Anna's List | Previous Challenge Entry

how it works

TITLE: Anna's List | Previous Challenge Entry
By Allison Egley
08/28/08
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"Mommy, how much longer?"

"Not much longer now, honey. There are only a few more people ahead of us in line."

"But we've been waiting forever!"

Mary tousled Anna's hair and smiled. They had been on their feet all day, running errands, and now it was finally time. Anna had been waiting all day for this moment.

"Do you think he'll take my list?" Anna asked, her eyes hopeful.

"Yes, I think he will."

"But what about..." Anna's face fell, as she looked at her crutch.

"Don't worry, Anna. He sees children like you all the time. He won't mind."

Mary's mind wandered to everything she had to do before the relatives arrived. The shopping, the baking, the cleaning... so much to do and so little time. Never mind. It would get done eventually.

"Mom, what's taking so long?"

"Well, he wants to make sure he spends time with each child. He wants to make them feel special."

Anna peered around the children ahead of her in line, and looked at the man. "Mom, is he real? Can he really do everything he says?"

Mary knew what she was thinking, and didn't want her to get her hopes up, but she also didn't want to crush them. A general answer would be best. "A lot of people say he can."

The line inched its way forward. Anna was next; but his helpers pushed her aside. "We're sorry. That's enough for today. You'll have to come back some other time."

Anna looked at him. He saw her crushed expression and the long line of children behind her. With a laugh, he waved his helpers off. "I think I have some more time."

Anna's face brightened as she hobbled towards him. "Jesus!"

He knelt down and encouraged her to come close. "Anna."

"You know my name!"

"Yes, Anna. I know everything about you. I know what you have on your list right there. Will you read it to me?"

Anna nodded her head solemnly. "I love Jesus because: He loves me. He cares for me...."

Mary's eyes misted as she listened to her beautiful daughter read her carefully crafted list. Her heart stopped as Anna read the last item on the list. "He can heal me." Mary knew He could, but would He do that for Anna?

Jesus held Anna close. "My little daughter, your faith has healed you." Jesus tossed aside her crutch, and Anna ran towards her mother on two good legs.

Anna tackled her mother with a hug. "Mommy! It's true! He can do everything He said."

"Yes... He can." She bent down and said something to Anna she had waited for years to say. "Now you run on home. I'll catch up in a minute."

********
Based on Mark 10:14b
He said to them, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these." (NIV)

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