Grace | Previous Challenge Entry

how it works

TITLE: Grace | Previous Challenge Entry
By Lindsey Lillard
09/15/22
LEAVE COMMENT ON ARTICLE
SEND A PRIVATE COMMENT
ADD TO MY FAVORITES

The baby was crying.

Abra sat up, bleary-eyed, reaching for her daughter in the darkness. Her fingers brushed against the pillow beside her. The baby was not there. She sat up, fumbling around the bed. The cries grew louder. Abra jumped from the bed, pulling back the covers.

“Sam!” She cried, trying to feel the floor in the darkness. “Sam, bring a lamp!” The baby choked, coughed, and cried again.
“Sam!”
The door flung open and Sam strode in, a lamp in his hand.
“What’s the matter?”

“The baby,” The crying stopped abruptly. “Where’s the baby Sam?” She moved past him towards the door. “Where is she?”

“Abra,” he grabbed her arm as she passed. “Look at me.” He held her still. “She’s gone. Grace is gone.”

It all came back. The long, agonizing hours. The unbearable pain. She had breathed through it, content with only Sam beside her. The pain had purpose. She was bringing their baby into the world.

In the brief moments of respite she would imagine dark eyes, just like Sam’s, peeking out at her from under long lashes.

With one final push the baby girl had entered the world.

There was silence.

Stillness.

Sam’s face, tears pouring down it.

There were only a few shadowed memories of the next few days. The quiet movement of Sam in the main room of the cabin; changing sheets and gowns; a small, cold body pressed in her arms; A terrible aching in her body- in her heart.

Sam had told her it was only God’s grace that kept her alive. She had bled- he couldn’t stop it. There was no way to get to town and the doctor in the heavy snowfall. All he could do was pray. He said he had paced the small room for hours on end, pleading the blood of Jesus over his wife. It had stopped. She had lived.

He insisted the doctor come as soon as possible.

She was fine, the doctor said. Couldn’t be healthier. He didn’t know why the baby hadn’t made it. “One of those unexplainable things.” He had said. “It does happen.”

Sam had insisted they name the baby Grace. Abra had agreed. It was a beautiful name.

But now, standing in the still room, Sam’s hands gripping her, it wasn’t enough. They had done their best. Each evening they sat side by side, Sam whittling the perfect cradle, Abra piecing quilts and making gowns. Even now, a pile of nappies sat ready by the bed. Small knitted blankets were piled near the rocker. They had prayed over Grace- what she would be, and how God would use her.

This empty home wasn’t enough.

“How do you bear it?” She whispered. The words nearly choked her. “How?” She knew it pained him too. It had taken hours to dig up snow and carve a grave into the frozen ground. Even one so small. She had seen his shoulders shaking with sobs, his face etched with grief as he held his child in his hands. But somehow, he stood strong. Somehow, he held her. Fed them and kept them both as she recovered.

“His grace, Abra. It’s always sufficient. In our weakness, in our pain, in our loss.”

“Don’t tell me about grace,” she began, pulling away from her husband and sinking back onto the bed.

“You’re alive,” He said gently, taking a seat beside her.

“Alive and childless. Hopeless.” She wished the words unsaid, but they hung there, the sentiment behind them very real. Several silent moments ticked by before she spoke again. “It hurts, Sam.”

“I know.” He wrapped an arm around her, drawing her close. “But He hurt too. He knows the pain of losing a child. He knows our feelings. All those emotions and pains, He’s felt them.” He paused, took a shaking breath. “That’s why His grace is sufficient. He knows what we need and He gives and takes out of love. He’s there, teaching us and carrying us through it all. That’s,” He paused, almost unable to carry on. “That’s why we had to name her Grace.” He whispered.

Abra nodded, leaning into Sam. They sat together, letting the tears fall as the room darkened around them. The cabin was growing cold. Wood would have to be put on the fire. The stack of blankets and gowns would have to be faced. But His grace was sufficient. He would show Himself strong in their weakness.

Tomorrow would come, and He would be enough.

PREVIOUS ENTRY | NEXT ENTRY
SUBMIT YOUR ENTRY FOR THIS WEEK'S CHALLENGE

The opinions expressed by authors may not necessarily reflect the opinion of FaithWriters.com.

If you died today, are you absolutely certain that you would go to heaven? You can be right now. CLICK HERE

JOIN US at FaithWriters for Free. Grow as a Writer and Spread the Gospel.