Sarah's Promise (37 page)

“Open it up.”

He sat on the edge of the bed, and I sat beside him. “Another book?” He was still puzzled.

I didn’t answer. This gift would be one to speak for itself. He tore the paper away with extra gentleness, slowly, as if he already knew this would be something he would treasure. I watched his face, scarcely able to breathe.

“Oh, Sarah Jean.” I saw the moment of recognition. His bright eyes lit with joy. “I love you.”

He pulled me into his arms, cradling the
Selected Psalms for Children
at the same time. He didn’t say anything more for a long time, just opened the book to the first page and started reading carefully while I watched. When he got to the end of the second line he looked up and smiled. “Sarah, I’m reading a psalm.”

“I see that.”

“This is great. Does the whole Bible come like this? Big print, not too much on the page?”

“I don’t know. I can check.”

He went back to reading the familiar words, and it was bliss just to watch him. He’d always loved the book of Psalms. I knew he’d longed to be able to read it. And now he was. I felt so happy.

“I’ve got a surprise for you too,” he said finally. “You’ll have to wait till we get to Camp Point to see it, but I wanted you to know I was thinkin’ of you.”

He set the book aside and I lay in his arms. The first night in the hotel was something grand. But the next day was even grander. We had a ride on a beautiful boat that took us way out on the lake, so far that there was no seeing the shore behind us. With the sun shining bright in the blue sky overhead and nothing but water on every side, Frank looked absolutely swept away.

Holding my hand, he spoke softly in a faraway voice. “Who hath measured the waters in the hollow of his hand?”

“Is that from Job?”

“Isaiah. Chapter forty.” He was looking dreamy, staring out across the water and the bright, open sky. “Lift up your eyes on high, and behold who hath created these things, that bringeth out their host by number; he calleth them all by names by the greatness of his might . . .”

Suddenly, he reached his hand down to the rolling waves and sent the biggest splash he could straight in my direction. “ ‘Oh that men would praise the Lord for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men’—that’s in Psalms. ‘They that go down to the sea in ships, that do business in great waters; these see the works of the Lord, and his wonders in the deep.’ ”

“So what was the splash for?” I had to question.

He smiled. “I’m just so glad you’re with me. And I want to experience all I can.” He leaned over again and soundly splashed himself.

We splashed each other, and then we kissed, not paying a bit of attention to our guide. But that old gentleman was very mindful of us.

“Newlyweds, huh?” he asked with a smile.

“Yes, sir,” Frank answered. “Just now beginning a life together in God’s service.”

He looked into my eyes, and the clear peace I saw sunk down inside me.

Perfect submission, perfect delight. Visions of rapture now burst on my sight . . .

The song was so strong in me that I didn’t even try to hold it back. I leaned into Frank’s arms and let the song float from me with all the joy I felt.

Our guide shrugged his shoulders. “Let me guess. You’re ministers.”

“Blessed to be his children,” Frank replied, leaning to kiss the top of my head.

“Not as stuffy as some I’ve met,” the guide observed. “You reckon the Lord really takes a hand for the people of this world?”

“I know he does,” Frank said. “He’s had his hand on me all my days. And right now I feel that he’s here with us.”

The old man looked around uncomfortably, though there was nothing to see but the abundance of waters. “I been thinking, you know. Does seem he’s out here sometimes. Hard to feel him, though. Hard to know for sure. You think he really cares?”

“So completely he gave his Son for you,” I answered. “He loves you so much that he wanted to make a way for you to be with him in heaven. All it takes is trust in him.”

The old man looked out over the water, not answering another word. We let him have the silence to think over what was said, and relaxed in each other’s arms as the waves gently rolled beneath us.

I can trust you because you are all good
, I prayed in my mind.
And I can trust Frank too, because he’s given himself into your hand. Thank you, Father, for the promises ahead. For the love and the life you’ve blessed us with.

Our ride didn’t last much longer, but in a way I knew it would stick with me forever. God of the waters, of the vastness of creation, filled our hearts and gave us each other. And all the days ahead, we would walk with him, side by side wherever the Lord chose to take us. That wasn’t scary to me anymore. Instead, I could hardly wait to get home and get started. Our future together held nothing but promise because God would be in our midst, in every joy and every trial.

At the hotel that night, Frank carefully read aloud to me from a favorite psalm. And I drifted into peaceful dreams of our house in Camp Point, decked with flowers, freshly painted, filled with children, and brimming with love.

Thy will be done, Father God. I give you all my praise.

Leisha Kelly
is the author of two inspirational fiction series. She and her husband have two children and live in a small Illinois town where Leisha serves on her local library board and is very active in the ministries of their church.

For more information on Leisha and her books, go to
www.leishakelly.com
.