Kristi said. “Tryptophan is an amino acid found in turkey, and it’s known for making people sleepy.”
“Our daughter’s smart.” Mom smiled at Kristi. “I’ll bet you learned that in nurses’ training.”
“I may have, but it’s something I read about a long time ago in a magazine article.” Kristi stirred her hot chocolate and took a drink. “Yum. I like it when you whip heavy cream. It’s much better than the spray kind you buy in a can, and I like the subtle way you sweeten it, without too much sugar or vanilla.”
Mom’s smile widened. “I enjoy cooking for you and your dad, and I’m glad you appreciate it.”
“I appreciate it, too.” Dad reached over and helped himself to the fluffy white topping, added some to his mug, and took a drink. “Ah … now that’s what I call good.”
Thinking about all the delicious food she’d just shared with Mom and Dad caused Kristi to reflect on one of the patients at the nursing home where she worked.
I wonder if Audrey felt up to eating any turkey today. Poor thing. She looked so pale when I checked on her yesterday.
“Is anything wrong?” Mom tapped Kristi’s arm. “You look so serious all of a sudden.”
Kristi slumped in her chair. “I was thinking about my patient, Audrey, who’s dying of cancer. I’m sure I mentioned her before.”
“You did. Has she gotten worse?” Mom’s gentle tone revealed her concern.
“Yes. Up until recently, she’s been able to be out of bed and get around on her own, but now she’s pretty much bedridden.”
“Cancer’s an ugly thing.” Dad spoke up. “Seems like there’s hardly a family who hasn’t been touched by it.”
“I know.” Kristi sighed. “I’ve been praying for a miracle on Audrey’s behalf, but with her getting worse, I have to think my prayer won’t be answered.”
“All prayers are answered,” Dad reminded. “Just not always the way we would like.”
Kristi thought about Joel again and how she’d been praying for him, as Audrey suggested. It had only been a little over a month since they’d broken up, so he was still fresh on her mind. She continued to wonder if anything in his life had changed. Obviously, Joel wouldn’t be a different person right away, but maybe he’d receive the help he needed from God sometime soon. Before Joel could change, however, he had to let Jesus come into his heart.
Redirecting her thoughts, she smiled and said, “As much as I’ll miss Audrey when she’s gone, I’m convinced she’s a Christian and will be in a better place. She’s told me more than once that she’s ready to go home and be with the Lord.”
“The sting of death lessens a bit when we know someone we care about has been transported to heaven.” Dad reached for the pot of hot chocolate in the middle of the table and poured himself another cup.
Kristi finished eating her pie and pushed away from the table. “I’ll take my dishes to the sink and then get out one of our favorite games.” Hopefully once they started playing, she could concentrate on something more uplifting.
After she rinsed her dishes, Kristi decided to check her phone messages, in case someone from the nursing home had called with an update on Audrey’s condition. Dorine was working this evening and had promised to let Kristi know if Audrey took a turn for the worst.
Listening to the only message she’d received, Kristi inhaled a long breath when she heard Joel’s voice. She took a seat at the kitchen table and pressed the phone closer to her ear. For a split second, hearing him say he wasn’t feeling well touched a soft spot in her heart and she felt pity for him. Kristi was aware of how miserable a person felt when they had a bad cold, much less a sore back. But common sense kicked in when she remembered Joel lying to her about why he’d taken money from their joint account. He was probably either making up the situation, or using it as a means to get her there so he could try and talk her into
“Our daughter’s smart.” Mom smiled at Kristi. “I’ll bet you learned that in nurses’ training.”
“I may have, but it’s something I read about a long time ago in a magazine article.” Kristi stirred her hot chocolate and took a drink. “Yum. I like it when you whip heavy cream. It’s much better than the spray kind you buy in a can, and I like the subtle way you sweeten it, without too much sugar or vanilla.”
Mom’s smile widened. “I enjoy cooking for you and your dad, and I’m glad you appreciate it.”
“I appreciate it, too.” Dad reached over and helped himself to the fluffy white topping, added some to his mug, and took a drink. “Ah … now that’s what I call good.”
Thinking about all the delicious food she’d just shared with Mom and Dad caused Kristi to reflect on one of the patients at the nursing home where she worked.
I wonder if Audrey felt up to eating any turkey today. Poor thing. She looked so pale when I checked on her yesterday.
“Is anything wrong?” Mom tapped Kristi’s arm. “You look so serious all of a sudden.”
Kristi slumped in her chair. “I was thinking about my patient, Audrey, who’s dying of cancer. I’m sure I mentioned her before.”
“You did. Has she gotten worse?” Mom’s gentle tone revealed her concern.
“Yes. Up until recently, she’s been able to be out of bed and get around on her own, but now she’s pretty much bedridden.”
“Cancer’s an ugly thing.” Dad spoke up. “Seems like there’s hardly a family who hasn’t been touched by it.”
“I know.” Kristi sighed. “I’ve been praying for a miracle on Audrey’s behalf, but with her getting worse, I have to think my prayer won’t be answered.”
“All prayers are answered,” Dad reminded. “Just not always the way we would like.”
Kristi thought about Joel again and how she’d been praying for him, as Audrey suggested. It had only been a little over a month since they’d broken up, so he was still fresh on her mind. She continued to wonder if anything in his life had changed. Obviously, Joel wouldn’t be a different person right away, but maybe he’d receive the help he needed from God sometime soon. Before Joel could change, however, he had to let Jesus come into his heart.
Redirecting her thoughts, she smiled and said, “As much as I’ll miss Audrey when she’s gone, I’m convinced she’s a Christian and will be in a better place. She’s told me more than once that she’s ready to go home and be with the Lord.”
“The sting of death lessens a bit when we know someone we care about has been transported to heaven.” Dad reached for the pot of hot chocolate in the middle of the table and poured himself another cup.
Kristi finished eating her pie and pushed away from the table. “I’ll take my dishes to the sink and then get out one of our favorite games.” Hopefully once they started playing, she could concentrate on something more uplifting.
After she rinsed her dishes, Kristi decided to check her phone messages, in case someone from the nursing home had called with an update on Audrey’s condition. Dorine was working this evening and had promised to let Kristi know if Audrey took a turn for the worst.
Listening to the only message she’d received, Kristi inhaled a long breath when she heard Joel’s voice. She took a seat at the kitchen table and pressed the phone closer to her ear. For a split second, hearing him say he wasn’t feeling well touched a soft spot in her heart and she felt pity for him. Kristi was aware of how miserable a person felt when they had a bad cold, much less a sore back. But common sense kicked in when she remembered Joel lying to her about why he’d taken money from their joint account. He was probably either making up the situation, or using it as a means to get her there so he could try and talk her into
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