"My toy Jeep! Thank you, Mommy."
"It was your Daddy's idea. After I told him that you wanted one, he asked me to get it as your gift from us."
Chesney came to an abrupt halt. "I wish Daddy could call us. It's Christmas."
"I know, Ches." Liv tousled her daughter's red curls. "But let's not be sad on Christmas." At least as much as they could manage.
Chesney went back to work, removing every last shred of paper from her Jeep. "Don't forget to take your cell phone to the beach, just in case he calls while we're there."
Her heart caught in her throat, but she managed a croaky "I won't."
Her daughter continued to open packages from aunts, uncles, cousins, and grandparents. The last one she opened was the gift Mom had made. It had arrived on the UPS truck only yesterday. As soon as the package was open, Chesney squealed with glee. "A red Santa dress. And look, it has swans on the bottom of it! Just what I wanted!" She immediately stood, disrobed, and donned the dress, along with the matching red Santa hat with jingle bells sewn on. "I'm wearing it to the beach."
"You'll burn up in that dress on the beach." Debbie half-laughed the words, and Liv nodded in agreement.
"That's okay. I don't care."
Liv started to protest, but decided against it. It was Christmas, and special for reasons Liv would never have imagined. "Okay, but we'll take your swimsuit in case you change your mind."
Chelsea delved to the back of the gifts still under the tree. "Here's my present for you, Mommy."
"You got me a gift?" Liv took the messily-wrapped present from her daughter's hands, and looked over at Debbie.
Her friend shrugged to indicate she had nothing to do with it.
"No, I made you a gift. Miss Cindy helped me."
Liv reached out and gave her daughter a hug, touched by the simple gesture and once more marveling that her little girl was growing up so quickly. "Thank you, Chesney."
"I hope you like it."
"I can guarantee you that I will, because you made it." Liv tore into the paper and opened the box. Pushing aside white tissue paper, she retrieved a conch shell from within the box. And not just any conch shell, but one that had been broken and carefully glued back together. Her eyes swam with tears as she looked up at Chesney. "It's beautiful."
"I found it on the beach all broken, but I picked up all the pieces and put them in my beach bag. Miss Cindy helped me at school. I told her I thought you would like it because of the story you told me. She asked about the story, so I told her about broken people and the Fixer. She even started crying."
Liv pulled her daughter into a bear hug, tears coursing down her cheeks, amazed at how the good news could spread, even through the lips of a child. "It's the perfect Christmas gift for this particular Christmas, Chesney. I'll cherish it always." Cherish it not only as a gift from her daughter, but a reminder that life was often like that seashell--made for a distinct purpose--but sometimes broken against the shorelines of an imperfect and strife-filled world. But like the glued-together shell, the Prince of Peace brought peace and wholeness to those He fixed.
Later that day, their macaroni and cheese pizza in tow, Liv, Chesney, and Debbie made their way to the beach, the sea-salty breeze tugging at their hair. Chesney proudly wore her heavy red-velvet Christmas dress and matching hat, despite the warm day.
They reached an acceptable spot on the beach and spread out their beach blanket. Liv quickly kicked off her shoes and dug her toes into the powdered-sugar sand warmed by heat from the sun. Her shoulders relaxed. Yes, this had been a great Christmas.
Several minutes later, after they finished off the special macawoni and cheese pizza Debbie had insisted on making. Liv glanced over at her friend. "The pizza was wonderful. Remind me to have it more often."
Debbie laughed and pulled her knees up to her chest, peering out to the ocean, where Chesney now waded, once more in search of broken shells. "It was, wasn't it? Trust me, I'm just as surprised as you are."
"Another item to add to your menu when you open your restaurant."
Her friend yanked her arm up to peer at her watch. "That reminds me, I have a phone call to make. Will you be okay here by yourself for a few minutes while I run up to the car to make the call? It's so windy down here, I'm not sure I'll be heard unless I'm sitting in the car."
"Of course. Go ahead."
As Debbie made her way up the sandy road toward the nearby parking lot, Liv peered out to where Chesney waded at the edge of the waves, the water lapping her pudgy feet. Their carefully-made plans had kept them all from dwelling on darkness. But as she sat alone, a sorrow so deep that it hindered her ability to breathe, washed over her like a giant wave. Oh God, I'm so grateful for this day, but please help me not to ruin it for Chesney and Debbie by being sad and depressed.
Without warning, her daughter straightened and put a hand over her eyes to shield them from the sun as she peered down the beach.
Liv followed the direction of her gaze. On the empty shore walked a solitary figure. As the person drew closer, Liv rose to her feet, not quite believing her eyes. Was she just dreaming? She squeezed her eyes shut for several seconds, willing the mirage away, but when she opened them, the figure was still there. Only now the person ran full-force, growing ever bigger and more certain with each second.
Against doctor's orders, Liv found her own feet running toward the figure, Chesney following suit at water's edge. "Jeff! Is that you?"
In a heartbeat she rested in his arms, Chesney engulfed in the same familiar hug, tears flowing freely among all of them. When at last the tears were somewhat controlled, Liv pulled back. "How are you here?"
Jeff, his own face damp, grinned. "It's a long story."
"I'd be content with the condensed version." Even though all that really mattered that he was here, safe and sound. And alive.
He laughed out loud and plopped a kiss on Chesney's giggling mouth, then followed it with another kiss on her own lips. "The short story is that our plane had to make an emergency landing behind enemy lines. We were captured and held in some caves in the Afghan mountains. They sent a group to rescue us, and then after de-briefing, sent us home. I called Darcy so I could surprise you. She orchestrated everything with Debbie's help."
Liv shook her head, flabbergasted. How had the worst possible news resulted in the best possible news? The answer came immediately, singing and winging through her head and heart. Only God could work this kind of miracle. Only He could take broken lives, hopes, and dreams, and recreate them into masterpieces.
Later that night, after Chesney was in bed, Jeff pulled Liv to him and kissed her soundly beneath the mistletoe she'd hung with absolutely no hope of it being put to use.
A minute later, the kiss ended, but Liv snuggled closer to her husband, enraptured by the sound of his heart thumping within his chest. Oh, God, thank You for this gift. Thank You for bringing him home to us. She pulled back, her arms still wrapped around his neck, and peered happily into his eyes. "I have a gift I want you to open."
He grimaced. "I'm sorry, Liv. There just wasn't time for me to get you anything."
"Are you kidding me? I got exactly what I wanted for Christmas." Liv planted a kiss on Jeff's mouth, released her grasp on his neck, and moved to the back side of the tree. She retrieved the gift she'd wrapped, not knowing if it would ever be unwrapped, handed it to him and watched as he unwrapped it.
A few seconds later, he pulled the mug from its box and tissue paper, then looked at her quizzically.
"Look inside."
Her husband held the mug toward the lights of the Christmas tree in the semi-darkened room. The smile on his lips disappeared, and he yanked his head her way, his jaw gaping. "But, I thought--"
"Me, too, but God apparently had other plans."
In two steps, she was back in his arms as the tears once more flowed freely. He nuzzled her neck, and pulled her into a seated position in his lap on the sofa. "Why didn't you tell me sooner?"
Heart in her throat, Liv relayed the story about how her anger had kept her from telling him, but how God had used the brokenness she'd experienced to draw her closer to Him. "I'm not proud of how I behaved, Jeff. Will you forgive me?"
"Of course." He shook his head in amazement. "But once we get some sleep, I want the whole story."
The whole story? If she'd learned anything over the months of sharing the story with Chesney, it was that the whole story was much bigger than both of them. Liv rested her head against his chest and once more reveled in the sound of the beat of his heart. A moment of complete awe enveloped her. How miraculous that each of their stories found its place--in spite of broken pieces--intertwined in the biggest story of all time.
THE END
Then ringing singing on its way
The world revolved from night to day
A voice, a chime, a chant sublime
Of peace on earth, goodwill to men.
* * *
Thanks for taking the time to read Pieces On Earth. I hope you enjoyed the story as much as I enjoyed writing it. If you enjoyed the book, please consider the following:
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Thank you so much!
Dear friends,
I've heard it said that only two things are guaranteed in this life--taxes and our own mortality. But I beg to differ and ask permission to add a third item for your consideration. I believe that this earthly life also carries with it broken pieces. None of us are immune. Into each of our lives thunder those life-storms that steal our breath away and leave our broken pieces in their wake.
But there is a fourth item available for those who--in the midst of the broken pieces--turn to Jesus.
He truly is the Prince of Peace and our pieces. Only He can mend us and make us new.
My prayer for each of us is that we're extra aware of His Presence and that we'll gladly surrender our broken pieces to Him.
His Peace,
Cathy
About Cathy
A native Texas gal, Cathy currently resides in the lovely Ozark mountains of northwestern Arkansas with her husband of over thirty-five years. When she's not writing you'll find her wrangling chickens, rummaging through thrift stores, spending time with her family, or up to her elbows in yet another home improvement project.
In addition to the Miller’s Creek novels, Cathy also has written devotional articles for The Upper Room magazine, collaborated with other authors on two devotional books, and penned her own Bible study and daily devotional books. Visit Cathy at CatBryant.com. Cathy also loves to connect with readers in the following places:
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Cathy's Books
https://www.CatBryant.com/books-2
Miller's Creek Novels
Texas Roads
A Path Less Traveled
The Way of Grace
Pilgrimage of Promise
A Bridge Unbroken
Crossroads
Still I Will Follow
Other Fiction
Pieces On Earth (Christmas novella)
LifeSword Bible Studies & Daily Devotionals
The Fragrance of Crushed Violets
Believe & Know
New Beginnings
The Power of Godly Influence
Life Lessons From My Garden
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