Brooklyn and Samantha have been inseparable from day one. The doctor joked that they had been born holding onto each other for dear life and they still haven’t let go once. They share each other’s friends and enjoy a lot of the same things but in other ways they are opposites. Like one is left-handed and one is right, they part their hair on different sides and they both have a birthmark on their cheek but on opposing sides.
Brooklyn was born first and is always proud to tell everyone that she is the older sister. Many, who do not know they are twins, always assume she’s the older sister because of her size. Brooklyn has always been the taller of the two and takes after her dad with a long, stalky, and muscular build. That has served her well through the years as she’s tried every sport out there but puts the most effort into her basketball. She and her dad take their father/daughter time shooting hoops and talking sports after he comes home from work. Secretly she thinks she might like softball better but her dad played basketball in school and she wants to grow up to be just like him.
Samantha is long and lanky like her mom. She is more likely to want to dress up in fluffy dresses and loves having her hair and nails done even as a young child. While her sister is out playing sports with Dad, Samatha prefers to stay inside with her mom doing nails and talking about the latest fashions. Her dad always calls her, my princess and then twirls her around the living room telling her, “No boys are going to steal my princess.” She’s a natural at painting and writing poetry and can usually be found sitting under a tree or out by the river for hours writing or sketching out her thoughts, hopes, and dreams.
Both girls have been looking forward to the big 8th-grade promotion all year and never once could have imagined their whole world would be turned upside down. Their dad was the strongest and bravest person in the world. If they ever had a question or didn’t know what to do, they knew they could count on him. One year when the girls were playing outside, they dared each other to climb as high as they could up the tall oak tree in the backyard. It turned out they could get very high. So high in fact that once they reached the top Samantha took one look down and was scared half to death and refused to come back down. She hung onto the swinging tree limb crying and saying “It’s too high, I can’t!” despite all of Brooklyn’s coaxing. So Brooklyn ran to her dad and he climbed that big old Oak tree, pried Samantha’s terrified fingers from the limb and put them around his neck, and carried her down on his back. That’s the kind of dad he was.
~
The nights were the longest when they found out their dad was sick. Both of their parents would try and reassure them that everything was going to be okay but their faces said another thing. They knew their mom tried to hide her tears but her face was always red and blotchy and her eyes looked sad and empty. On several occasions, they would come downstairs to see their mom praying in the big oversized recliner and that helped them with their own faith. Then it was as if she went from being sad and broken to being angry. She would snap at the girls for no reason. “I told you to put your things away, I nearly broke my ankle tripping over your backpacks,” she would yell with so much anger in her eyes. They had never seen her like that and it scared them. They needed their mom so much right now but she had turned into a different person, one they couldn’t understand.
Their dad, always so strong, was tired a lot of the time. He would still put on a big smile anytime he saw them. “My favorite daughters,” he would say.
“We’re your only daughter’s dad,” they would say and giggle.
“You are? What have you done to my other children?” He would say as he started walking through the house opening up cupboards and doors as if he was looking for something.
But behind all that joking, he didn’t walk as tall, and sometimes he would grab his side breathing harder than usual. It was obvious he wasn’t getting better and was getting worse.
~
“Sam?” Brooklyn whispered one night.
“Yeah Brooklyn?”
“Do you think Dad is going to die?”
“I don’t really want to think about it but yeah. Sometimes when I pray, I just keep hearing a voice that tells me to be strong. And then I don’t feel good about it. I get all sad inside and think the voice is telling me to be ready for him to die.” Then she began to cry, “See, I knew I didn’t want to talk about it.”
“I’m sorry Sam, I didn’t mean to make you sad. Come get in bed with me and I’ll make it all better okay.”
“Thanks Brooklyn.”
Samantha climbed in putting her head on Brooklyn’s outstretched arm and shoulder like they did anytime she couldn’t get to sleep. Then Brooklyn would tell a funny story that Samantha never knew the end of because she would always drift off before it was over.
“I love you, Sam, don’t worry it’s gonna be okay,” she said and kissed her sister’s forehead before falling asleep herself.
~
School was usually a good time to get their mind off of all that was going on at home but while other kids were excited and talking about all the trips their families were going to take over the summer, the girls couldn’t help but wonder if they would ever take any more trips as a family.
One day in choir, right after their parents sat them down and told them that their dad wasn’t going to get better, they broke down when the group started a new song, ‘The Irish Blessing’.
May the road rise up to meet you
The Irish Blessing
May the wind be always at your back
May the sun shine warm upon your face,
The rains fall soft upon your fields
And until we meet again,
May God hold you in the palm of his hand.
When the choir teacher Ms. Richards saw the girls crying, she escorted them gently into her office. “Are you girls okay?”
“Our dad is dying,” Brooklyn said between soft sobs.
“Oh girls I am so sorry, I didn’t know,” she said while wrapping both girls up with a hug. “Is there anything I can do to help?”
“We’d just like a few minutes to collect ourselves. We have each other, just sometimes things make us sad,” said Brooklyn while holding her sister’s hand.
“Alright girls, I just want you to know I’m here anytime you might need to talk and I’ll let the school counselor know too. You don’t have to do this alone. There are a lot of people here that care about you. We will be here to see you through all of this okay? You take your time and I’ll come back in to check on you at the end of class.”
“Thanks, Ms. Richards,” Samantha squeaked out.
“Anytime girls.”
After that, Ms. Richards took the girls aside every day to see how they were doing. She also spoke with the school counselor who started regular counseling sessions during school and Ms. Richards moved the girls next to each other in the choir. On days when they both seemed distant and in need of some extra support, she would bring them in at lunchtime and they would talk about whatever came to mind. The girls felt supported and loved and soaked up every minute they had with Ms. Richards. It was the most normal thing they had in their life when everything at home seemed to be such a mess.
~
It was the night before their 8th-grade promotion ceremony and the girls came straight home and went to their room. They knew better than to say anything to their mom. She was so tired from taking care of their Dad and even the smallest thing would set her off so they realized they were better off just staying out of the way.
That night they had planned to write out their hopes for high school as they did before middle school.
“Hey let’s get our journals out!” said Samantha.
After about 10 minutes of sitting on their bed with their journals open and pen in hand Brooklyn spoke up, “have you written anything down yet?”
“I can’t think of a thing other than I just want Dad to get better.”
“Me too. Maybe if we pray hard enough, Dad will wake up and be okay. Maybe he will make it to our ceremony like he keeps telling us he will,” said Brooklyn.
So the girls got down on the floor and kneeled and prayed back and forth telling God about why their Dad was so important and asking God to heal him and make him better. And several times the girls would sneak to their dad’s room and look in on him to see if their prayers worked but he was still in bed sleeping as he had been for the past 3 days. So they would go back into their room and pray some more until they finally fell asleep on their fluffy rug, right where they had been praying.
~
Neither of the girls remembered when they fell asleep but they know they were still praying early into the morning. They also don’t know when they grabbed the pillows that were under their heads or when they covered themselves in blankets but they woke up feeling wrapped in love.
“I wish our prayers worked last night Sam,” said Brooklyn as they were waking up.
“Me too, I don’t even want to go to our promotion if Dad isn’t going to be there,” Samatha said as she stretched and then hugged her blanket tighter.
“I had the weirdest dream….,” started Samatha before Brooklyn cut her off.
“That Dad came in and told us that he loved us, put pillows under our heads, and covered us with blankets?” said Brooklyn.
“Yeah, I guess it was just wishful thinking. It was a really nice dream.”
It wasn’t unlike the girls to have similar dreams so they both shrugged their shoulders and agreed that it was a dream they would write down in their journals so they could keep the memory as if it was a real one and look back on it with fondness.
“Well, I guess we should go downstairs and talk to Mom and let her know not to worry about going to our promotion. I know she has a lot on her plate and since we both don’t feel like going there’s no need,” Brooklyn said with a sigh.
“I think you’re right and it’s the best thing to do.
Should we go check on Dad again?”
“I don’t want to. Seeing him makes me sad and I’m tired of crying,” Samantha said while folding up her blanket and putting it neatly on her bed.
“Yeah, me too,” Brooklyn said with a huff tossing her pillow and blanket on her rarely-made bed.
~
The girls made their way downstairs feeling in the lowest of moods. They both wondered if life would ever be the same and both were frustrated that all their praying didn’t do anything. They were tired and felt like they could cry at any moment but promised each other before they came downstairs that they would be strong. “Mom doesn’t need us crying, she’s upset enough already as it is”, said Brooklyn before they came downstairs.
“That’s true but you know how I am about crying. I just see someone else sad and I don’t even know what they are sad about and I start to cry. But I’ll try Brooklyn, I’ll try hard for mom.”
Brooklyn said good morning to their mom as they made their way into the kitchen. It had been weeks since they saw their mom cooking and felt that much worse about having to tell her about not wanting to go to the promotion because they could tell that she was trying to make the day special for them.
The girls’ promise to not cry didn’t last long. After she asked them how they slept, both the girls broke into tears. Maybe it was the lack of sleep from staying up praying all night but the warmth of their mother’s arms around them made some of the hurt go away and they didn’t feel so alone.
And then their Mom announced that their Dad was out of bed and going to their promotion ceremony that day, they both could hardly believe what they were hearing. The girls took one look at each other with eyes wide and filled with hope. When she suggested they make this the best day ever they knew that wouldn’t be a problem, it already was the best day ever.
As the girls scurried up the stairs they were filled with the most joy that they’d had in days.
“Our prayers worked Brooklyn, they really worked! Or maybe it was just my prayer,” Samantha giggled.
“No I’m pretty sure it was mine,” Brooklyn teased and gave her sister a playful punch on the arm. “I can’t wait for today! God answered our prayers, I knew he wouldn’t let us down. I should have known that it would be in His timing and not right away. We shouldn’t have become so defeated when we went to look in on him and he wasn’t better yet.”
“Yeah, I forget sometimes because I am not that patient. I’m just so excited Brooklyn! Let’s curl each other’s hair okay?”
“Okay sis.”
~
After they ate their favorite breakfast that their mom had made for them, it was time for the big promotion ceremony. They had worked hard all year to make this a memorable event. Both girls were equally competitive and studied until they thought their brains would explode so they could get academic awards and make the honor roll for the last time.
Ms. Richards noticed the girls to be in an exceptionally upbeat mood and was happy to see such joy on their faces. “How are my favorite twins doing today?”
“We are amazing Ms. Richards! Our Dad is well enough to come to our promotion today and we just know it was because we prayed for him all night,” beamed Brooklyn.
“That’s wonderful girls, I’m so happy for you!”
The girls sang the two songs they had prepared in the choir and the whole time looked out at their mom and dad feeling like this was the best dream they ever had and never wanted to wake up. Both of the girls squealed each time their name was called to accept the academic awards they worked so hard for and waved at their parents each time they left the stage. All their prayers and dreams were coming true and it was truly the best day ever.
After the ceremony, the girls ran up to their parents and gave them both a big hug. “That was beautiful music your choir sang girls, and I’m so proud of all your hard work in school….. just so proud,” said their dad with tears threatening to roll down his cheeks.
“We worked hard just like we promised you we would. And you know what dad?” Asked Brooklyn.
“What?”
“You were right, 8th grade wasn’t as hard as I thought it was going to be.”
“That’s my girls. You can do anything you put your mind to, don’t you forget that ever okay?”
“Alright Daddy,” Samantha chimed in.
“Girls, aren’t you going to go to the party with all of your friends?” Asked Mom.
“Nah, we don’t really want to leave Dad. It’s already been a great day, our friends can wait,” replied Brooklyn.
“I can understand that but let’s make a little deal. Your dad is looking pretty tired. I was going to take him home and let him rest for a few hours while I get ready for your party tonight. You don’t have to be out for a long time but why don’t you enjoy some time with your friends. You won’t miss anything at home and it’ll keep the house nice and quiet so your dad can rest.”
“Okay Mom, we wouldn’t mind spending some time with our friends,” Brooklyn said with a grin.
“Yeah that’s a great idea,” Samatha agreed.
“Great, just make sure to be home around 5. That’s when the family will be coming over for your party. Now run along and have a wonderful time. I promise to take good care of your dad.”
“You always do Mom,” said the girls as they ran over to hug their Dad goodbye before they headed off with their friends.
Come back next week for the 3rd installment in the Katie series. Did the girl’s prayer work and their Dad is healed? Will the girls get to go on a summer vacation after all?
Questions to consider:
Do you believe God sends us messages through our feelings or through prayer? Like Samantha who had a feeling God was preparing her to be strong when facing her dad’s passing?
We know that God can answer our prayers and heal. If faced with the same situation, would you believe that your prayers were answered if you prayed like the girls and found out their dad was well enough to attend their promotion?
Even though Katie was facing intense anger at God for not healing her husband, what did she do that the girls did recognize that helped strengthen their faith?
God has a way of sending people to us during times when we need them most like Ms. Richards being there for the girls. When was a time when God sent someone into your life during a challenging time?
Finding God’s Grace Through His Word
The following verses talk about having faith when you are feeling weak or disheartened. Imagine these verses being spoken directly to you as you face your own challenges and read them with a heart of prayer.
Deuteronomy 31:8
Philippians 4:13
John 16:33
1 Peter 5:7
Psalm 23:4
Joshua 1:9
