Healing

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For there is hope
for a tree,
if it be cut down,
that it
will sprout
again,
and that its shoots
will not cease.
[Job 14:7]
*****************************
"Can You do somethin'
about my SHRUBS,
LORD?"

[LOVING SMILE!]
"What do you wish
Me to do,
child?"

"GROW THEM!"

[CHUCKLE.]

"WELL?
(Spoon some rainbow flavored
sherbet from the cold carton.)
Why NOT?
(Hold spoon out for scruffy cat.)
I'm EMBARRASSED!
The NEIGHBORS!
They're so TINY!"

[PATIENT SILENCE.]

"Can't You do SOMETHING?"

[NOD.]
"Yes, My beloved.
[PAUSE.]
But, you must do your
part."

(Squirm.)
"Yeah.....last summer,
I didn't water too much,
DID I?"

[PATIENT GAZE.]
"Uh, uh."

(Impatient frown.)
"Yeah.....but, what
about NOW?"

[APPROVING NOD.]
"These things take
time, My precious."

"Do You think I should
throw some DETERGENT
on THEM?"

[LOVING GAZE.]

"Somebody told me to
do that."

[SMILE.]

"What d'Ya think.
(Squint.)
I've got some orange smelling
DISH detergent.
(Thoughtful squint.)
Ya think THAT do somethin'?"

[PATIENT SILENCE.]

"It's been three and HALF
YEARS, Lord!
And, They ain't doin' NOTHIN'!"

[NOD.]

(Chuckle!)
"They're almost as old as
my DIVORCE, Lord!"
(Grimmace.)

[NOD.]
"Yes, child.
I know."

(Sorrowful squint.)
"Yeah......'think there's
some kinda RELATIONSHIP,
here, LORD?"

[PATIENT SILENCE.]

"Yeah....if I were one these
great WRITERS, I'd be
makin' some sorta poetic
COMPARISON between them!"

"Between what, child."

"Aren't You LISTENING?
(Kvetchy glance up at ceiling.)
(Yell up at ceiling fan.)
Between the progress I'VE MADE,
and how tiny my SHRUBS ARE!"

[WISE NOD.]

"Yeah.....and Ya haven't
done anything about THAT,
either!"

"What is it you want Me to
do, child."

(Laugh!)
"Give me AMNESIA?"

[GENTLE SMILE.]

"Yeah.....the problem is,
with DIVORCE, even the
HAPPY memories have
a sickly SWEETNESS about
'em, Ya KNOW?"

[LONG SILENCE.]

"Yeah.....like, they
sorta make you wanna
throw-UP!"
(Chuckle.)

[SILENCE.]

"So, what d'Ya think,
Lord? Should I spray
some orange-smelly
Ajax DETERGENT
on myself? Ya think
THAT would work?"
(Funny smile.)

"All you need to do,
My beloved....."

"Yeah?
(Yell up towards the ceiling.)
WHAT?"

"Read My Word, child.
[PAUSE.]
And,
just whisper
for Me."
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Jesus said to her,
Everyone who drinks
of this water
will thirst again.
But whoever drinks
of the water
that I shall give him
will never thirst;
the water that
I shall give him
will become
in him
a spring of water
welling up to
eternal life.
[John 4:13-14]

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