Lily's Journey. A Free Short Story

 

 

Lily's Journey. A Free Inspirational Short Story

LILY'S JOURNEY

By Alison Lawrence

Copyright: Alison Lawrence. 2023.All rights reserved

The sun glimmered gold in the eucalyptus trees surrounding the old farmhouse. A gentle breeze made the shimmering leaves sparkle against the evening sky. Lily was on her way to feed her chickens and close them up for the night, but she paused for a moment, grateful for the feel of the cool breeze on her face. What was it about eucalyptus trees? They seemed to stir a certain nostalgia in her soul: a longing perhaps. Telling herself off for daydreaming, she returned to the task at hand. Her chickens were healthy and laying well. They brought in a side income, but Lily would have kept them even if they hadn't. The farm wasn't the largest on the West Coast, but it was perfect for them. Caleb's parents had retired from farming leaving the family farm to Caleb and his young bride. They now lived happily in a small coastal town.

Lily smiled as she watched her birds pecking around. She allowed herself a breather before supper preparations. Her mind wandered back to her matric year: the year she'd met Caleb Bester. It was a wonder that they'd managed to pass their exams:

They'd fallen so hard for each other. Two months into the relationship, they'd both come to the same conclusion; they wanted to be together forever. Lily placed her hand on her rounded belly. Their first little one was on the way. Would he too become a sheep farmer? Lily imagined her baby toddling around after Caleb, helping his dad and one day and going to check on the sheep. She felt his butterfly kicks beneath her hand and delighted in the sensation. Life was so good. She couldn't imagine feeling happier. Caleb filled her life with love and contentment. With a sweet baby on the way, her life would overflow with joy.

*******

A verandah wrapped itself around the stone farmhouse and invited visitors to linger on one of its benches or chairs. Shade loving plants, including Christmas cacti and nostalgic decor contributed to its pleasantness. Lily's ginger cat twitched her ears as she opened the back door and entered the huge kitchen. Lily gathered all the ingredients for lasagna, then stationed herself at the counter. She loved the view from her kitchen windows. The gum trees' leaves still sparkled in the last sunshine of the day. Beyond them, the water of the dam beckoned invitingly and the scrubby farmland rolled into the distance towards mauve coloured mountains. Lily could see Caleb and the farm workers wrapping up for the day near the feed store. She hummed along to a familiar song playing on the radio and wondered whether the baby was listening too.

Caleb walked in just as she slipped the lasagna into the oven. He grinned when he saw what she was cooking. "How are my two special people doing? Did you have a rest after lunch?" Caleb fussed over her and worried when she did too much. She smiled fondly at him. It felt good to be so loved. "We're doing just fine," she reassured him. "And I put my feet up and read to Timmy." She stopped talking and placed her hand on her stomach. "He's kicking again. I think he heard Daddy's voice." Lily guided Caleb's hand to where she felt movement. "Hi little one," he said tenderly. "Daddy's home." Lily's heart melted as she watched her strong, handsome husband. His green eyes had drawn her to him when they met at school. She wondered whether their baby would have Caleb's eyes. Would he be blonde like Caleb,or have red hair like hers? She'd once asked him whether he found her brown eyes boring, but he'd pulled her into his arms, kissed her on both eyelids and told her they were like chocolate. Her eyes, he said, were the prettiest pair in the school.

"It won't be long before we meet him." Lily said as she served their food. "Just three months." 

"Perfect timing too. That little one knows not to come during lambing. Winter's just right." Caleb grinned. "And I want to stay with you the whole time."

"I wouldn't have it any other way. With all your birthing experience, it will be a breeze." Lily teased him.

He smiled at her gently. "I can't wait. What else needs to be done in the baby's room?"

Lily helped herself to more salad. "Just the wall paper." She loved the little room. She'd chosen dove gray, white and navy and fun sheep were already stenciled on the walls. Toy lambs waited for Timmy in the cot.

After supper, Caleb helped with the dishes, insisting she put her feet up. Later, they watched a movie together, now and again becoming distracted by Timmy's kicks. All was peaceful on the farm: the sheep and their young were healthy, night birds sang and the wind played songs in the gum trees. The lovely old farmhouse enveloped them in its coziness. Yet later that night, Lily lay awake. She struggled to get comfortable. Baby was up late too, going through his night- time kicking routine. Lily placed her hand on her stomach. A sudden feeling of fear snaked through her. What if something went wrong? Could she die? Or baby? What if Caleb died young and left her a widow? She'd never thought much about dying before, so why now? Lily rolled over, trying to get comfortable. Caleb murmured in his sleep and placed his hand on her side. Comforted, she closed her eyes and told herself off for being silly. Nothing was going to go wrong. Their lives were just about perfect and they were strong and healthy, she told herself, blaming pregnancy for unsettling her.

*******

The uneasy feeling remained though. It came and went each day, catching her unawares while she was doing her chores or outside with her chickens. It crept up on her at the doctor's office when she went for a check-up. "You and baby are doing great," the friendly GP assured her. "Baby's heartbeat is normal and your measurements add up. He should be in your arms by the middle of June." Lily nodded and thanked him, but she couldn't keep from worrying. She still had three months to go. What if something went wrong? How she wished she could go back to her former carefree days, but she seemed to have turned a corner and those days were gone. As she drove home along the country road, her fears eased a little. Sheep and cows were grazing and a couple of male ostriches showed off their feathers. A turquoise sky stretched endlessly above the farmland. The gum trees that grew alongside the road spoke to her heart again. Once more she wondered why the gum trees had an affect on her, and then she remembered. When she was a child, and later, a teenager, she and her parents and brother had often taken road trips, as her dad had put it, to explore God's creation. Of course, they'd also visit relatives along the way. Wherever they traveled it seemed, there were giant eucalyptus trees and often Dad would pull up under their shade for a rest and a picnic. Those were the happiest of days, Lily recalled. Now she knew why the gum trees held such a poignancy in her heart and mind. One particular picnic stood out: after a leisurely meal, Dad had gazed up through the shimmering leaves of an old giant and quoted Psalm one: Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers…he is like a tree planted by streams of water….

Of course, there was no river there by the side of the road, but Dad explained that the gum trees drew water from deep underground and he told them that they could flourish like a tree if they put their trust in Jesus. Lily had listened politely then as well as the other times her father spoke about God, but she didn't pay too much attention. She was a well-behaved child who did well at school. Most Sundays found her in Sunday school and church. She believed in God and stayed away from the crazy stuff other kids were doing. In high school she focused on track, getting good grades and later on Caleb. Caleb was a good kid like her and somehow they managed to stay out of the trouble other teenagers were getting into. As Lily looked back, she saw quite a rosy picture. Dad never stopped reminding her of her need for a Saviour though. In fact he had mentioned it again the other day when he phoned. Said he was praying for her too. Lily turned into the farm's dirt road and drove carefully over the bumps. It felt good to know that her dad was praying for her. She knew her mother was too. She parked the truck then went in search of Caleb. He'd be pleased to know that everything was going well. Lily felt better now that she was home. She decided to share her fears with Caleb later on.

*******

"I think pregnancy can make you feel a bit nervous and afraid." Caleb reassured her later on." It's probably pretty normal." He placed his arms around her and she immediately felt safe and cherished. "You always say what I need to hear." She snuggled up to him and they both laughed as Timmy kicked his dad in the back. "See?" Said Caleb, "he's strong and healthy." Lily smiled, sleepily. She felt less fearful now with Caleb by her side. She also planned to take his advice to rest more. The following day she took up her knitting: the cutest little baby jersey. The rhythmic movement of the needles and yarn soothed her. She found herself thinking of her childhood travels and the picnics under the gum trees once more. She thought about her Dad quoting from Psalm one. She couldn't remember all the words, so she fetched her Bible. The same one she'd used in Sunday school. She read:

Blessed is the man 

who walks not in the counsel

of the wicked,

nor stands in the way of sinners, 

nor sits in the seat of scoffers;

but his delight is in the law of the Lord,

and on His Law he meditates day and night.

He is like a tree 

planted by streams of water

that yields its fruit in its season,

and its leaf does not wither

In all that he does, he prospers. 

The wicked are not so , 

but are like chaff that the wind

drives away.

Therefore the wicked will not

stand in the judgment,

nor sinners in the congregation

of the righteous

for the Lord knows the way 

of the righteous

but the way of the wicked will perish."

As she read, she dismissed the idea that she could be one of the wicked people mentioned. Rather, she preferred to see herself as righteous, but verse two made her unsure. She couldn't honestly say that she delighted in God's Word. Her Bible remained mostly unopened and it had been a long time since she'd been to church. She closed the Bible and picked up her knitting again. She knew that her father would be able to explain the Psalm to her, but a feeling of stubbornness and pride quickly squashed that thought. Dad would probably remind her of the need to be saved, while all Lily really wanted was to be assured that her life was fine just the way it was.

********

The countdown to B day, as Caleb liked to call it, was truly underway. He'd papered the accent wall in the nursery and family and friends had all given the nursery their approval. Both grandmothers were knitting and crocheting garments and blankets and the drawers of the nursery dresser were packed neatly with piles of soft blue, gray, white and beige clothing. Disposable nappies were piling up in every spare corner and Lily's and the baby's hospital bags were already packed. "How are you feeling?" Asked her mom, four weeks before the due date. "I'm doing ok, I guess." Lily decided to be honest with her mom who had always been so supportive."I'm worried that something could go wrong, and also, giving birth itself sounds scary. I've read and heard about how intense the pain gets. I'm not sure if I'll cope."

Lily's mom made some helpful suggestions before pausing, slightly hesitant. " Lily, there are a lot of things you can do to ease your fears and prepare for giving birth; but at the end of the day, having Jesus in your heart is the only answer. When I gave birth to you and later to Luke, I was a born-again believer. I couldn't have done it without Jesus." For once, Lily was less resistant towards her mother's appeal. How wonderful it must be to have the kind of peace her parents had. She promised her mom she would think things over. As Lily did her ante-natal exercises before she got into bed, she thought how exciting it was going to be to meet Timmy for the first time and with all her heart she wished she could pray for the big day.

*******

Lily woke up on the morning of the seventeenth of June and realized that her waters had broken. She'd been having mild contractions off and on for a few days, but she was still taken aback by the suddenness of it. She woke Caleb quickly and he immediately took charge, which was a good thing, for Lily hardly knew what to do first. "Why don't you go get ready in the bathroom, love? I'll get your bags and make a couple of calls." She nodded and followed his instructions. Once in the car, she began to shiver and anxiety threatened to overwhelm her. Caleb took one look at her and began to speak soothingly as he coached her on her breathing. They had an hour's drive ahead of them and Caleb needed Lily to stay calm. Thinking quickly, he found some laid-back instrumental music to play. It would help him too. He may have helped at numerous lamb birthings, but nothing had quite prepared him for this day. He'd started praying again recently and was rediscovering his boyhood faith. Perhaps that's what fatherhood did: it made you more aware of your frailty and your need for God. "Remember, breathe nice and deep and slow." He reminded Lily. She took hold of his hand and smiled. She loved him so much. They headed south through the countryside, past the sun rising through gentle colours to the east, and the Atlantic ocean to the west. Lily felt soothed as the hills rolled along beside them and she drank in the sight of the mountains. It was truly a lovely day to be born. Her contractions were regular, but fairly far apart and manageable if she breathed deeply through them. She couldn't help but wonder whether she'd cope with the stronger ones. "Just take one contraction at a time." Caleb encouraged her, as if he'd read her thoughts. His eyes were on the road ahead, but he kept encouraging Lily. He also took time to pray. This wasn't something he could do alone. Lily watched the scenery go by between contractions. Her eyes were especially drawn to the gum trees. Their leaves shone in the winter sun. They drove past a layby which was nearly identical to the one she and her family had stopped at when she was a child. "Like a tree…" The verse echoed through her mind, along with her father's words "trust in Jesus." More than anything, she wanted to be like that tree: unshakeable; rooted; refreshed by the water. She wanted to be like that tree for herself, for Caleb and for Timmy. She needed to be like that tree if she was going to help him into the world. "I need You Jesus.I know now I'm not a good person. Please forgive my sins and save me." The next contraction passed by nearly unnoticed as tears of relief and joy trickled down her cheeks. Caleb glanced over at her, obviously concerned. He knew she'd been battling with anxiety in the last few months. He squeezed her hand "getting stronger? She shook her head and turned to look at him. He glanced at her and what he saw took his breath away. Instead of anxiety and fear, he saw peace and joy. "I just gave my heart to Jesus, Caleb, and I can't wait to meet Timmy and introduce him to Jesus too."

*******

Things moved fairly quickly once they arrived at the hospital. The contractions were coming hard and fast now. Lily found that walking and sitting on her birth ball helped. She was breathing more shallowly through the contractions now and the midwife said they were nearing transition. Lily had never experienced something so intense yet beautiful at the same time. Earlier, Caleb had cried too, when Lily told him of her decision to follow Christ. God was so good. They both felt Jesus' presence right beside them in the labour ward: coaching and encouraging them and holding them close. They would forever remember that precious day.

At 5:09 pm, little Timothy Caleb Bester made his appearance: perfect and healthy with the most angelic face they'd ever seen. Lily held her little one in her arms; tired, but more content and at peace than she'd ever been. She had begun her journey some months ago, anxious and afraid, but with some help from the gum trees and her father's love for Psalm One, she'd made it safely home.

The End

Scripture: Psalm One. (ESV)