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(Watkins).
Becky refolded the letter, carefully placing it back
in the handwritten envelope. The envelope that
was addressed to her mother 23 years ago, but had
never reached Becky’s hands. In fact, the box was
full of cards that had never reached Becky. Every
single one of them was from her father’s side of the
family that she had been denied access to. They had
been sent to her mother’s address, which had never
changed, in the hope that Becky might enjoy them.
She never did.
A whole side of Becky’s life had been hidden, for
40 years. Until now. Pauline had died, and Becky
had been set free. Free to discover a part of herself
that had died with her father when she was just four
years old. And free to investigate the father she never
really knew. No more secrets. No more arguments.
No more of her mother’s jealousy, angry tantrums,
and mad ramblings. They had been buried on a
morning shrouded in cold, damp mist just two days
before. Whatever Pauline had kept from Becky, it
was time to unravel it and emerge from the mystery
of her past. Time to know the truth. the truth of who I am. This was taken just before
your father died, with you beside him. Please feel
free to ask questions as you wish, rather than me
inundating you with details you may not be ready
to receive. I hope we can rekindle a friendship that
has been lost.
Kind regards,
Ruth.
………..
Ruth’s throat tightened as unstoppable sobs came
bursting to the surface. Her eyes welled with tears
that spilled over her cheeks. Her niece, lost for 40
years had been found. Since Gregory had died,
when Becky was four, Pauline and her daughter had
never made contact with the family. No mention of
how Greg’s little girl was going. Until today. Ruth
couldn’t respond; she was too overcome. A walk.
Yes, a walk to think clearly and sort through the
jumble of emotions entangled together like bright
cottons in a box.
A few evenings later she sent an email to Becky. She
would go slowly and choose her words carefully.
Dear Becky,
Yes, I am your aunty, Gregory MacDonald’s younger
sister. Sorry for the delay in responding. I was
overwhelmed to receive your email and needed
time to think through a response. I do not want
to alarm you by giving you too much information
too soon. I have attached a photo, to substantiate ………`
When we feel that something beautiful in our lives
has died and become lost forever, know that it may
only be dormant. There is still new life ruminating
inside waiting to emerge and reveal something
beautiful. Hope has not gone. We have not been
forgotten. God is at work, despite what we feel,
despite what we see. Is there a relationship that has
been buried and needs resurrecting? Or perhaps
a part of us that has been lost and forgotten? Can
we reach out to God with hope that what is lying
dormant will come forth to bring new life? The story
of Becky is unfolding right before my very eyes.
She is my cousin that I have not seen for such a
very long time. God does not forget the prayers of
those who faithfully pray for years for the things
that look hopeless. Whatever lies dormant in our
life can become a thing of joy and beauty if we pray,
trust and believe.
DOZ Magazine September 2018
………
Becky stared at the photo in disbelief. Was that
really him? She had never seen a photo of her father
before. And there she was sitting happily on his lap,
with his arm around her tiny waist. His arm. Dad’s
arm holding his little girl. The girl whom he loved
for such a short time. Becky grew restless to know
more. How had he died? Where? When? Pauline had
refused to tell her daughter anything. From daddy’s
little girl who had laid dormant for all these long,
sad years was emerging a bold, brave woman who
sought to reclaim her past and her lost identity. The
dormant years were over, and something beautiful,
new and exciting was about to blossom.