It was a cold night. The wind whistled through the barren tree branches and pressed against the house making the walls creak. Richard and Rachel Benning nuzzled up to under warm blankets by the fire place. It was their 5 year anniversary, and they decided to spend it quietly together. Their 4 year old daughter Minney sat at the table eating Cheerios. The flames danced and jiggled in the shadows on the ceiling casting a dull yellow hue over their faces. Richard stared into the fire.

"What's wrong" Rachel asked?

"Nothing. I just realized a fire’s unpredictability. There it sits contained and pleasant to us but given the opportunity it could consume anything. God is a consuming fire. Right now His mercy and grace keeps His wrath contained. But one day He will unleash full judgment on the wicked.  He is angry with the wicked everyday.”

“Rich” Rachel said, turning his face toward hers. “I love you.”

“I love you too.”

“Daddy, I love u” chimed Minney from the table.

“I love you too beautiful” he said smiling.

Minney slid from the chair and ran to her father arms open. Richard opened His arms and embraced her warmly, lightly tickling her. Her small voice squeaked through the house with joyful laughter and they all joined in tickling each other and laughing delightfully.

Richard stood. I have to get more firewood.

“Be careful” Rachel said.

“Be careyfill” said Minney.

He kissed the both on the forehead, grabbed His coat and wool hat and left.

~

Rachel jumped from her sleep, sweat sticking to her pajama top like adhesive. She always had the same dream and each time it ended in the same place. Each time it was torture. It had been 8 years since Richard was killed but it still felt like yesterday.

She got up and peaked into Minney's room. Even though she was 13, Rachel always pictured her as the same 4 yr old from her dream.

Rachel made her way down the hall and into the kitchen. The floor was cool beneath her but that was refreshing to her sweat soaked body. She was accustomed now to getting a drink of water and praying. She had tried shrinks but it didn't help. And dating didn't help her forget Richard either. So she turned to Jesus. Richard was always a godly man. In part, that's why she missed him. Rich always kept the family in smooth running condition and she always loved him for that. She admired his devotion to God even though she had never devoted herself. Going along with Bible study and prayer made Rich happy so she was happy to do it. But the past 8 years were lonely and dry.

Rachel poured some water and sat on the soft couch under a dim floor to ceiling. She finished her water and closed her eyes and prayed.

“Lord I can't sleep. I miss him so much. I can't go on like this.” Tears wet her eyes but she continued. “Why did you take him? He was a good man. He was one of yours. How could you take one of your own?” A lump swelled in her throat and she swallowed. “You are cruel God.” Anger began to rise in her chest and her face felt hot. Her tears were flowing in long steady streams now. She clinched her fist and fought the urge to scream. A soft moan escaped her lips and she buried her face in her hands struggling for composure.

The room suddenly became warm. At first, she thought she was having her regular heat flashes from her dreams. But the warmth was more cozy and refreshing than it was a mere change in temperature. Her pulse quickened. She almost thought the position she sat was to blame. Then a hand touched her shoulder. It wasn't a startling touch. It was a more like an energizing, comforting touch. She raised her head and pushed her hair from her face.

A person stood directly in front of her but she didn't look up. She was so overcome with grief and despair she didn't care who it was.

Rachel locked her arms around the person. A thought crossed her mind that it was Minney. But through the sheet of tears it seemed as though the clothes on this person was glowing. It even felt softer than the softest fabric in the world. She gripped tighter basking in the delight of the embrace and fell asleep.

~

The next morning Minney woke and felt oddly energetic. It wasn't the crazy goofy type of energy but a happiness and satisfaction deep within that electrified her like a car battery. The soft smell of bisquits tugged at her senses. The room was delicately adorned with the scent of fresh coffee, bacon and eggs. She sifted thru the smells that floated around the room as if she were taste testing the air.

Minney threw the sheets back and made her way down the hall. She immediately recognized the rest of the house smelled the same way. The kitchen table was set with flowers and a tablecloth: grits, cranberry sauce, orange juice, milk, biscuits, eggs, bacon, and lightly buttered toast crowded the table. Minney took in the sight with wide eyes. It wasn't normal to have such an extravagant meal at home. Her mother was normally too depressed or too spaced out from antidepressant drugs. And even though Minney discovered she had stopped taking them, Mom was still melancholy most of the time. She ran to the bathroom excited about all the strangeness happening about her. Things were going to be good. She could feel it.