. Alice relished the warm sultanas and well-made mixture. She drained her strong tea, savoring each drop.     Feeling much better, she headed up the stairs. Her first patient was a Mrs. Gladys Hughes. Apparently she had a non life-threatening serious head wound and was being treated for shock and concussion     As the nurse entered the sunny room, she noticed to her surprise a little girl, chattering away, perched on the bed, swinging her legs. "Nan," she was calling, "wake up! It's me, Hope." With small fingers, she reached as though to pry open the woman's eyes, as no doubt she had often done before. Then Hope noticed the bandage and drew back a little.     "Hello," she then called out cheerfully to Alice. "My mum lost me, but I finded nan....

LIGHT IN DARKNESS By Tessa Harvey THE STORM Lacey had been left staring at her phone. She was shocked, having no idea Lois had been admitted to hospital. How could two family members be admitted for different reasons on the same day? It must have been the storm, she surmised and moved to walk on, calling her little girl.      But all she could see was Hope far ahead, skipping along. Faint snatches of song drifted back to her. Lacey sighed in frustration. Her little daughter was a determined child and hadn't noticed her mother had fallen behind. At eight months pregnant, Lacey knew she could not run, though she hurried as fast as she could. Her daughter was disappearing through the hospital doors.     Well, at least she was not near a busy road.