Items of Joy by Rachel Johnson (the giving tree read aloud .txt) 📕

that maybe, just maybe, this would help me figure out who I was and what my purpose was. Then I entered the church. At the back of the church I saw a statue of a man on a cross. He was dieing. There was blood on his forehead and his head was hanging down on his chest. Then it came to me. I had seen the look on his face before, on my own mother’s face as she was dieing. I remembered. I remembered everything. My whole past was spread out before me. It was like I was reliving my life in fast forward motion. I ran. I ran out of the church and down the street to my motel. I ran into my room and onto my bed. Wishing I had never remembered, I cried myself to sleep.
Life was easier before, when I was ignorant. Then it occurred to me that I had wanted to go to college. Those dreams and that orphanage seemed ages away. But I knew that it was what I should do. So I decided to go to a community college. Maybe a degree could get me a good paying job. After all, what did I have to lose? I signed up, went to a community college for 4 years and got a degree. Then, I met him…

The first time I ever laid eyes on him was as I was walking down the street. He reminded me of the man I had met in the restaurant. Only this man was younger and more handsome. He smiled and said “hi” as we passed. After that I couldn’t get him out of my mind. Something about him gave me slight chills. Then, about a couple days later, I saw him at church (I had decided during college that I wanted to pursue my mother’s faith). Afterwards I went over to him to say hi.
“Hi, didn’t I see you a couple of days ago?” I asked.
“Yes, I think so. Well, hi, I’m Jacob,” he said.
“Rebecca.”
“Nice to meet you. I just came here from California.”
We went to lunch together after that and almost every Sunday after church. I was falling in love with him. After about two years he asked me to marry him. So I did.
Then six months after we were married he died. He was in a car accident. I couldn’t believe that God had done this to me. First he kills my mother, then my father, and now my husband? It didn’t seem fair. It wasn’t fair. Then I got sick. Now I was more furious at God than I had ever been. I was nauseated and just, awful. Eventually it got so bad that I had to go to the doctor.
“Well, I’ve got some very good news,” said the doctor after he had run some tests on me.
“You have medicine?”
“No, you’re pregnant.” He said beaming away.
I felt so bad, for two reasons. The first reason was because I was so sick. And the second was because I had gotten mad at God when he had given me a baby. Sure, I didn’t have any family. But I was about to. God had blessed me with the most precious thing in the world. And even though I had no idea what I was going to do for money I knew that God would help me every step of the way. Also, after a while the nightmares ceased, and I could sleep.

“Lie down my baby dear,
Don’t cry don’t shed a tear.
Just dream of the sea,
And of a used to be.
Dream of a place where people are free!”

Although the words weren’t as true when I sang them to my baby, as they were when my mother sang them to me, I still wanted my baby to know about his grandmother and how brave she was. And I just hope and pray that my baby Jacob Jr. and I will make it through the next day.
That is when I saw my first item of joy. As my baby was taking his first step he smiled. And that smile was amazing beyond description. That smile reminded me of all the good things in my life. It was my first item of joy.
That night a thief broke into my house. He was scared when he realized that I was home. So he killed my baby and I.

Chapter 4 – The Beginning of the End

“Who are you?” I asked, confused, as I looked upon the faces of six strange people.
“I’m Amithsera,” said one.
“I’m Thomas,” said another.
“I’m Christie,” said the third.
“I’m Jacob,” said the fourth.
“I’m your son,” said the fifth.
“I’m your mother,” said the sixth.
And from that moment till forever’s end, I am free; in heaven with the people I love.

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Publication Date: 07-07-2010

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