Grace After the Storm

Anna Maria De Guid's flash fiction focuses on an unexpected reward given to grace-filled friends.

Two days after Sean and Fay arrived from a European cruise to celebrate a milestone occasion, Fay received a terrible call. A coworker found Sean on the floor of his office after falling from a massive stroke, and he was immediately rushed to the hospital.

After tests, scans, and laboratory work, the prognosis was pretty grim. His wife Fay was in a haze. How was she going to take care of Sean on solo income with tons of medical bills, rehabilitation, and therapy costs? She had no immediate family to help her. She knew she was facing the most onerous burden she will have to carry in her life. Her only resort was to pray.

For decades, Sean and Fay had been hosting Thanksgiving at their home. It was an intimate gathering with family and their closest friends. One special guest they had every year was Sean’s cousin Mark. His parents passed away decades ago, and he was living by himself. They never heard about any of his friends and wondered for a while if he even had one. Mark was an introvert who sat at the far end of the room, and the couple mostly left Mark to himself. He was a butcher, and during this occasion, Sean always asked him to do the honor of slicing the Thanksgiving turkey as dinner started.

About a year after Sean’s stroke, he was finally able to start relearning a few basic things, such as eating by himself and brushing his teeth. He was wheelchair-bound and needed help with almost every movement. Around the same time, Fay started feeling the financial stress of providing for their household as well as his medical and therapy expenses. Her thoughts and prayers were a part of her daily routine: “God, please help me.”

Late one evening, the police called. Mark had passed away in his home. Sean and Fay had to identify the body, make the funeral arrangements, and help in all other ways.

A few days later, the trust lawyer called. Sean and Fay learned that Mark owned a considerable estate which he bestowed on the couple!

Since then, there is not a day that passed that Fay and Sean have not thanked God and Mark for this amazing grace.

Have no anxiety at all, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, make your requests known to God. (Philippians 4:6)

Copyright 2020 Anna Maria De Guid
Images (top to bottom): Toni Cuenca (2017), Pexels; Pexels (2019)