Elizabeth

Of course
we knew about Sarah
and Hannah,
but that was a long time ago.
Things like that didn’t happen
today,
and anyway, not to people
like us.
Of course
we had taken advice,
some not entirely given
in love.
We had listened
to those seeking to help
and we had heard
in our hearts
the voices of those who were
critical,
scornful
,judgemental,
patronising,
hurtful.
I could go on.
But all that was in the past.
Now
we were old
and it mattered less.
Zechariah
was a good man,
a good husband
and we were happy.
We never spoke about it
anymore.
But,
in my heart,
it was still there,
and every so often,
it surfaced.

And, yes,
we had prayed,
fervent,
arguing,
pleading,
believing
prayers
but
nothing had happened.
God was silent,
and that, too,
hurt.
But,
I knew that He was there.
I knew that He had heard.
I knew that He knew best.
Still
it was hard.

Then,
one day,
something wonderful
happened,
that I,
we,
can’t explain.
Zechariah
came back
from the Temple
and he couldn’t speak.
He was so excited,
gesturing wildly.
Something about
a baby.
My heart leapt.
All the hidden longings
surfaced.
The years fell away.
A baby.
I wasn’t sure
what was going on,
but,
a baby…

Six months have passed.
Six wonderful months.
And now
I have heard
something
even more amazing
has happened.
Too amazing
to take in.
But,
when I saw her;
when I saw Mary,
I knew
that it was true.
And,
even more wonderful
if that can be,
so did
my baby.
I swear
that
he, too,
leapt
for joy.



© Kathleen Wilks