The Zella Chronicles

Another turn of the page brought them to Sunday school. Zella could see the hunger in Eleanor’s heart as the lesson was taught about “a friend that sticketh closer than a brother”. One more page is turned and it is the following Sunday.

           Placing His hand on her head, he said, “This is what I want you to look like.”

With His touch came the mental image that Zella conformed to. Her hair became shoulder length and curly. Its dark auburn color changed to mousy brown. Her heavenly attire morphed into a faded blue gingham.

Jesus lifted His hand and she looked down at herself. There were scars on the left side of her body that ran along her arms, legs, neck and up to her chin and lower cheek. “Why does my skin look like this?”

“They are scars from a fire. You will appear as an orphan who lost her family in a fire. You are staying with your aunt for a couple of days then going to live with family in another state.”

Zella nodded as the Lord continued, “Eleanor is feeling alone and a resentment will grow if we don’t remind her that I am her friend and love her very much.”

“So I tell her that you love her?”

“That, and remind her of the many blessings I have showered her with, and that I am always there.”

Counting on her fingers, she enumerated, “You love her, you have blessed her, and you are always there for her. Right?”

“You’ve got it! And, don’t forget, I am always with you too,” He smiled.

“Ok,” she said, as they shared a tight hug.

“It’s time,” The Lord said, looking down at Zella. She smiled back up into Jesus’ face, happy she now knew what “time” was.