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Featured Contributor Hillary Key
A Story for Jeff
by Hillary Key
Once upon a time a young man, full of the dreams of every good man met a young woman full of the same. In their search for treasure they found each other while walking the same narrow path. They knew their fortune, for many never receive such a gift. Their love was warmth in cold and sunlight in rain. Cold did come and so did rain. But they continued down the path together valuing the gift all the more.
Soon they longed to take this treasure and invest it in a dream they shared before they met. Although many around them had realized this very dream, they did not take something so precious for granted. The cold and rain had humbled their hearts.
They were full of grateful anticipation as they journeyed down the path towards their dream. They knew this treasure would shine so bright it would offset the cold and rain. They prepared so carefully for the day of truth that they sometimes became distracted along the path.
Finally the day arrived for them to realize their dream and receive their gift. Their hearts ran over with nervous and joyful expectation.
They could see their gift in the distance wrapped in a bow. They ran to it and began to open it with careful happy tears.
"Here it is!" exclaimed the young man to his happy weary wife, as she peered inside at this precious gift whose shine was not so bright. Something was wrong. They both broke inside... Its luster was not the same as the treasures others had so easily acquired. This was not the gift their hearts had seen, but it was the one they loved.
They knew that for the rest of their journey they would walk with joy and with sorrow. They mourned the loss of the dream of the bright shining treasure and envied the many who possessed it.
At the same time, they were thankful for the privilege of being entrusted with the gift at all. To lose it would leave them with an emptiness no treasure could replace.
They cursed the thought of more rain and cold but remembered the One who took them down the narrow path and led them to one another... the One who gave them this precious gift whose luster was different than any other.
As they looked through the eyes of the Giver, the One whose love is warmth in cold and sunlight in rain, they could see their treasure's shine, a reflection of the Pathmaker's love, whose luster is different than any other.
Though sorrow is an unwanted guest who frequents their walk down the path, hope and love are their companions. Love adores the treasure and hope knows there is no limit to how bright it may shine.
Once upon a time, a young man full of the dreams of every good man met a young woman full of the same. They learned that dreams belong to the One from whom all good gifts come. And the gift is loving the treasure you're given for how ever long you're honored to possess it.
Seven years ago I wrote the above story for my husband. Writing by the single light remaining in our dark quiet house, I could not, I would not sleep until I got this story down on paper. A quiet house... rare - no apnea alarms, no cries in the night from our precious baby boy who suffered almost nightly from spasms (one of many challenges due to Joubert Syndrome). Sleep... even more rare. How could I pass on something so necessary that eluded me most nights? How could I pass on the opportunity to dream dreams in the safe space of slumber? Because something was stirring in my heart... healing - the freedom of knowing once again that we could dream good dreams while awake.
Eight months prior it seemed as if our dreams were washed away in the wake of a diagnosis with a bunch of “will always” and “never wills” attached to it. Soon after, a group of our friends joined us in our “home away from home” to pray for our beautiful Bennett. My husband, Jeff, and I stood in front of the hospital chapel. I was the last one to pray. I had no words. I know the words and the strength to say them came from God.
A few months later, as I wrote the story, I was once again in a quiet place. And once again there were borrowed words to usher in comfort and the turning of a corner.
Today, the words of the story are true to what we felt at the time. Some things remain the same. Love adores the treasure (more every day), and hope knows there is no limit to how bright it may (continue to) shine. And there have been days of sorrow, days of joy, and days where sorrow and joy just hang out competing for attention. (One look at Bennett and joy wins.) There are some days I would not want to live over again, but for each one I am thankful. Some things have changed, especially the good man and the now not quite so young woman. We do not envy those who possess the bright shining treasure. Bennett is more than we could have ever hoped for. And I realize we do not actually possess our treasures. They are on loan making them all the more precious.
by Hillary Key
Once upon a time a young man, full of the dreams of every good man met a young woman full of the same. In their search for treasure they found each other while walking the same narrow path. They knew their fortune, for many never receive such a gift. Their love was warmth in cold and sunlight in rain. Cold did come and so did rain. But they continued down the path together valuing the gift all the more.
Soon they longed to take this treasure and invest it in a dream they shared before they met. Although many around them had realized this very dream, they did not take something so precious for granted. The cold and rain had humbled their hearts.
They were full of grateful anticipation as they journeyed down the path towards their dream. They knew this treasure would shine so bright it would offset the cold and rain. They prepared so carefully for the day of truth that they sometimes became distracted along the path.
Finally the day arrived for them to realize their dream and receive their gift. Their hearts ran over with nervous and joyful expectation.
They could see their gift in the distance wrapped in a bow. They ran to it and began to open it with careful happy tears.
"Here it is!" exclaimed the young man to his happy weary wife, as she peered inside at this precious gift whose shine was not so bright. Something was wrong. They both broke inside... Its luster was not the same as the treasures others had so easily acquired. This was not the gift their hearts had seen, but it was the one they loved.
They knew that for the rest of their journey they would walk with joy and with sorrow. They mourned the loss of the dream of the bright shining treasure and envied the many who possessed it.
At the same time, they were thankful for the privilege of being entrusted with the gift at all. To lose it would leave them with an emptiness no treasure could replace.
They cursed the thought of more rain and cold but remembered the One who took them down the narrow path and led them to one another... the One who gave them this precious gift whose luster was different than any other.
As they looked through the eyes of the Giver, the One whose love is warmth in cold and sunlight in rain, they could see their treasure's shine, a reflection of the Pathmaker's love, whose luster is different than any other.
Though sorrow is an unwanted guest who frequents their walk down the path, hope and love are their companions. Love adores the treasure and hope knows there is no limit to how bright it may shine.
Once upon a time, a young man full of the dreams of every good man met a young woman full of the same. They learned that dreams belong to the One from whom all good gifts come. And the gift is loving the treasure you're given for how ever long you're honored to possess it.
Seven years ago I wrote the above story for my husband. Writing by the single light remaining in our dark quiet house, I could not, I would not sleep until I got this story down on paper. A quiet house... rare - no apnea alarms, no cries in the night from our precious baby boy who suffered almost nightly from spasms (one of many challenges due to Joubert Syndrome). Sleep... even more rare. How could I pass on something so necessary that eluded me most nights? How could I pass on the opportunity to dream dreams in the safe space of slumber? Because something was stirring in my heart... healing - the freedom of knowing once again that we could dream good dreams while awake.
Eight months prior it seemed as if our dreams were washed away in the wake of a diagnosis with a bunch of “will always” and “never wills” attached to it. Soon after, a group of our friends joined us in our “home away from home” to pray for our beautiful Bennett. My husband, Jeff, and I stood in front of the hospital chapel. I was the last one to pray. I had no words. I know the words and the strength to say them came from God.
A few months later, as I wrote the story, I was once again in a quiet place. And once again there were borrowed words to usher in comfort and the turning of a corner.
Today, the words of the story are true to what we felt at the time. Some things remain the same. Love adores the treasure (more every day), and hope knows there is no limit to how bright it may (continue to) shine. And there have been days of sorrow, days of joy, and days where sorrow and joy just hang out competing for attention. (One look at Bennett and joy wins.) There are some days I would not want to live over again, but for each one I am thankful. Some things have changed, especially the good man and the now not quite so young woman. We do not envy those who possess the bright shining treasure. Bennett is more than we could have ever hoped for. And I realize we do not actually possess our treasures. They are on loan making them all the more precious.
Hillary Key is a full-time mom, and lives with her husband, Jeff, and son, Bennett, in Roswell, Georgia. She received her bachelor's degree in graphic arts from The University of South Carolina in 1992. Hillary had two short stories published in 2006 in
Special Strength for Special Parents by Nina Fuller.
She enjoys painting, reading, and being a daily guest star on The Bennett Show, broadcast "live" from her living room, produced by the imagination of her son. Bennett, the host and creator, is doing extraordinarily well. He is enjoying good health, sweet friendships, and a new stage built into the corner of his room by special fans. His recent memorable performances include standing on his own for a few seconds (on stage, of course) and learning to drive his new “fully loaded” power chair. |
