NOTE: This is a fictional retelling of a Bible story. See the footnote at the bottom of the narrative for
the scripture passage that inspired this modern version of the biblical account.
Jeb and Molly Breakman knew a rainy day could be bad for the income of their family-run petting zoo of cows, donkeys, sheep, and even a camel. Although it was Saturday, kids and parents were not going to slosh through this kind of weather to get to their three big barns to see all the animals. When the end of the work day finally came, Molly, Jeb, and their ten kids were exhausted from answering the same animal questions over again (like where do camels get their humps), feeding the animals, and cleaning their stalls.
Jeb and Molly had plans tonight for just the
two of them to have dinner out, and go to a good movie playing at the local movie
theater. Jeb and Molly’s ten kids and their spouses would all be gathered for a
family meal at the home of their oldest son Jym. This was a way for the family
to celebrate the end of the work week, discuss changes that needed to be made
at the petting zoo, and bond with each other over a good meal.
As Jeb’s truck pulled onto the main road
leading to the restaurant and theater, Molly looked back, and thanked God for
the blessing of having her children close by. She panicked as she screamed for
Jeb to turn the truck around, and head for Jym’s housing development just down
the road.
An angry black swirling tornado was headed
straight for her oldest son’s home. Deep sorrow burrowed itself inside Molly’s
as she realized there was nothing she could do if that tornado made splinters
of her Jym’s house. It would be a miracle if any one survived. Their truck
arrived at a once lovely house just after the tornado had made a catastrophe of
it.
Molly and Jeb frantically yelled their family
member’s names for hours until they were hoarse from the effort. Both Jeb and
Molly were there the next day when all seventeen dead bodies were excavated
from the wreckage by local firefighters.
Two days later all of Jeb and Molly’s ten children
(and their spouses) were buried in a mass funeral. Due to the emotional fatigue
of that day, Jeb and Molly did not hear the storm that hit the electrical wires
surrounding the three barns as they slept soundly through the night. The barns
burned to the ground, and the zoo animals cried for help as they suffocated
to death. What Molly
and Jeb saw from their bedroom window the next morning was horrible and
heart-breaking. Molly’s panicky gaze gave Jeb the unspoken message to view
himself in a full-length hall mirror.
Molly soon heard a scream as Jeb realized his
entire body was covered in painful big red, boils from head to foot. They
immediately went to the emergency room for treatment. In the examining room,
Molly looked at Jeb with all her pent up rage and stated before the doctor
entered. “Does God hate us? Why don’t you let Him know what you really think of
Him? Death would be better for both of us then to have to live through all of
this pain.”
Jeb calmly spoke, “Molly, you know I love
you, but you don’t really mean what you’re saying right now. Pain is speaking
for you. We have to love God through both the good and bad in life. “
Little did Jeb and Molly know that a ray of
happiness was about to break through on her smart phone. Molly’s phone buzzed
loudly. When she opened it, Molly heard their local sheriff speaking from the
other end.
“Molly, tell Jeb we found all of your
grandchildren very much alive, a bit dirty, bruised, and dehydrated. They were
holed up in the in basement of your son’s house when we heard them knocking and
shouting for help. Our ambulances are bringing them to the hospital for a full
examination.” Both Molly and Jeb’s
hearts were overjoyed. Jeb was admitted into the hospital. Soon Molly was
running back between examination rooms to see how everyone was.
The oldest grandchild, twelve year-old
Kellie, asked Molly several profound questions. “Grandma, does God hate us with
all the bad stuff that’s happen to our family lately? Is He trying to test us
or something?”
Molly’s wrinkled hands gently held her
granddaughter’s smudged face as she spoke with a smile. Having her children’s
kids was like somewhat having her children back from the dead. Molly could see
so much of her kid’s looks and mannerisms in her grandchildren. God was good to
give Jeb and her so many precious gifts in her grandchildren for both her and
Jeb to minister to.
“Kellie, God loves each one of us. I don’t
know the reason He’s allowed all these horrible things to happen. He must have
an awful big plan for all of us.” Molly said as she fiercely hugged her
granddaughters that she loved with every bone in her body.“God is at work in your life right now. He is directing your steps. What you thought was a setback is going to turn out to be a setup.”(DailyScrolls.com)[i]
[i] Adapted from: All for One: The Towns of Ohio
Complete Trilogy by Robert Kinker, Book Two: Chapter Eight ”The Test,” Job 1:1-2, 10, 42:13-14
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