Partings and Plans

When Jenny was told that Kinza was going home with them, she nearly went wild with joy and excitement, and danced about like a crazy little lamb. The thought of having Kinza to look after on the journey didn’t make it so hard to say good-bye to Aunt Rosemary. It was not going to be a very long goodbye, anyway, as Aunt Rosemary was due home on holiday in the summer and had promised to come stay with them.

The evening before they left, Jenny took her aunt and Kinza for a last walk up the mountain, and they sat there together for a little while watching the sunset.

“Are you sad that Kinza’s going away, Auntie?” asked Jenny suddenly.

“Well, of course I will miss her dreadfully, but I feel quite happy about her. You see, what I want most of all for Kinza is that she learns to know and love the Lord Jesus while she’s still tiny, and now that you know Him you’ll be able to teach her. Of course, I expect she’ll learn something at the blind school, but such a small child needs someone special all to herself to teach her.”

Jenny looked serious. “I don’t know that much myself,” she replied doubtfully. “Who’ll teach me, Auntie Rosemary? At school they don’t talk the way you do.”

“Yes, it does seem difficult,” said Aunt Rosemary. “But it’s quite all right, because you’ve got your Bible, and you’ve got the Holy Spirit of Jesus in your heart to show you what it means and help you understand it.”

“There are such long words in it,” said Jenny, still doubtful.

“I’m sure you’ll find Mummy and Daddy willing to explain hard words if you ask them,” answered Rosemary. “They are interested in everything that interests you. Have you told them what happened to you and why you want to read the Bible?”

“No,” said Jenny, frowning. “I wanted to, but somehow I couldn’t explain.”

“Well, it would be a very good thing to tell them in words,” said Rosemary, “but a far more important way is to show them that you are a changed girl—that Jesus is changing your bad-tempered, selfish ways. And as soon as that begins to happen, Mummy and Daddy will know all about it without any telling.”

“Yes,” agreed Jenny. “They’d certainly be pleased if I really became nice and good and never got into rages, and I expect they’d want to know why too. I think I’d better show them first, and then they’ll believe me when I tell them. Let’s go home now, and I’ll show them I want to help with the packing.”

Next morning at dawn, they all gathered at the hotel door to say good-bye. Hamid came to say good-bye to his little sister. Mr. and Mrs. Swift were busy with porters and bills. While she waited, Rosemary stood watching the three children whom she had come to love more than any other children she knew. They stood in a little group by the luggage—beautiful, rich Jenny, ragged Hamid, and blind Kinza. She wondered what lay ahead of them and felt thankful that the light of Jesus’ love would guide and protect them. One day they would all meet again in heaven.

A few moments later they had said good-bye, and the car drove off toward the green valley. Jenny’s eyes were full of tears, but Kinza, beating excitedly on the windows, had not yet realized that Rosemary was not also inside. When she did realize, she would no doubt be comforted quickly with a biscuit. They drove around the corner and out of sight, and Rosemary was comforted to find that one of her children, at least, was still close beside her. One great mission of Hamid’s young life had been completely successful, but his little sister would never need him again. She would have fine clothes, big cars, and good food. Now he had to return to the deserted marketplace, hunger, homelessness, and rags.

“Come and have breakfast,” said the nurse at his side.

He brightened up at once and forgot all his troubles. The thought of hot coffee and bread and butter made the world seem much happier. He raced along beside her, rubbing his hands delightedly. He had no work today because the master had gone to town, so there was plenty of time and, apart from this invitation, little chance of anything to eat.

When breakfast was over, he had his daily reading lesson. He was getting on very fast, and the nurse marveled at him. She had taught all types of children, and it was amazing how quick the street children were to learn. Their wits and memories were sharpened by the struggle they had to just keep alive, and they had trained themselves to look and remember. In a week, Hamid had learned all his letters and knew the repeating exercises by heart; in fact, he was rather boastful about it.

“Now I know everything,” he remarked, beaming as he struggled through a few three-letter words.

“Oh, no, Hamid; you are only just beginning. You must practice putting the letters into words, and you must come every day if you want to read the Bible by harvesttime.”

He nodded confidently. “By harvesttime,” he repeated. “Then I shall go back and read the Word of God to my mother. Then she will know the way to heaven, too, and even if my stepfather beats her and won’t give her enough food, the Lord Jesus will make her heart happy.”

“Will your stepfather let you read the Word of God to her?”

“Oh, no. But I shall read it in the granary when my mother is grinding corn, and I shall read it to my sister Rahma when we look after the goats on the mountain. Si Mohamed will never know.”

“But later on, Hamid, he will have to know if you are going to follow Jesus faithfully. You will have to tell him and he may beat you. But Jesus suffered a great deal for you because He loved you. If you love Him, you must be willing to suffer a little too.”

He turned thoughtful, troubled eyes on her. “I do love Him very much,” he said, and got up to go, leaving Rosemary happy with his answer.

It wasn’t long before Hamid could read, because he worked at it so diligently. To Rosemary it seemed no time at all before she was bringing him his farewell meal of bread and lentils.

Hamid wasn’t traveling alone; he had some companions. He had much farther to travel than the others, but packed in with the crusts and the water bottle and the cherries, he carried his precious new Bible—the Word of God, which would guide and protect him. He had Jesus’ promise, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.”*

Rosemary watched the boys as they scampered away, and at the end of the street they all turned and waved, five bright little figures black against the sky. Then they turned the corner and disappeared into the glorious light of the sunset.

* John 8:12