The Sparrow Found A House (Sparrow Stories #1)
Page 23
Chapter 23
Hello Goodbye
When Jessie awoke late the next morning, it took her a few moments to remember where she was, and why she was wearing all these clothes in bed. Especially when the room was so warm. Warm? Jessie jumped out of bed and dashed for the light switch. Sure enough, there it was – glorious electricity! She opened the curtains to reveal a beautiful sunlit morning. It was like a different world from the gray farm in the boonies she had visited just a few weeks ago. Humming with the happiness and security of it all, she changed clothes and then ran downstairs, resisting the sudden temptation to slide down the bannister.
Jessie found the family in an equally festive mood, after an early-morning phone call from Mrs. Scroggins. “Alyssa was right on,” the Sergeant told them as he helped Mom make pancakes. “The lady from Social Services showed up this morning. She was pretty mad when she found only Ben and Mrs. Scroggins there, but there wasn’t anything she could do.” They all had a good laugh as they imagined the social worker leaving their empty house in a futile huff.
“How did you get the electricity turned on so quick?” Jessie asked.
“There are advantages to the rural way of doing things,” the Sergeant told her. “In the city, you wait till the utility office opens for business, then you go down and sign a bunch of papers and hope to get something done in the next week.”
“But in the country,” Mom took over, “you call your good friend Mrs. Scroggins, who calls her good friend Jeanice at the electrical co-op, who dispatches her husband Alvin to hook up the power.”
“‘Alvin’ would be high on my favorite people list right now,” Jessie decided.
“Don’t worry,” Mom said, “he was rewarded with a hot breakfast at seven this morning.”
“We’ll all have our work cut out for us the next few days,” the Sergeant announced, “in getting this house shipshape. But before we get started on that, we need to talk about something else: Katie’s Scrabble tournament.”
Katie’s eyes went wide as she sat straight up. For months she had been looking forward to the WhizKidz Scrabblethon, an annual tournament held after New Year’s in Columbia, open only to the best junior players. This was the first year she had qualified, but with homeschooling and the move going on, she had concluded that the trip just wouldn’t work out.
“Your good attitude about the tournament has not gone unnoticed,” said Mom. “You not only haven’t nagged or whined, you haven’t even mentioned it.”
Katie shrugged. The idea of nagging and whining had never occurred to her. What good would that do?
“So,” Mom continued slowly, “we’re really glad to be able to tell you... that it’s going to work out after all.”
Katie’s eyes went even wider than before.
“Now,” Mom cautioned, “I can’t be away from here long enough to take you, but Nana Scroggins has offered to make the trip instead. You would be staying with her one or two nights in a hotel. What do you say?”
Katie’s response was to burst into tears of sheer happiness. She had never wanted to do something so much in all her life. She stayed completely giddy all that week, and was so distracted that her help in the move was of dubious value. No one really minded, though, because just watching Katie float on clouds of excitement was fun for all of them, and in itself made the job seem lighter.
Thursday morning finally dawned, and found a sleepless Katie waiting with her suitcase on the front porch. It was an unusually warm and beautiful day for January, and she had come out right after breakfast to watch the curve for Nana’s car. She only wished that watching would make it arrive faster.
Soon Mom came out and sat beside her. “Katie,” she said as she put an arm around her shoulders, “there are some things you need to remember in Columbia.”
“I’ve got my toothbrush,” Katie assured her. “And I’ll be sure to listen to the tournament directors and shake hands with my opponent even when I lose.”
“I’m sure you will.” Mom stroked her hair fondly. “But that’s not what I mean. Do you remember the conversation we had a few weeks ago, the day of the burglary?”
Katie nodded quietly. “About being clever and laughing at other people.”
“Katie, the Lord has given you phenomenal power in your head, but I want you to watch carefully that it doesn’t go to your head. Do you understand what I mean?”
Another thoughtful nod.
“You may do very well at the tournament,” Mom continued. “As good as you are, I wouldn’t be surprised if you win your age division. If that happens, people will be taking pictures of you, and paying attention to you, and remarking on how clever you are. Do you know what God wants us to do when people give us credit and glory?”
Katie thought for a moment. “We’re not supposed to keep it, are we?”
“No, we aren’t, because it wouldn’t be good for us. Instead, we give all the glory to God. That’s why we live, and do all we do – not to gratify ourselves, but to glorify God. After all, He made us and gave us the gifts that people see and admire. Everything we have, we received from Him.”
“So I should tell them all that it’s really Jesus who’s clever.”
“Not necessarily with words. But if you keep that truth in front of your heart, your actions and attitude – as well as what you say – will point people to ‘glorify your Father,’ as Jesus told us. And when you point them to Him, you will get more real pleasure and satisfaction than you could ever find by promoting yourself.”
“That’s what I’ll do then,” Katie resolved.
Mom kissed the top of her head. “These are deep topics for a girl your age, but you’re not just any girl. You’re my little thinker, and I know you understand what we’re talking about. Now here comes Nana. Give us all a big hug to last the weekend, and then go have some fun. We’ll pray for you every night, and if you get to the final round we’ll watch the Internet stream.”
Still thinking deeply, Katie hugged them all, then hopped in the car with Nana Scroggins and rode away to her adventure. Mrs. Sparrow could only hope that her words had been taken to heart.