A Prayer Is Answered

It was a cold wintry night in the suburbs of Frankfurt, Germany and Christmas season was in the air. The stars were scattered all over and little snow white lace dollies were relentlessly showering .The tall and bony pine trees covered with dots of snow all over, looked elegant and contrasted the dark curtain. The roads and rooftops of houses were covered in blankets of snow. Not to forget the cars and vehicles that were stationed in the bungalows. The windows and glass panes had turned translucent due to frost. There was a fog thickening in the distance and the streetlights looked smudgy. Echoes of church bells could be heard, chiming loudly from the tall steeple of the St. Peter and Paul’s Church and a choir singing the Christmas carols. The Christmas Eve mass was going in the cathedral. At last the clock struck twelve and the people wished each other ‘Merry Christmas’ and exchanged greetings of happiness and joy. Soon the footpaths were crowded with feet of both young and old.

A quiet had descended over the church and with the people gone, an atmosphere of emptiness lingered around. It was dark inside the main hall .The choir singers had left and there was no sound of the organ or of any peaceful singing. The only light that could be seen was the faint one coming from the candle stands on the altar. Besides the cheerful lot of people that walked out, there was one particular couple, still kneeling with their hands joined and heads bowed. Their eyes were filled with grief and worn with hopelessness.

The lady was in her late thirties and tears trickled down her eyes every moment she turned towards the altar. She had a thin face with sallow skin. Her eyes were heavy and she had soft, pearly lips. She looked pale. She was wearing a lilac coloured coat piece. She kept murmuring some words of prayer .Seated beside her on the bench was her husband who was in his mid thirties. He was constantly consoling her. He had sharp features; he was tall and sported a moustache that covered his upper lip. Unlike his wife he had clear blue eyes. He wore a black blazer and in his hands lay open a hymn book through which he was reciting some prayers and hymns. He then turned towards his wife and whispered something in her ear and then together motioned to stand up took the sign of the cross and walked on the carpet aisle. They donated some shillings to the poor. Now the only sound that could be heard was that of the wax melting from the candles, the footsteps of the nuns and sacristans going around extinguishing the flames of the candles. Everything seemed silent and gloomy around the church. A muffled stillness prevailed, the lights were out and the church door was closed. The night was passing peacefully with the lonely moon in the serene sky and some hidden constellations. There was a beautiful crib prepared depicting the Birth of Jesus, with small statues of the shepherds, the Mejiahs and the angels. They had almost reached the grotto of “Our Lady of Immaculate Conception” when a child came running and tripped over the lady’s feet. Her mother was there in no time and lifted the child and took her home. The sorrow engulfed her so badly this time that she could not bear it. As more tears swelled up in her eyes she hid her face and walked over to the main gate and waited for her husband who was still praying, humbly kneeling at the grotto.

When he was done with his praying he came to her and asked her “My dear, are you alright? Is something wrong?”

He looked worried, his voice full of concern for his wife. It bothered him as she was reluctant to answer and it made him all the more anxious .He asked her once more, “Honey, Are you alright? Are you crying?” more calmly this time.

After a while she cleared her throat and responded in a grave voice, “It was the child and her mother .It made me feel miserable. I felt like I was going to collapse. My dear, you know of what I speak” the longing in her voice was clear and noticeable.

“I don’t understand how much I shall suffer. Am I not destined for any happiness at all?” she said.

Her husband replied, a peace of understanding on his face “I am aware of your troubles and misery dear. I love you and if there was anything I could do I would try my best. I have not lost hope in the Lord yet.” He caressed her hand as he spoke these soothing words.

Then with one gentle rub he wiped off her tears with his fingertips and said “Come on dear, it is getting late. We must leave. Have you no intention of going home? Your eyes look heavy. You need some sleep, come.”

The lady and her husband put on their cardigans. Desolation filled their hearts, despair spread through their minds as they walked hand in hand on the cobbled path.

Now this solitary couple that walked down the macadamized road was none other than Mrs. Melanie and Mr. George Mason. They were united in holy matrimony five years ago. Mr. George Mason was a rich and successful business man. He was also known for his generosity and kindness that he showed towards the poor .Though a distinguished person, he socialized with the rest of his neighbours and mingled with a lot of people in society .His wife, Mrs. Melanie Mason, was a graceful and elegant person. She showed immense love for friends and family. She was a well-known figure as she worked as an accountant in a prestigious company. They lived a happy life with all the worldly comforts and luxuries. They always looked happy and wore a smile on their faces. They were god-fearing people and attended the Sunday obligatory masses regularly .Life seemed absolutely perfect for them. But it did not remain the same for long .Their family portrait was incomplete. They failed to have a child of their own .The doctors had examined her several times and confirmed her that there were no chances of pregnancy .The Masons were left deserted, and Mrs. Melanie was in ruins after this catastrophe struck their uneventful home .Her faith in God diminished over time and Mrs. Mason went further astray from the church. After a while when they came to terms with their fate and had endured their suffering, it was Mr. Mason who encouraged his wife to resume her visits to the church again .At first she was reluctant to do so but later she payed frequent visits. They began attending retreats and spiritual gatherings.

“It’s all left in God’s hands”, they thought to themselves.

*************

They walked straight down the lonely path and turned left at a diversion. They went down another small curve and made it to a row of small bungalows that were all cramped together in a small area. All the houses seemed to be illuminated by the bright lights that hung from each rooftop. People were celebrating though it was the late hour of night. Everyone was engrossed in the festivity enjoying them. Mr. and Mrs. Mason now reached their bungalow.

Out of the blue, all of a sudden Mrs. Melanie turned to her husband and asked “Do you think God will ever answer our prayers ?”

George just nodded his head once and then whispered in her ears, “My darling, I can assure you beyond doubt that God will answer our prayers. If not today then some other, but He will not let us down. He shall bless us with a child in a very special way.”

When Mr. Mason had just said so, the dogs from their garden started barking abruptly. Melanie hurried over to the gate to unleash the dogs when she heard something-the innocent cries of a baby. This sound caught her off guard. Both the Masons froze dead in their tracks. Melanie’s heart skipped a beat or two but soon enough she analyzed the sound in her head. She was all confused, her mind messed up. All sorts of questions began filling her mind. Is that a baby? Has God finally answered my prayers tonight? It wasn’t long before she came to her senses and realized that reality was awaiting her at the door step .In no time her husband was at her side and they both rushed to the door. With panicky hands, Mrs. Mason picked up the child, clad with white clothes and cuddled the toddler in her arms .The child who had been crying loudly was now silent. The baby looked more like an angel. He had round clear blue eyes and soft white skin. He had pink pearly lips chubby cheeks and shades of honey and bronze in his hair. The kid was plump and round with podgy fingers and looked very cute and adorable. Heavy tears- tears of happiness- rolled down the couple’s cheeks. Indeed by now they were sure that this was a blessing from God. They were overjoyed .This had been their desire for years .They yearned for a child ever since that tragic day the doctors had confirmed their fate. And now after five whole years their prayer had been answered.

Mr. George Mason asked his wife “Who would leave this kid here all alone? Is he lost? ” His face held no particular expression. His fore head creased into many lines evidently showing anxiety and his voice was filled with a certain uneasiness and concern. At the same time he was happy for his wife. He hadn’t seen her delight and overjoyed since a long time. He feared that his wife would break down if this temporary delight was snatched away from her .But Mrs. Melanie was lost in ecstasy . She caressed the pink cheeks of the baby and replied with a voice that conveyed affection and love “I don’t know? Why would you say that?”

“No it’s just that the child is…..” Melanie interrupted George saying “Either ways this child is not going anywhere. Think about it George, this is a Christmas blessing. This is the one thing that we have craved for all these years. And now you are uncertain about taking this child in. Didn’t you say that God would bless us in a special way, is this not special?” That was it. Mr. Mason couldn’t deny that this was a miracle. Deep in his heart, he knew that God loved him and his wife greatly and was absolutely sure that this was God’s blessing in disguise.

After that there was no looking back .The Masons carried the baby home knowing that immoderate happiness and joy would flood their house. For Mr. and Mrs. Mason, their family portrait which was unfinished, was now complete. They finally had a child who fit perfectly into their lives .What they bemoaned for four years, now seemed silly and insignificant. They had been endowed with a child; one they would cherish in their lives forever.

One cannot speak of God’s love without being at a loss of words to describe it. There is an invisible hand behind every happiness in our life and that’s God. He answers our prayers and rewards us in ways we cannot understand .There is no problem too big which God cannot solve, no mountain too tall which he cannot move and no sorrow too deep which he cannot soothe.