The Gifts of Faith - The Rainbow (Ch. II)

As the colors became more brilliant, the yellow hues seemed to separate from the rainbow, reaching to the earth in a gentle golden rain. Even Kitty stopped chasing butterflies as the earth-bound rainbow shower changed from gold to white then gold again before settling in the meadow just ahead.

Faith watched in awe as a shimmer of white swept across the land, moving towards her. A vision appeared inside the glow. A vision Faith had never experienced before now. Although Faith had grown accustomed to seeing the souls of people glowing just beneath the skin’s surface, this vision appeared in reverse.

As the glow moved closer to Faith and Kitty, the golden rainbow shower dissipated, returning to the sky high above then disappeared entirely. Within the white mist, a silhouette was forming. Suddenly, the tell-tale butterflies in Faith’s belly stopped as if they’d found their resting place. It was all clear to her now. Faith was witnessing the person who ‘could have been’ inside the soul that lived on and she knew exactly who was making her way to where Faith stood.

“Hope”, Faith muttered to herself. As the image moved closer, the person inside the soul stepped out of the white glow that enveloped her. With long dark hair and eyes the color of an azure sea, the woman who came forth seemed to barely skim the blades of grass as she brought her presence to Faith.

“It’s good to see you again, Faith.”

“Again? I don’t understand.” Faith had never come face to face with the beauty before her, but felt she’d been a part of her life all along.

“I’ve been with you since before you were born. You know me and have felt me all of your life. It’s just now that I’m able to reveal myself to you. You have a gift. It confuses you and costs you friends. You feel lonely as the result. That will change now. You’re old enough to accept your gift – and me.”

“I’m not sure I understand.” Faith was not afraid of this beautiful soul, rather she felt they were one, but she was still too young to decipher the meaning or the connection.

“Come with me.” With outstretched hand, the woman who had come forth through the shimmer of white led Faith to a nearby shade tree.

Kitty gave up her butterfly chase and followed them to rest underneath the canopy and settled in to take a well-deserved nap.

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“As you know, my name is Hope. What you don’t know is I was the child that Mom and Dad never knew. I was stillborn; however, a part of my soul lingered in the womb. Mom and Dad grieved, but God has a special assignment for me.”

Faith sat silently while the butterflies began to stir once again in her tummy. These butterflies felt different. Yes, change was imminent, but this time the change was felt within her soul. This moment would change Faith’s destiny. She felt it with all her being.

“Faith, by the time you came along, Mom and Dad were not so sure you would live, just as our sister and brother and myself didn’t make it into this earthly life, at least not for long. They prayed and prayed and prayed. You are named after their prayers. They had faith that God would finally bless them with a child that could handle the stresses of today’s world. That’s why a part of my soul was left in the womb. God and I wanted to answer Mom and Dad’s prayers. You gained strength from me and I gained purpose from you. Together we have been put on Earth to see what others don’t see. We are here to bring Hope and Faith.”

Faith took all this in and knew her sister was right. Now it was all starting to make sense.

Hope continued. “My soul lied sleeping. I didn’t even realize it until you were conceived 15 years after my death. It was then that I came alive in spirit. My mission was to make sure you made it through the pregnancy and your entrance into this world. I came alive to answer Mom and Dad’s prayers and to help you with the special gift you have been given. You see souls. People don’t understand. They call you a freak. But you have a purpose on this earth. You see the good in people. Because I was left behind, I can see the darker souls in addition to the good ones. Together, we will accomplish your purpose. You are destined for great things.”

This was a lot for 6-year old Faith to absorb, although it felt true and right. Now she had a better understanding of her ability to see souls and foretell imminent changes. Hope was here to help her deal with the varying degrees of her visions and to fine tune her gift.

As Faith was taking in all she’d heard, a light shower began to bring them back to reality. The sun was shining as the rain fell and a rainbow appeared on the horizon. Faith turned to marvel at the pastel colors streaking the blue sky.

When she returned her gaze to where Hope sat with her back to the tree, she found herself alone with Kitty.

The butterflies had left Faith’s tummy.

She and Kitty headed for home but not without stopping to pick a bouquet of Mom’s favorite flower, Lily of the Valley.

Shauna L Bowling

Refining, Defining or Rhyming

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