The Notice

Two men dressed in uniform were at the front door. Sally opened the door and greeted them. Grace listened as one of the men spoke to her Mom. The man said, “Ma’am this is a notice to inform you that the King plans to visit very soon. No one will be told the exact hour or even day he will come but everyone should prepare.” Sally appeared flustered as her blonde locks fell in her face. She tucked her hair behind her ear and thanked the men as she accepted the notice.

Grace looked at her Mom with wide eyes as she waited to hear exactly what the notice said. “Grace, go grab your sister so I can read this to both of you.” Grace ran upstairs and grabbed her younger sister Faith. “Mom needs us both downstairs, there is a notice from the King.”

When they walked back down the stairs Sally was anxiously waiting for them. She opened the notice and read, “My people, please remember I love you. I will return soon and those who have what I seek will be able to return home with me. Those who truly know me, will know what I am speaking of. In the meantime, I am preparing a feast. Your King”

Many had heard the stories of how the King loved gold. Sally did not have much since she had lost her husband two years ago when her girls were just eleven and nine years old. She told the girls she would sell her ring from their daddy. It was the most valuable thing they had but, if they gave it up, they might have a chance for a much better life.

The next morning Sally woke Grace and Faith up early so they could walk to town with her. Neither of her girls ever complained. Just like her, they had a kind heart and they were happy, even if they didn’t have much. The three of them dressed quickly, pulled their beautiful blonde locks up out of their faces and stepped outside to begin their journey.

As they approached town they saw a small jewelry shop. “Perfect”, Sally thought. She had not been to town in months and did not remember that shop being there. She opened the door and she and her girls walked inside. There was a man behind the counter. Sally pulled out the ring and told him she needed to sell it. The man took the ring and looked at it under a light. He thought for a while. Then he said, “This is a beautiful ring, I can give you three bars of gold for it.”

Three bars of gold was a lot! Sally was so happy that her sacrifice would mean a better life for her and her girls. “Thank you! Yes, I accept your offer.” Sally had tears in her eyes. The man handed her the gold bars inside a black bag and Sally, Grace and Faith headed home to wait for the King to return.

As Sally and her girls were walking the path home, an old woman was sitting on a bench. The woman was sobbing. Sally, who was always thinking of others, told her girls they should stop to see if they could help the woman. “What’s wrong?” Sally asked. The woman replied, “I am alone. I have no home and no family and nothing of value so I will not be able to return home with my King.” Sally thought about the three gold bars inside the black bag. If she gave the old woman a bar of gold the woman would likely be able to return to the kingdom too. Her girls watched in amazement as she lovingly handed the woman one bar of gold. The old woman hugged Sally and her girls and thanked them for changing her life.

As Sally and her girls continued their journey home, they came across a young woman who looked tired and beaten down. Again, Sally stopped to see what was wrong. The young woman told Sally that her child was sick at home but she and her husband did not have enough to pay a doctor to take care of him and they certainly didn’t have enough for the King’s return. Sally smiled and pulled out the remaining two gold bars. She gave them to the young woman and told her to go back and tell her husband they could take their little one to get the care he needed. The young woman smiled through happy tears. Sally and her girls smiled as they fought back tears too.

“Well, I have nothing left to sell, but we have each other and one day we will be with our King” Sally said. Grace and Faith both smiled and hugged their Mom. They were so thankful for her.

Sally, Grace and Faith walked inside their tiny home and collapsed after a long, exhausting journey. Within minutes there was a knock at the door. All three girls moaned and then laughed. They were not ready for company but Sally got up to answer the door.

The man from the jewelry store was standing there. Sally stared at him for a moment until she realized he was her King. He said, “I was the one who gave you the gold that you used to help others today. Girls, grab your things, you are coming home to live in my kingdom. Everything has been prepared for you.”