Happenings(Gordon B. Robey) G.B.Rs

Stories of Jesus

‘The Happenings’

The young girl sat on a low wall outside of her house, looking up at the night. It was early evening, but already the sky was as black as ink.

Becky Leon let out a sigh as she looked at the millions of stars that twinkled in the Heavens. Some nights she thought they seemed very close. But tonight they were small and far away.

She let out a small cry as she saw a star shoot across the sky, leaving a white trail behind it. Every night she sat here with nothing else to do, but to watch for them. ‘I wonder if that’s where our Lord Jesus lives’ She’d asked herself many times, and then laughed at her silly thoughts.

The sound of her mother calling brought her back to reality. She put her left leg to the ground, and reached for the other one. Twisting at the same time, she lowered it to the ground. With a sigh Becky reached for her crutch, with an effort she stood up. Leaning heavily on her crutch, she moved slowly to the door and opened it.

“Come on dear” Her mother said “You’ve been outside long enough for one night. Why you look up at the sky every night, I do not know. Now sit and eat your supper”.

Becky’s two brothers sat watching the television with her sister, Donna. They didn’t do anything else all day long, and would watch anything that was on.

She finished eating and went to her room. Christmas presents for her were on the dressing table. But she only glanced at them. What she wanted for Christmas, she could never have.

After washing she changed into her nightgown, and went to sit by the window. Again her eyes were drawn upwards to look at the stars. For some time she watched, looking for the one that would sail across the sky. The stars had changed, they looked a lot nearer than before. When no star moved Becky turned to look at the small altar, and her little statue of Jesus.

Today was Christmas Eve, and tomorrow would be her birthday. She had looked forward to her Eighteenth Birthday, the day she was supposed to become a woman. But what did it matter, she could only be half a woman. Looking down at her dead right leg she whispered, “I’ll never have a boyfriend like the other girls, and I’ll never get married”. Although she was talking to herself, she still looked around to see if anyone had heard her.

The next morning Becky slept late, usually she was up at five O’clock. But this morning her mother had let her sleep late, as it was her Birthday. When Becky woke up she looked at the clock, and almost fell out of bed in her haste to get dressed. “Ma why didn’t you wake me up earlier?” She said as she opened the door to the living room.

Suddenly there was clapping and shouted Birthday greetings. He mother and sister started to sing Happy Birthday, with the boys joining in happily. Becky was showered with Birthday presents, and Christmas presents alike. Smiling she thanked them as she said, “I’ll open them later, after I’ve had my breakfast”. No one said anything as they were used to her dull moments.

As she pushed away her empty plate Becky was surprised when her mother came from the kitchen carrying a small Birthday cake. “There you are dear”, She said smiling. “And I’ve put Eighteen candles for you to light, when you’re ready”. Becky smiled for her mothers sake, “Thank you Ma” She said, “Its very nice”. Then it was time for the daily soap, and the four of them settled down to watch the television.

None of them took any notice of Becky as she pulled herself to her feet with the help of her crutch. She reached down and picked up her Birthday cake. Holding it in one hand, she somehow made it back to her bedroom without dropping it. Placing it on a small table before the altar, she looked around to see where she’d put the matches.

She lit all eighteen candles and struggled to her knees. Putting her hands together, she looked up at the small figure of her Lord Jesus. After crossing herself she said, “Lord Jesus I want to wish you a Happy Birthday. Today I am eighteen years old. My mother gave me a Birthday cake, and I want to share it with you”.

As Becky stared at the little statue of Jesus, the candles on the cake went out one by one. She stared at them in astonishment. When she’d put them out before there had been black smoke from every one. But now there wasn’t any at all. She also noticed a change in the room. There was a smell of flowers, like roses, that hadn’t been there before.

‘Perhaps one of the presents had soap in it’ She though as she reached for the matches again. She lit all the candles on the cake. “Happy Birthday Lord Jesus” She said as she looked at her little statue of Jesus. Suddenly she felt a kind of tingling in her toes, a feeling that spread up her right leg to her thigh. Taken by surprise she fell over on to her good side.

Becky had never had any feeling in her right leg before, not even a twinge. It was useless and short. And now after eighteen years she’d felt something. She pulled herself to her knees, and knelt before her altar. Somehow she felt different, as she looked at her little statue. And then the candles went out again.

She stared at them, seeing no smoke coming from the blackened wicks. She raised her eyes to the figure of Her Lord Jesus, wondering if she dare ask Him. Then making up her mind she said “Are you there Lord Jesus? Please forgive me for intruding on your Birthday”.

Reaching for the matches again Becky lit all the candles, then looked up at Jesus and said, “I hope you can hear me Lord Jesus, I believe that you are everywhere, so I think you can hear everything I say to you”. She smiled as she looked at the statue of her Lord. Then she let out a gasp of surprise, as it began to glow with a soft white light. “It’s never done that before” She said to herself in a whisper.

As she looked at the glowing statue she knew. Smiling now she said “You are here Lord Jesus, your little statue is glowing”. Becky stared, holding her breath, but nothing else happened. She was about to excuse herself when the light went out, at the same time as the candles. This time she saw the smoke from every candle, as it wriggled its way up to the roof.

Becky was still kneeling and looking at the candles, thinking about what had just happened. She knew in her heart that the Spirit of Jesus had come to her. ‘Was it because it’s both our Birthdays, or was it because it was Christmas Day’? She tried to think which, but then gave up.

She got to her feet and took three steps across the room, and then came to a sudden halt. She turned to look at her crutch that lay against the bed, and then looked down at her right leg. “Oh my lord Jesus”, She said in a whisper, looking at the small statue. “You have shown me a Miracle. You have made my leg better”. Becky took two steps towards His statue. Both her legs felt the same “Look Lord Jesus”, she said, “I can walk on two legs”.

She looked at her crutch, and smiled. “I’m not going to need you anymore”. Still smiling she again knelt before her altar. Reaching out she gently touched the face of Jesus. Tears came to her eyes as she looked at Him. “I love you Lord Jesus. You have given me a wonderful Christmas present. Thank you for making me well again”.

She knew that Jesus was no longer with her. And the smell of flowers was no longer in her room. “He came to make me well again” She whispered, smiling to herself. “And now He’s gone back to Heaven”. Bowing she made the sign of the cross, and then turned to her presents.

The End

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