Worry

Staring out into the sky, over looking the river you wonder how it's come to this. How could everything just fall apart so fast? Something that took years to build was shattered in an instant. Holding the hand of your child, you look down at her. Her eyes have both trust and fear in them and you have no words. Gripping her little hand tighter it's time to go home...

As you make your way back to the car your daughter says the words you can't bear to hear. "Why did daddy die?" The words hit you like a freight train. The last few days have been a blur. You don't even remember the funeral. Trying to talk about this now is not going to work. The wind blows the leaves out of the trees. It's autumn, his favorite time of year. Hunting season will be coming up, you have to get the freezer cleaned out for this years harvest. Wait, no. This year, there will be no need to clean out the freezer. No muddy boots on the back porch, and no complaining about him leaving his hunting clothes on the floor. You would give anything for that now.

Opening the car door you motion for her to get inside. She hops up in her seat and you shut the door. Holding back the tears you say "get buckled up honey." The crack in your voice is all but noticeable. A tear rolls down your cheek. You miss him so much. Why now? Why us? A car accident, or a fire are things that happen. But a heart attack at 37 is unheard of. Gripping the steering wheel the leather is still hot from the sun. Your knuckles go white as you squeeze tighter. Gotta hold on for Emily, you think. How will we pay the bills? What will happen to the house? You can't afford daycare on your own. The car weaves in your lane as you struggle to see through the tears. Pulling over to the side of the road you start sobbing. Emily's back there you think, but you can't stop. A couple minutes later wiping the tears from your face you look in the rear view. Emily is just staring at you teary eyed with a half smile. There's a knock on the window next to you. The sound makes you jump slightly. You look to see an elderly man. Rolling down the window a crack he asks you "Everything alright?" Embarrassed, you simply reply "yes, everything is fine." "Forgive me, but I couldn't help but notice you crying. Is there anything you need?" He says. "It's okay, we're fine" you reply. "How ya doing Emily?" He says while looking in the back seat. Emily smiles at the old man. He seemed sweet. Wearing a light blue collared shirt under a tan over coat. His hat was funny looking and he had white hair. "Well good, I'm glad you are doing better." The old man says. "I have to get going ladies, but I wanted to make sure you got the message." Stunned and speechless you just stare forward as the gentleman walks off toward the back of the car. Peace overwhelms you. "Did you know that man?" you ask Emily. She just shakes her head no. Quickly you spin around to see where he went and there is no sign of him. No car, no one walking, nothing. He's just gone.

Shaking your head in bewilderment you look down to put the car in drive and in the passenger seat there sits an envelope. you reach over and pick it up. the outside has your name on it, so you open it up. Inside is a note the reads:

“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life? Matthew 6:25-27

Laying the note back down on the seat you put the car in drive. "It's going to be okay." you think. It's going to be okay...

~Caleb