15 comments

Christian Inspirational Creative Nonfiction

Another day of waking up with the sound of sirens zooming by outside. I'm not ready to start the day. I stay in bed for a few more minutes. "Alright, I better get up and get ready". I walked to the bathroom to take a shower. I'm singing-along with my morning playlist on Youtube. I get out of the shower. I feel refreshed.


Outside on the busy streets of the city, I walk to church on a Saturday morning. I stop at the corner waiting for the light to turn red. While the light was changing red, a bright blue car sped through the light and as it slammed on its brakes, the car crashed into another car.

"What are you thinking?! I had the green light! Why would you try to out beat the red light?!" yells the woman in a yellow car.


"It wasn't my fault the light changed faster than I assumed!" says the man in the bright blue car. The police show up and write the report. Finally, I get to cross the street and think to myself, One of the reasons why I hate this city, people seemed to always be in a rush and cause accidents. That's the reason why I usually don't cross the street the minute it turns red.


Along the way, I look at the houses on the streets. Some look like they were just built. There are fences and green front yards. Some even have a flower garden with white, red, yellow flowers. Others on the other hand, they were worn down and ready to fall any minute. They didn't look like they belonged on the same street. In fact, if I didn't know any better, I would think it was two different sides of town. I get to church and I walk up the steps and open the door and walk inside. I see other church members.


Sister Fran prays, "Dear Lord, You are good and holy and faithful. Thank You for Your blood and mercies. As we go outside and pray for others, let them feel You. Do a mighty miracle in their lives. Cover us and protect us. In Your mighty name, Jesus."


We all say,"Amen."

We walk on the streets asking people who walk by us if they need prayer or anything. A lot of people tell us no, but they see something in my hand and want it. I give them something that I made out of pipe cleaners. It's shape is a heart with a scripture tie to it. Some people want prayer and we pray for them. I also give them the heart with the scripture tie to it. After an hour or two, we walk back to church. It feels good to spread hope.


I decided to walk to my mom's since it's not too far. The streets are still busy in the afternoon. It makes me feel a bit uncomfortable when I walk by myself. I keep reminding myself that I'm not actually alone because Jesus is with me. I get to my mother's place.


I walk through the front door and my mom says with a smile," Hi, honey! Do you want something to drink or eat?"


I answer," I'll get me some hot tea." I make honey vanilla chamomile tea with some sugar and cream and sit down on the couch beside her. We talk about the old times.


"Remember that time when you and I would walk around town? I miss those times."


I miss those times too. I say," Don't worry, Mom. You'll walk again." She wasn't always stuck on the couch with just the TV remote in her hand. About three years ago, she was outside walking the streets doing errands. She barely stayed home. Everyone she met, she greeted. She had her boombox on her shoulders, playing gospel music wherever she went.

I remember a time when I wanted to be around her, but I was backsliding from church so the music made me angry. I never told her that though. I still stuck around and I found peace with the music because most songs were about forgiveness. I returned to church.


I finish my tea and start cleaning her bathroom. I clean her toilet and her bathroom sink and her shower. Afterwards, I clean my hands and wash her dishes.

Two years ago when this all began, she complained about a pain in her stomach and went to see a doctor. She told them that it felt like it was her hernia. They checked it out and told her there's nothing wrong with it. As the days went by, the pain grew stronger and she went again, but they didn't find anything. She couldn't keep anything down that she ate so she stopped eating. She was only drinking water, but still was walking everywhere. I came there one day and she took a sip of water and then puked it back out. I knew something wasn't right. But she didn't want to go to the doctors because they didn't help her. I was afraid because I knew something was terribly wrong. I didn't know what to do. I prayed to God that she'll be healed.


Some days later, her boyfriend called her mother while I was there at that time. He said,"She's not eating or drinking or moving off the couch for almost three days now. I tried to tell her that she needs to go to the hospital but she won't listen to me. Someone needs to come down here and try to convince her to go!"


So, my uncles, my aunt, my twin sister and I went over there. She lost so much weight and she wasn't in her right mind. She kept saying that she was okay but we could see she wasn't. My aunt called the ambulance. They took her to the hospital. They did a lot of tests and x-rays. That's when they found the kidney stone and it was a size of a nickel. It might not sound big but it can cause damage. She wasn't pooping and she was built up with days of waste. They put tubes in her and needles. She was very low on iron, vitamins, and she was dehydrated. She finally looked like she was going to be okay. They took the kidney stone out. She was able to walk again.

While she was there, she had a roommate. I remember that her roommate couldn't get up to use the bathroom so he had to poop in a urine pan. The nurse had to come and clean it out. I'm so glad I'm not a nurse. I don't know how they can do that. Cleaning someone's else poop out of a pan. I'm happy it didn't get that far with my mom and she's able to walk to the bathroom. I don't know what I'll do.


Seafood is her favorite food; so, I make her bake fish and lemon pepper scallops with some french fries. I really enjoy cooking for her. It takes about two hours. I sit down to watch a movie with her when I am done. She likes to watch Christian movies because it helps with her faith, but it also helps with mine.


The movie ends and I say, "Well, I have to go home now." I get up and hug and kiss her goodbye. I walk out of the door and walk back home. I wouldn't change where I live because the rent is cheap and I live near most of my family members. I also live close to my church. At a certain time at night, no one is outside on the streets that I take back home. I look up at the night sky; even though the buildings block a lot of it, I try to look pass them. "Thanks Jesus for today and the time I got with my mom. I know she'll walk again. I believe it will happen when You say it's time. Until then, I just have to stay focused and not lose my faith. Forgive me for all those times I did. Thanks for listening."


I open my front door to my apartment. My twin sister is spending the night at our uncle's house. My cat, Ellie, runs into the kitchen and I pick her up and pet her. I place her back down. I walk into the bathroom. I take a shower and sing-along with my peaceful playlist on Youtube. I get out of the shower. That is refreshing. I get into bed and Ellie climbs up and lays on my stomach.


The sounds of sirens zooming by again. What happened now? I hope no one got hurt. I sigh,"The thing I hate about this city is everyone is in a rush. I think everyone should slow down and pay attention. What's so important that they don't think about other people on the road while trying to out beat the yellow light?"


When everything is silent, which doesn't last long, there's a peaceful feeling that comes over me. Like, everything is right in the world. It's like Jesus is wrapping His arms around me and saying," Don't worry. Your family will be heal." Until that day, I just need to keep that peaceful feeling within me because I will have peace with all men no matter what they say about me or what's going on around me.



March 17, 2021 04:58

You must sign up or log in to submit a comment.

15 comments

Jay DMer
17:31 Apr 19, 2021

LOVE YOUR BIO. Praise the Lord<3 God bless you, sis.

Reply

Ann Tillinghast
16:55 Apr 20, 2021

Thanks 😊 God bless you too 🙏

Reply

Show 0 replies
Show 1 reply
16:39 Apr 17, 2021

Cities and their ways, as any thing in life, have always good and interesting elements to see and to live, as well as bad things; but we all agree that many city people are always in a rush (I don't know why because many times people have lots of -or enough- time to get to places!)... So, you worked the prompt very well. Nice!

Reply

Show 0 replies
Brianna Stilwell
22:57 Apr 12, 2021

I'm not religious, so I was a bit apprehensive when I saw the tags on this story, but I found that lots of it was quite relatable in many places! You did an excellent job writing a piece that exhibits your faith but is also relatable enough to be thoroughly enjoyed by those who don't share that. The bit about not knowing how nurses can stand cleaning up after people - I feel that in my soul, lol! I work in the office of a PSW/home nursing company and I always say that I could NEVER do the work that those girls do. Your character has a ver...

Reply

Show 0 replies
Colin Devonshire
04:24 Mar 25, 2021

Uplifting. Well done.

Reply

Show 0 replies
Marcia H.
21:31 Mar 24, 2021

I loved this story.

Reply

Ann Tillinghast
22:45 Mar 24, 2021

Thanks 😊

Reply

Show 0 replies
Show 1 reply
Philip Clayberg
20:51 Mar 24, 2021

Thank you for writing this story. It really feels like you're there in a big city. It reminds me of my visits to big cities like New York City and Manhattan, and the four years I lived near downtown Washington DC (we lived about half a block from a fire station). I'm glad that I live in a much quieter neighborhood these days. Visiting a big city is one thing, but I don't think I would ever live in one again. Not even if it was Seattle. Maybe something smaller (and comparatively quieter) like Bellingham, WA. Editing comments: I stop a...

Reply

Ann Tillinghast
22:10 Mar 24, 2021

Thanks for taking the time to read my story and suggestions for a better way of explaining events. I was having a difficult time with that.

Reply

Philip Clayberg
23:43 Mar 24, 2021

You're welcome. I'm glad I don't have to worry too much about stepping on toes when I read and edit. Some stories ... including some of my own ... almost drive me straight up a wall sometimes. I look at them and think, "It's a good thing I'm so choosy about what I submit vs. what I don't submit." I probably submit about 1 out of every 5 stories that I write (including incomplete ones), because I figure if a story isn't good enough for me to complete and edit, then why would I force others to read such sub-par material?

Reply

Show 0 replies
Show 1 reply
Show 1 reply
04:37 Mar 18, 2021

I like your story. I was anticipating a negative event to happen and flip the script somehow leaving her holding into her faith under dire circumstances. Of all the stories I’ve read lately it was refreshing to have one begin and end on a happy note. Congratulations for one of your first new stories and I hope you continue to write more. Keep in touch! Robert

Reply

Ann Tillinghast
04:47 Mar 18, 2021

Thanks for the comment. So, you saw it as a happy story? I saw it to be kind of sad because of her mother not being able to walk and she's waiting for that day.

Reply

05:12 Mar 18, 2021

I understand what you mean. As I read the story, I saw the main character as the focus. I understood her routine, her morning rituals, what she did when she arrived at her mother's house. I apologize if I missed the target. I saw the life of the caregiver's point of view. It looks like the story is short enough to add a second part. Maybe write about her mother's day from her perspective. I'm not being critical negatively, I'm just throwing a suggestion your way. I hope you don't mind. Robert

Reply

Ann Tillinghast
05:29 Mar 18, 2021

No problem. I like suggestions. As I was rereading it, I realized that when she gets to her mother's, it's like she's cold or emotionless. Maybe I can also add some feelings. How would you add her mother's point of view? How to change the perspective to fit in the story? I hope I'm not asking too much.

Reply

05:15 Mar 19, 2021

What if the mother reflects on the life she lived and how she is sad she's dependent on her daughter. However, she's also a proud mother who raised such a good hearted child. Perhaps she has other children who've left and not been so attentive. The mother can look at her daughter as her pride and joy and remember back to the days she was born. Perhaps there was a struggle in her birth or her father died shortly after. Just spitballing a few ideas. Robert

Reply

Show 0 replies
Show 1 reply
Show 1 reply
Show 1 reply
Show 1 reply
RBE | Illustrated Short Stories | 2024-06

Bring your short stories to life

Fuse character, story, and conflict with tools in Reedsy Studio. 100% free.