She moved from the window and paused to tuck her husband's robe more closely about his shoulders. A quick glance at the clock let her know he could rest another hour before she had to rouse him from his nap. Darcy was looking forward to the service at church that night. She and Jacob always enjoyed hearing the missionaries that came through from time to time--they had invited a number of them to stay in their home. Pastor Jennings had told them that the missionary was on his way home, forced to retire because of failing health. She certainly understood that--for the last several years, their own declining health had greatly restricted what she and Jacob were able to do.
She straightened up from the fireplace and looked at the row of photos on the mantle: single and group shots of the children and grandchildren. While the pictures were frequently updated with the most recent ones, it had long been her habit to touch the likeness of each as she prayed every day. Then slightly turning, she studied the singular photo closest to her on the end. She had a special prayer which never changed that she prayed for that one. With a sigh, she reached out and touched it, whispering, "Thank You, Father, for keeping him in the hollow of Thy hand."
The next morning dawned cold, but clear and bright. The previous night's service had been cancelled when the pastor was notified that the missionary had been taken to the local hospital because of a heart condition. Darcy checked in with the volunteer staff at Mercy where she gave of her time when her health allowed it. They asked that she come in for a few hours that afternoon. When she inquired about the missionary's condition, she was told it was "stabilized, but still serious"; his family was staying close to him.
Pastor Jennings called to let her know he and his wife had opened the currently unoccupied parsonage for the missionary family's use because it was only three streets over from the hospital. He added that he and his wife would make sure groceries were available, along with blankets and linens. Darcy made a few calls to the ladies of the church and confirmed that dishes of food were being prepared for their guests.
Jacob overheard his wife's conversations. It was good to see her bustling about. They both missed their children who lived in another state. Darcy didn't complain, but Jacob could see it on her face every time she lingered at the mantle. When she and Jacob arrived at the hospital, she sent him to find the missionary's family and let them know about the arrangements that had been made while she delivered several cards and bouquets to patients that had come in. As she passed the cardiac unit on her way back to the elevator, she tiptoed into the room--the patient was resting quietly.
With as little noise as possible, she refreshed the water in his glass and added ice to the pitcher. When finished, she paused to contemplate the man. He appeared to be tall and somewhat thin; even in the dimmed light she could see a scar on his left cheek that ran from his eyebrow to his chin and stood out in stark contrast to the rest of the darker skin on his face. She concluded he must be somewhere around Jacob's age, then smiled to herself--her age, too. Jacob was only a few months older than her. She heard the patient stir and quickly left rather than disturb him.
She saw the young man from church the night before, Enrique, sitting in the unit's waiting room, reading a magazine. She went in to speak with him for a moment. It was embarrassing to her that she could not properly enunciate his name. The young man smiled kindly and told her to "just call him Henry." He said his mother and two sisters had gone to the parsonage to rest for a short while. He and Darcy prayed together for his dad before she went returned to her duties.
Darcy waited for Jacob to arrive when the volunteer desk closed at 6:30 that evening and the two of them went back to check on "their" missionary. Jacob smiled as he heard Darcy pronounce the claim--it was her nature to "adopt" everyone she met and they became "theirs". This time, the missionary's wife and daughters were in the waiting room; the son was in with his dad. Jacob and Darcy introduced themselves and as Darcy began talking to the minister's wife, Jacob went in to check on her husband.
The lovely lady introduced herself as Maria, along with their daughters, Anna, 16 and Chloe, 14. As they all thanked her for how kindly they had been received and treated, Darcy remembered to tell Maria how mannerly Henry had been earlier. Darcy enjoyed talking to Maria and hearing her beautifully Spanish-accented responses; within a few moments they were conversing as if they had known each other for years. Maria explained that her husband's heart had been giving him trouble for several years--she felt it was the numerous speaking engagements along the way "home" which he insisted on honoring that caused him to become overtired.
Darcy was surprised to hear that the missionary was, in fact, from her own state. He had never returned once he took up residence in Maria's home country. The two of them had met while he was a construction worker and she was in college. Right after they met, Carlos nearly lost his life in an accident on his job. Maria stated that it changed him--once he was well enough to leave the hospital, he began going to church and soon after gave his heart to the Lord. Within months of them being married, he told her he felt he had been called into the ministry years before, and that he thought it was about time he answered that call.
As she and Darcy talked, Maria made the statement that her husband had explained the reason he left was because he felt like his family wouldn't want to have anything more to do with him. She told Darcy that all he ever said about his former way of life was that it was vile. She said he still carried a picture of his sister in the back pocket of his Bible cover. Darcy was intrigued. She might know the lady, and requested that Maria to ask Carlos if she could see it.
They both looked up as Jacob came back in the room. He appeared to have been crying, brushing off Darcy's concerns by saying he and the missionary had been "having church" and that Carlos was feeling stronger. Jacob accompanied Darcy back to see the patient, but they stayed only a few moments. In the dim light, the patient still looked very tired to Darcy who insisted that he rest. They all joined in a brief prayer and quickly said goodbye. Darcy invited Maria and the children to their home for Thanksgiving supper the next night and added that Jacob would pick them up in their van. Maria graciously accepted.
Jacob seemed much more subdued than usual the next morning, as if lost in his own thoughts. He kept smiling, as if to himself, but nothing Darcy asked could pry anything out of him. To her, Jacob seemed to be "fidgety". As soon as they finished breakfast, he put on his boots and overalls and told her he was going to the neighboring property to "check up on it." Neither of them had been over there since the Petersons moved, but again, all Jacob would say when she asked why his sudden interest was that it was "about time he got interested".
Darcy busied herself around the house with several small tasks, then addressed some Christmas cards and put on home-canned vegetables to cook for their evening meal. Jacob returned and reported that everything "next door" seemed to be fine. He brought in a fresh supply of wood for that evening, then announced that he was going into town to pick up the missionary's family. Despite it being over two hours before they were expected, Darcy removed her apron to go with him. Jacob told her he would really rather she stayed home and rested, that he was leaving early so he could take the missionary's family by their new home. Darcy agreed--she was tired.
Darcy decided to lie down and rest for a bit, but had just settled in when she heard cars pull up outside. It was too early for Jacob to be back with their expected guests--who could it be? Before she could get up, the door was flung open and both "sets" of grandchildren poured in, yelling "Grammy, Grammy," with their usual glee. Her heart swelled with joy: she had understood their children had other plans for this year's Thanksgiving. What was going on? When she asked, her son patted her on the back and answered, "I wouldn't have missed this for anything!" She turned to ask him what he meant just in time to see his wife jab him sharply in the ribs. He winced and grinned, quickly adding, "Your cooking, Mama, your cooking!"
They explained that they had talked it over by phone and decided to surprise her. They met in town and drove out together. They teased her about seeing their dad in town with a "strange woman", and had hurried out to be sure Mama was still his wife. She fondly scolded them for their good-natured teasing, then began to worry about having enough for everyone to eat. Trips were made out to the vehicles for the food they had brought with them from town. It was soon evident that there would be plenty for everyone to enjoy. Darcy was so thrilled at the unexpected blessing of their company. She had thought it would be a too-quiet Thanksgiving with just her and Jacob, then it had happily changed to include the missionary's family--now their own children and grandchildren! She took a moment to thank the Lord for His exceeding abundance to her once again.
A few minutes later, the front door opened once again to admit Jacob and the missionary's...no! the missionary, himself! Wait a minute, he shouldn't be out in this weather! But there he stood, his family following him into the room, which had suddenly grown quiet. Darcy noticed that everyone seemed to be looking at her. What was it? Flour on her nose?
Carlos broke the silence by going to each of the children and embracing them, while Maria gathered Darcy in her arms and hugged her tightly. Darcy saw that several of those present were crying, but before she could ask any questions, she was shooed into the kitchen as the men began loudly complaining that they were hungry. Darcy firmly resolved to make certain Jacob explained all of this to her later, just as soon as she had a chance to get him alone!
The summons to "wash up" was given and everyone congregated around the table for prayer. Darcy glanced up at Carlos and saw that he was looking at her, tears coursing down his cheeks. Thinking he was in pain, she anxiously asked if he was all right, and with a wide smile, he assured her he was better than he'd been in years. She was puzzled even more when both her son and daughter came to stand behind her and insisted that she sit down. Darcy sat down and watched Maria unzip the cover on the Bible she held in her hands and withdraw a faded photograph with torn corners. Maria smiled when she handed the picture to Darcy. "Do you recognize this lady?" she asked
Darcy fumbled in her pocket for her reading glasses as her eyes locked on Carlos. Something about the look on his face.......
Glasses in place, Darcy glanced down at the photo of herself, taken over thirty years ago. No longer knowing what to think, she looked up at the faces around her. Carlos spoke: "In Spanish, my name is Carlos Santiago. In English, it is Charles James. Do you remember me, Sissy?"
Stunned, she looked at Jacob for an explanation. He was crying too, and affirmed yes, as "the missionary" gathered her in his arms and pulled her to him. All Darcy could manage to say was, "Oh Chuck, where have you been all these years?"
It was as if a holy silence had descended amongst their family as Charles, her beloved brother, lovingly lifted her face and looked into her eyes. "Exactly where Jacob tells me you've faithfully prayed so long I would be:
"In The Hollow Of Thy Hands" copyright © 2000 by Patricia Sikes.
All Rights Reserved.
Never give up.
Don't quit praying.
Commit it all to the Lord:
In the hollow of Thy hand.
For there's no end of sorrow, there's no hope bye and bye."
But I know God is with me and tomorrow I'll rise
Where the storms never darken the sky.
Until the storm passes over, 'til the thunder sounds no more.
'Til the clouds roll forever from the sky--
Hold me fast, let me stand in the hollow of Thy hand.
Keep me safe 'til the storm passes by.
'Til The Storm Passes By
Author Unknown
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