God Works Magazine - May-June 2024 - Flipbook - Page 53
A Fic琀椀on Short Story
S
arah took a deep breath
of the crisp Seattle air as
she walked down the
sidewalk, a hint of salt
from the nearby Puget Sound
mixing with the scent of coffee
from the cafe on the corner. Her
two kids, Emma and Jake,
skipped ahead, backpacks bouncing, as they made their way home
from school.
and Jake. They deserved better
than to grow up in this cycle of
violence and terror. Somehow,
some way, she had to find her
strength through faith and escape
before it was too late.
It took months of meticulous planning while she pored over Bible
verses about courage and deliverance during her only respite - late
at night after the kids were asleep.
Sarah sang hymns through her
Just a few years ago, this simple
tears, pleading for the Lord to
daily routine would have been
unimaginable. Back in Memphis, make a way out of no way. When
every day was a battle just to sur- the opportunity finally came, she
vive. The man she had once loved gathered the kids and what little
they could carry, and they disapand trusted had become her tormentor, belittling her, controlling peared into the night like ghosts
after Sarah said a powerful prayer
her every move, and lashing out
with his fists whenever she defied for protection.
him. The threats were endless - he
would harm her, harm the kids if The long journey to Seattle, her
hometown, felt like one continushe ever tried to leave. With no
money, nowhere to go, and para- ous panic attack. But Sarah continued clinging to her faith, whisperlyzed by fear, she had endured
ing verses under her breath. She
the abuse for three long years.
felt God's reassuring presence,
But one night, something shifted. and they made it to safety.
As she lay on the floor, body aching from his latest outburst, Sarah Those early days of starting over
were brutally hard. Sarah worked
called out to God in desperate
prayer. She realized this could not multiple jobs, went without, sacrificed everything to keep a roof
be the legacy she left for Emma
over their heads and food on the
table - but never sacrificed her
morning devotionals with the kids
or weekly church attendance. Her
relationship with Christ was the
lifeline that sustained her when
she wanted to give up.
She found resources and made
connections, but it was her faith
that ultimately gave her the nudge
to use her talents with pottery and
ceramics to launch a small business. Sculpting clay into beautiful
works of art became something
like prayer - a meditative process
where she could get lost in creativity while meditating on Bible
verses.
Today, surrounded by the pieces
she created with her own hands,
Sarah basked in the peace and
safety she had fought so hard to
achieve through grit, resilience,
and most of all, unshakable faith.
Her eyes shone with pride as Emma and Jake burst through the
studio door, filling the space with
their laughter and the smiles of
kids allowed to simply enjoy
childhood.
Continued on page 72
May/June 2024 | God Works Magazine | 53
