Page 19 - Publishing Inspiration Christmas Card 2023

one day, I got a wonderful surprise. He was alive, though barely. He had been
wounded and taken prisoner. He had little medical attention, and when his
prison was liberated, he was in critical condition.
“We fasted and prayed a lot. I wanted to go to him, but it wasn’t
feasible, nor did the military want me in the way. Information was infrequent,
but it sounded like he was getting better. Then one day, there was a letter in
William’s handwriting. I was overjoyed. He was going to get well and would
be coming home. He wouldn’t be home for Christmas, but he would be coming
home.
“It was February when we went to the train to meet him. He was
shocked to see how our children had grown. He was using crutches and walked
with a limp for the rest of his life, but he was home to stay.
“Leah went off to a local college, and we helped provide her with food
and whatever support we could. Just before she graduated, she married a
wonderful young man, a distant cousin of William’s that we introduced her to.”
Mrs. Levi then looked at the clock. “Oh, my goodness! Look at the
time. Your parents will be worried sick about you.”
I looked at my watch, and it was very late. I was sure my friends would
be finishing up their Halloween fun. I decided there was no use in going to join
them. But I wasn’t sad about it. I figured I had as good of a Halloween as I
could have had helping Mrs. Levi get in her harvest, hearing an incredible
story, drinking hot chocolate, and eating her delicious cookies from her cookie
jar.
As I was about to leave, she said. “Now, don’t you be a stranger. There
will always be cookies in that cookie jar for when you come back.”
I promised her I would be back, especially the next Halloween.

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