The Miracle of Hope

The Miracle of Hope

by Paul McCann

Gareth and Barbara moved to the city after they were married  to start a new life . The honeymoon was over and it was time to return to work in their new jobs in the city centre . Gareth was working as a personal trainer in a gymnasium while Barbara was working in the post office nearby so they often had lunch together in a restaurant close to where they worked in a busy part of the city . They were able to have an almost an hour together each day for lunch and it was one days when Barbara had a surprise for Gareth . She had just discovered that she was pregnant . 

They had both wanted  to start a family and now it was really happening . She was excited and couldn’t wait to share the good news with Gareth .

Gareth also had some good news he wanted to share Barbara . 

He had secured a seven-year contract on a higher salary at the city gym .

They were both in a hurry to meet each other for lunch when the first missile  struck the city .

The attack that followed was severe , many buildings had been demolished and the city was left in ruins with casualties lying everywhere underneath the rubble and ruins .

The attack came unexpectedly and  nothing  could have prevented the carnage on the streets . 

Gareth was running in a state of shock towards the area where  the restaurant was but all he found were these desolate hills  of concrete waste that littered the streets . He ran around calling out shout her name over and over but there was no response . He continued looking for her and 

 gave up when he was exhausted.

Heartbroken and fearing the worst he sat among the ruins of the city totally devastated  .

Oblivious of what was going on around him all he could hear was the sound of sirens somewhere in the background . The city was in ruins with rescue teams looking for survivors in the rubble .

Gareth has already given up hope of finding Barbara alive  .

A stranger approached Gareth as he was walking around the streets in a daze .  

“Don’t be frightened . Even in our darkest days there is always hope”.

Gareth looked at the stranger and said .

“ How can there be hope when everything is gone “

The stranger replied. 

“Hope is always there even when everything is gone . You just need to look harder “

Gareth wiping away his tears said. 

“ I never thought we would be separated and now she’s gone “

The stranger asked. 

“Who has gone ?”

Gareth replied .

“Barbara , my beautiful wife . She’s gone . We always meet every day for lunch and I’ve looked everywhere . The place where we meet’s been demolished and 

Barbara’s gone “

The stranger said ,

“Maybe you need to look harder “

Gareth replied. 

“I’ve been searching everywhere “Ate you ok to walk with me for a little while “

Gareth nodded his head .

“ Sure, I’ve nothing else to do “

The stranger brought Gareth through some side streets .

A rainbow appeared in the sky above this little church that stood there untouched by the bombing .

The buildings around the church had been damaged but the little church was unharmed .

The stranger said .

“ Sometimes we need to look hard to discover hope.”

He opened the door to the church and pointed to a woman praying in a seat near the altar .

Gareth screamed excitedly. 

“Barbara !“

She turned around and screamed “Gareth !“

they both  ran to each other’s open arms and said in unison ,

“ What are you doing here ?“

Barbara answered ,

“ I didn’t go to work because I wanted to say some prayers because there’s something I need to tell you . We’re expecting a baby “

He held her and they kissed .

“ It’s a miracle Barbara . I met this kind man who brought me here .“ 

Turning around he pointed to the door of the church but there was no one there . 

“What msn ?”

Barbara asked .

“That’s strange . He was just there a minute ago.”

They both knelt down to pray and thanked God for the miracle in their lives .

 

The End