Tuesday, November 29, 2022

The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face Write Edit Publish Bloghop



Celine Dion The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face.

The last story of the year for Write, Edit, Publish is based on the song, ‘The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face. One of my absolute favorite songs of all time. This song can mean so many different things to people. My take is below.

I want to thank our lovely ladies for their hard work sponsoring this bloghop. Denise, Olga, Laura, Renee, Nila, and Jemma.

Tagline: Love, acceptance, compassion.

His Face…

Absolute love and acceptance. I hadn’t expected this. I was raised in a strict Christian religion and hadn’t gone for years. Yet, despite all my mistakes, there was no judgment. Only love. Love permeated the core of my being.

“I had a baby,” I said.

He smiled. “Yes, my beloved. Your son is healthy.”

“A boy.” I was old school and wanted to be surprised.

“You have a choice,” Jesus said. “You can stay or go back.”

“Oh…” to stay in all this vibrant beauty, unconditional love, and acceptance. But…”I have a baby.”

He nodded, accepting my choice.

Eleanor heard the beeping of the monitor before she opened her eyes. And, the memory. The sweet, sweet memory.

He stood before her, his robes glowing with white brilliance, her savior. His smile filled her with peace and love, deep and all-consuming. Then she heard the monitor.

Eleanor opened her eyes to a room full of medical equipment lit with fluorescent lights. Her husband was sprawled in a chair, head back, mouth open, snoring. He hadn’t shaved, and his face was splotched with whiskers too dark to just be a day’s worth. How long had she been dead?

Yes, she’d been dead. She was sure of it. Her memories of heaven were too complete and more real than this world.

“Josh.” Her mouth was dry, and it came out like a squeak. “Josh,” she said again, a little louder.

He jerked, opened his eyes, and then sat. Fear creased his brow, and she watched as it smoothed and then a smile. His smile. The one she fell in love with on their first date years ago.

He stood and came to her taking her hand. “You’re alive. You made it!”

“I am. I did. The baby?” She didn’t care about anything else at the moment. It’d been a struggle to get pregnant. Years of trying only to lose several babies until this one.

Josh bent and kissed the back of her hand. Then, grinning, he said, “It’s a boy. He’s perfect.”

“I know,” she said.

He didn’t act surprised. “I’ll tell the nurse to bring him.” Josh hurried out the door.

He was back, followed by a nurse who checked her vitals. “You’re a miracle,” the nurse said.

“I died,” Eleanor said.

“Yes,” the nurse answered. “Dr. Allen worked hard to save you.”

“I want to see my baby,” she said.

The nurse nodded and left. Shortly afterward, she was back pushing the hospital crib. Once there, she lifted the tiny bundle and nestled him in Eleanor’s arms. Everything slipped away as she gazed at her newborn’s face. Perfection in each detail, from his tiny nose to his eyebrows and mouth. Her body seemed to glide, and the room, nurse, and even Josh faded. She stood once more beyond the veil in a lush and vibrant garden. Love surrounded her. Acceptance and tenderness. Her baby boy opened his eyes, and she lifted her gaze to Jesus.

“My baby,” she said.

He smiled and touched the infant’s forehead. “Blessings on you both.”

“I give him to you.”

“I promise to always be with him and with you.”

Then, she was back in the hospital. The nurse was gone. Her heart was so full of love that she thought it would burst.

“What shall we name him?” Josh asked.

They’d been talking about a few different names. “Peter,” she said. It hadn’t been one they discussed, but it felt right. In fact, everything felt right.

“Peter,” Josh repeated. “It fits.” Then his fingers ran along the baby’s face, just as Jesus had done. Their baby smiled.

“We must go to church,” Eleanor said. “But maybe not my old one.”

If Josh was surprised, he didn’t show it. “Which one do you want to attend?”

“I don’t know.”

Josh leaned forward and kissed her, then he said. “We’ll figure it out.”

Word Count 648.

I’ve been watching near death-experience videos under Destiny Image on YouTube. What strikes me is how people relate the love of Jesus and his face. I remember the first time I looked at my daughter’s face after she was born. My heart swelled with love. I thought she was perfect. So, it seemed right to combine the two.

I hope that you will find encouragement in this story in some small way. Nancy

To read what others have written, go here.

 

24 comments:

Jemi Fraser said...

Lovely. There aren't many moments as powerful as seeing our children's faces for the first time!

N. R. Williams said...

Absolutely, Jemi.

Nancy

Olga Godim said...

Yes, the love of a mother for her baby is magical. Great entry for the prompt.

Nilanjana Bose said...

The love of a mother for her child is as close to divine love as it gets on this earth. Beautifully crafted. Thank you for sharing this moving entry at WEP.

Denise Covey said...

The powerful force of mother love was shown so beautifully in your flash, Nancy. To turn back from heaven to return to earth to love her child was superb. What a moving story to finish the WEP year!

N. R. Williams said...

Thank you, Olga, Nila, and Denise.
Nancy

Yolanda Renée said...

Ditta all the words that came before. It's a beautiful story for the holidays! Just perfect!

Happy Holidays!
Wishing you and yours, love, joy and happiness!

Hilary Melton-Butcher said...

Hi Nancy - what a great take on the prompt. Certainly you've given us something to think about this Christmas season - such an interesting read; my mother said 'she saw the light' but decided to come back ... at least we had time together - cheers Hilary

N. R. Williams said...

Thank you, Yolanda.

How wonderful about your mother, Hilary.

Thank you both for coming by.
Nancy

Rajani Rehana said...

Beautiful blog

Rajani Rehana said...

Please read my post

Ornery Owl of Naughty Netherworld Press and Readers Roost said...

This is a beautiful story. I'm an agnostic who has a contentious relationship with religion. However, I've seen and experienced some things in my life that lead me to believe there's something beyond the physical realm.
I had a difficult labor and was becoming exhausted to the point where both my heart rate and my son's heart rate were slowing. I had an emergency c-section. I was sick and miserable when I revived from the anesthesia but happy to finally see him.

N. R. Williams said...

I'll check out your post Rajani.

Owl, religion gets it wrong a lot. God is real, I experience Jesus on a daily basis and I don't think I would have made it in this life without Him. I hope you turn to Him, because the alternative is an eternity in a terrible place. Watch Destiny Image on YouTube.

Nancy

cleemckenzie said...

A perfect choice of topic for this theme and for this season! Great job.

Pat Garcia said...

Hi,
A beautiful story about the love and compassion that God has for all his kids.
I enjoyed reading this very much.
Merry Christmas and a safe crossover into 2023.
Shalom aleichem

Nick Wilford said...

Beautiful and uplifting. She had a glimpse of heaven, but there can be heaven down here as well, I think.

N. R. Williams said...

Thank you, Clem, Pat, and Nick.

From what I understand, nature on earth is based on heaven.
Nancy

Bernadette said...

What a beautiful story 😭

A Hundred Quills said...

This story has my heart. It made me smile and it made me emotional.
-Sonia

L.G. Keltner said...

If only all churches and individuals practiced such love and acceptance as you portrayed here. Great take on the prompt!

Beth Camp said...

Your WEP post shares such strong love and appreciation for the many gifts we have. Being a mother brought such a profound change for me; you capture this perfectly.

N. R. Williams said...

Thank you so very much, Bernadette, Quills, L. G., and Beth.
Nancy

J Lenni Dorner said...

Very deep and moving. Seasons greetings.

N. R. Williams said...

Thank you, J. Lenni.
Nancy