Sara’s Ponderings

Anna opened her jeep’s trunk, “Can you help me get these cases of fruit juice inside? I will fetch the cooler from inside my house, and we can distribute some of the bottles into it to lessen the weight.”

“Sounds good,” Sara replied. She waited as Anna unlocked the door and went inside. A few minutes later, Anna reappeared with the cooler in her hands.

“Here we go,” Anna said as she put the cooler on the ground. She opened the case, and pulled a few bottles from the plastic. “Sara, are you okay?” Sara did not respond, but continued watching Anna work.

“Sara!”

“Hmm.”

“Are you okay? You seemed zoned out for a moment.”

“Oh, sorry. I guess I was just thinking. Here I will take the rest of the case that doesn’t fit in the cooler.”

Anna and Sarah carried the drinks into the house.

“Would you like a drink, Sara?”

“Strawberry kiwi flavor, please.”

Anna handed her the drink and grabbed a citrus punch for herself.

“That moment at the car, what was on your mind?”

Sara froze. “How can I tell Anna what I was pondering? I haven’t even told her about Brad yet,” Sara thought to herself. “This is only our second meeting since Anna spoke to me by phone…”

“Sara? Sara, if you don’t want to talk about it, you just have to say so.”

“I am sorry, Anna. I guess I am having a lot of flashbacks today.”

“Flashbacks?”

Yes, ma’am. The juice bottles reminded me of a dear friend Alivia , who I chatted with regularly during my late husband Brad’s treatments.”

“Oh, Sara. I am sorry for you and Emily’s loss. Cancer is a terrible disease.”

“Yes, it is. Emily was only five when… anyways I watched you move the bottles to the cooler earlier, and I was reminded of prayer.”

“Prayer?” Anna repeated with confusion on her face.

“You suggested we move some of the bottles to distribute the weight. To make it bearable, that not one single person was doing all the work.”

Alivia was a friend who helped provide meals, clean my house, even would watch Emily. But above all, she was always the one I talked to about a lot of my struggles, who shared in the joys, the ups and downs of life. Yes, I would cry out to the Lord, but she was someone earthside who would just be there and listen. Between her and the Lord, the burdens just seemed a little lighter, instead of the emotional weight crushing down on my shoulders.

“Sounds like you have a good friend.”

“Yes, I did.” Sara took a swig of her drink.

“Did?”

“Yes, unfortunately Alivia passed in her sleep two months ago at the age of fifty-four. Even now , I can imagine the smile she always greeted Emily and I with.”

“I wish I had a friend like that,” Anna lamented. “Most of my schoolmates and acquaintances were fakes. They would bail as soon as I could not afford to give them whatever they wanted. With my ex husband being well to do, that usually meant monetary favors. Listen to me ramble on. Just forget I said anything.”

Sara reached her hand across the table. “Maybe this is why the Lord reconnected us. We both could use a friend.”

Anna smiled weakly, “Maybe so.”

“I originally was never going to meet with you as you requested the day you called. Then I saw the newspaper, and the Lord prompted me to give you the opportunity to be heard. I left that luncheon still unsure , but still I agreed to meet you and chat once more, which is why I am here. But now I want to try to be friends.

That day I first heard your voice after so long , I was raging inside. I wanted to remain bitter and keep that record of wrongs against you. But you repeated continuously of you having no idea I wanted to ask Chris on a date. Truthfully I only, half believed you. I still had this image of you as a snobby teen who got the popular boy, while I remained unnoticed. In reality , I was just overwhelmed with jealousy. I forgot the good memories we had playing together as children. Will you forgive me?”

“Of course. I never understood why we stopped speaking to each other. “

“I know I kept us apart due to my decision to keep my pride, instead of seeking reconciliation. Let’s start over.”

“I would like that. How about I get the chocolate chip cookies off my kitchen counter to go along with our drinks?”

“Yum.”

“You can take a couple for Emily later. I am sure she would enjoy an afternoon snack.”

“Oh, for sure. She has sweet tooth.”

“I would love to have both of you join me for lunch here at the house on Saturday. We can eat, chat, and maybe watch a movie. What do you say?”

“I say you will have company for Saturday, “ Sara responded with a wink. “Well I better go get in that lengthy car line. “

“Goodbye, Sara and see you this weekend.”

“See you then,” Sara grinned. New memories were just days away from being made and Sara was looking forward to it.

•All Scripture is from the World English Bible.

Ecclesiastes 4:9-10

9 Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their labor. 10 For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow; but woe to him who is alone when he falls, and doesn’t have another to lift him up.

James 5:16

16 Confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The insistent prayer of a righteous person is powerfully effective.

Galatians 6:2

2 Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.