Page 15 of Mail-Order Bride Mommy
Lindy wagged her head up and down. “Yellow Bird like to read new story book.”
“By all means.” Gwen swooped her hand in a large welcome and Lindy darted in. “Yellow Bird will have to wear a nightgown to hear the story.”
Lindy hesitated. Then dropped her arms as if she’d tired of the bird persona and marched into her room. The sound of drawers opening and closing informed Gwen and Matt that she was preparing for bed.
Gwen would have liked to help her but wasn’t sure if the child was ready for that so waited in the living room.
Lindy returned wearing a nightdress that twisted about her body. Her hair flew out in every direction. Gwen ached to brush the mop of hair and braid it, to smooth the nightie and hug the little girl. Lindy pressed the new book to her chest and looked uncertainly from one adult to the other.
“Would you like me to read it?” Gwen asked. “Or would you prefer Uncle Matt?”
Lindy’s gaze went from one to the other. Gwen felt her longing and uncertainty so keenly it stung her eyes. “Or we could all sit on the settee with you in the middle.”
Lindy nodded and climbed into place. Gwen sat on one side of her and Matt on the other. The adults looked at each other. His message was clear, and she hoped hers was too. Lindy must be allowed to choose how and when she would accept the new situation.
Lindy moved the book to Matt’s leg. “You read it.”
Matt opened the pages and began to readPolly and the North Star. He gave Gwen a look so ripe with what-kind-of-story-is-this that she sucked in her lips to keep from laughing. Gwen had thought the story was good and the pictures wonderful.
He shook his head and turned back to the book. He read:
Polly liked the sky, especially at night. Her papa said the stars might be angels watching over us.
Polly wished she could meet one of those angels. Maybe they would teach her to fly, and she could become a star, but Papa said angels didn’t do that.
Matt’s deep voice and the soft cadence of his words soothed Gwen. She prayed it would do the same for Lindy.
“You can only get your wings and learn to fly when you get to heaven. But it’s nice to think how many angels there are. God sends them to help us.”
Polly knew Papa had more to say and listened carefully.
“Sometimes they go ahead of us to guard our path. Sometimes they talk to God about what we need. Sometimes they even visit us without us knowing it which is why we should be kind to strangers. They also sing around the throne of God. What a wonderful song that must be.”
Polly climbed to her papa’s knees. “How do you know about angels?”
Papa said, “Because God tells us about them in the Bible.”
“I wish I had my own angel.”
Papa took her out in the yard and pointed to the sky. “See that bright star? It’s the North Star. It’s like your own angel. You can look up anytime in the night and it’s always there.”
Polly looked at the star for a long time. “It’s so far away. And I can’t see it in the daytime.”
Papa picked her up in his strong arms. “Maybe God uses it to remind us that He is always with us even when we can’t see Him. He never changes. His heart is always shining with love for us.”
And the Lord, He it is that doth go before thee; He will be with thee, He will not fail thee, neither forsake thee: fear not, neither be dismayed.Deuteronomy 31:8
Matt finished with Lindy leaning over his legs looking at the pictures of a star-filled sky. His dour expression gave the impression he wasn’t impressed with the story but couldn’t deny it held Lindy’s attention.
Lindy put the book on Gwen’s leg. “Now you read it.”
“My pleasure.” She read the words slowly, letting Lindy dwell on the pictures, and prayed the child would be comforted by the thought of stars and angels and God’s unfailing love.
* * *
Matt listenedto Gwen read the story. He could almost imagine her voice coming from the sky, one of the angels speaking softly and calmly, filling the room with a sense of peace and comfort. Maybe the book wasn’t as inappropriate as he first thought it to be. He knew Gwen to be a believer. It had been one of the first questions he’d asked. Mrs. Ingram had assured him that her friend back in Illinois vouched for Gwen’s Christian faithfulness. Nevertheless, he’d had qualms about the theology expressed, but on the last page, he’d seen the list of scriptures supporting the story.
Lindy was fascinated with the book. The pictures of star-filled skies were beautiful. One reminded him of a famous painting he’d once seen on display. Only a copy, mind you. There were illustrations of angels…guarding children on a bridge, an angel in the sky. There was something familiar about that one.
