Chapter 17 Orphans and widows

Night quickly fell over the villages around the Qadissa Valley in northern Lebanon.During the day, there was a heavy snowfall here, which made the fields.The high ground turned into a huge white paper, on which the wind drew lines from time to time, and smeared them away from time to time.The storm is playing wantonly, and nature is throwing a tantrum. At this time, people are hiding at home, and animals are hiding in their dens.All living things have stopped moving, only the severe cold is raging, the wind is howling, the night is gloomy, and there is a dead silence. In one of those villages, in a lonely hut, a woman was knitting in front of a fire.Beside her lay her only son.The child looked at the fire for a while, and at his mother's peaceful face for a while.At this time, the strong wind blew up and the little house was crumbling.The child couldn't help being frightened, and moved closer to the mother, hoping to use her maternal protection to avoid the encroachment of the angry nature.The mother took the son in her arms, kissed him, and put him on her lap.Said: "Children, don't panic! This is nature teaching mankind, showing its own strength to set off the weakness of human beings. Children, don't be afraid! Although it is snowing heavily, dark clouds are rolling, and the cold wind is howling, there is the Holy Spirit of the Creator In control of them. He knows what the fields and the hills need. Behind it all there is a strong One, with pity and kindness looking on the little wretch. Don't worry, my heart! Nature is Smiling in spring, laughing in summer, sighing in autumn, now weeping, nourishing the life under the earth with its cold tears. Sleep, child! Tomorrow you wake up, and the sky will be so clear again , the field is clothed in silver, like the soul puts on pure clothes after fighting death. Sleep, my only seedling! Your father is watching us from the eternal stage. The blizzard makes us miss those ages all the more Eternal soul, how good this is! Sleep, my dear! After the cold, the wind and the snow, in April, you can pick colorful flowers. People are like this, son! Only after the bitter wind and rain, Kindness comes only through hardships and dangers. Sleep, my little one! Sweet dreams will come to your heart, and you won't have to worry about the dark night and the biting wind."

The child raised his sleepy eyes, looked at his mother and said, "Mom! I'm so sleepy that I can't keep my eyelids open. I'm afraid I'll fall asleep without saying my prayers." The loving mother held him tightly in her arms, and through the eyes of tears Looking at the child's angelic little face, he said, "Son! Say with me: Lord, have mercy on the poor! Cover their naked bodies with Your hands and protect them from the severe cold! Please Look at the orphans sleeping in the huts! The breath of ice and snow is stabbing their bodies. Lord! Hear the cries of those widows standing in the streets and alleys, struggling with hunger and cold! Lord! Please Reach out, touch the hearts of the rich, let them open their eyes, and see how the poor are living in dire straits! Lord, please have pity on those who stand at the high gate in this dark night. Hungry and cold people in front of the big house! Please guide those who live in a foreign land to a warm shelter and comfort them in loneliness! Lord, please watch over the birds and protect the young trees that are afraid of the wind. Liver yang..... Lord, may this come true!"

The child fell asleep.Mother put him on the bed, kissed his forehead with trembling lips, and then sat down in front of the fire again to knit his sweater.