A Heart of Faith – Chapter Fifteen

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Time. Some think it’s something of which they have lots. But we never can know how much we do have, until it becomes jeopardized. That’s a lesson the Meltsner learnt the hard way, when just that happens to Eugene Meltsner.

  All of a sudden, time seems to be slipping away for him, quicker than anyone could have expected. Will the situation be able to be turned around before time is completely gone for good? Only time and faith will reveal what God could possibly have planned for them—of what use the situation could be. And maybe, as the saying goes, “One man’s loss, is another man’s gain.”

  Although the events prove to be a fright for the family, and even their close friends, they are all able to find that they can have Hearts of Faith that God will take care of them and their every need.

The following morning was spent together at the kitchen table. Katrina had made a sweet and simple breakfast for everyone, of which everyone enjoyed. And after, seeing as her daughter had been the one to prepare the delicious food, Millie insisted she help clean the kitchen up from the mess of breakfast.

  With the kitchen now becoming near spotless—how it had been before breakfast time—Everett returned to the kitchen to speak with his sister-in-law. “Hey, ‘Trina?” Setting the rag on the faucette, Katrina turned to look at him. “Is Odyssey’s hospital far from here?” He wondered. She shrugged. “Not at all, it’s barely a ten minute drive from here.” She answered, adding with, “If you give me a minute, we can head over.”

  “Oh, um actually,” Katrina’s brow arched a little. “I was kinda hoping to go just myself, if that’s okay.” Everett explained to her. “That’s fine, too.” She replied. “You can take Eugene’s car, his keys should be hung up next to mine.” Everett gave her a nod in thanks. “Right. Thanks, ‘Trina.” Katrina smiled. “Do you think you can get there yourself, though?”

  “The signs around here are pretty easy to read,” He commented. “I don’t think I’ll have much trouble.” Katrina hummed. “Well, in that case, drive safe.” Everett nodded, turning to head to the front entryway. “I will!” 

  Returning her attention to the cleaning of the kitchen, Katrina saw as her mother closed the dishwasher. The older woman then looked at the control panel, humming to herself curiously. “Erm…” Millia looked over at her daughter. “Which one starts it, dear?” Just as Katrina was about to show her mother how to the dishwasher worked, Everett returned to the kitchen. “I can’t find them.”

  “Hm?” Both mother and daughter looked over at him. “The only keys on the hook are yours, ‘Trina.” Katrina blinked. “… Are you sure?” Everett nodded. “Oh… Excuse me a minute, mom.” Katrina excused, before then going to help her brother-in-law to search for Eugene’s car keys. 

  A full couple minutes of searching passed with no luck whatsoever in finding the keys. Everett and Katrina had returned to the front hall again, where Katrina promptly opened the coat closet to check every coat’s pockets. Still nothing. Planting her hands on her hips, the blonde had a very confused look on her face. “That is so weird… Eugene’s keys are lost, but he’s not even here to lose them!” Everett couldn’t help but chuckle a little at the comment. “I’m sorry about that, Everett.”

  “Don’t be,” He told her. “Would it be alright if I took your car instead?” With a shrug, Katrina took her own car keys off the hook. “Doesn’t seem like you have a choice, really.” She said with a smirk. She handed the keys to her brother-in-law. “Here you go.” Taking them, he answered, “Thanks.”

•·················•·················•

  It was just another quiet morning for Eugene as he sat reclined in his hospital bed. Well, as quiet as it could be between the conversation of passing nurses, the sounds of other ill patients, and of the constant, low beeping of his own cardiac monitor. Though, by now, he’d learned to drown all the sounds out to simply focus on his reading.

  His black-leather Bible was open in his hands. The passage it was opened to, was Hebrews eleven. Of course, it was no mere coincidence that Eugene’s Bible reading should bring him to such a passage, afterall.

  A few verses in, his reading was interrupted by a knock on the opened hospital room door. It was followed by a familiar voice asking, “Is this the right room?” With a blink, Eugene turned to see who had arrived. His eyes widened upon spotting his brother, Everett, who gave him a bright smile. “Everett!” As Eugene set his Bible aside, Everett went over and sat on the edge of the bed. The moment he did, the younger Meltsner was pulled into a hug by his older brother. “Hey, brother!” For a minute, the two simply held onto one another—as it had been some time since they’d last seen each other.

  When the hug finally did end, Eugene went on to ask, “What brings you to Odyssey?” Everett half shrugged. “A couple weeks ago, Dad and I got a letter from ‘Trina about what was going on with you.” He began. “Well, the thought crossed my mind about visiting you, so I took a couple days to pray about it.” He made a small, vague gesture. “And here I am!” Everett explained to him. “But, what of the Ashanti tribe? It was alright for you to simply leave Africa?”

  “Yeah. A couple of new missionaries had arrived before I left.” Everett answered. “Which is why Dad didn’t come with me. He stayed behind to help them.” Eugene hummed. “He did want to be here, but it didn’t work out.” Everett added. “And by the way, that hug was partly for Dad’s behalf.” His older brother smiled. “I understand.” Eugene said. “It’s been ages since I last saw you, too.” Everett noted. 

  “Your arrival, I must admit, was quite the surprise.” Eugene went on to comment. “Katrina never once mentioned it.” At that, Everett gave his older brother a bit of a mischievous smirk. “That’s because she didn’t know.” He professed. “I wanted to surprise you all!” Eugene shook his head a little. “Ah, I see, now.” Everett quietly laughed a little. 

  “How was your flight? Pleasant, I hope?” Eugene asked him. “Yeah, it was good. I had a layover in Chicago, though.” Everett answered. “I ended up sitting next to your mother-in-law on the plane to Odyssey.” Eugene looked surprised at hearing that. “Mrs. Shanks?” Everett nodded. “I’m judging by your reaction you didn’t know she was coming either?” Eugene shook his head ‘no’. “Don’t tell me her arrival was also a surprise?” 

  “No, it wasn’t. ‘Trina knew she was coming.” Everett clarified. “Then, I suppose it was only I who was meant to be surprised by it.” Eugene guessed. 

  “Alright, enough about me.” Everett said. “How about you? How have you been holding up?” He asked. “Well, I’ve been ‘hanging in there’—to borrow the colloquialism.” Eugene began, with a ghost of a sigh. “All the while, waiting for news of a heart donor.” Everett gave a nod. “Yeah… I’ll tell you, you’re in mine and Dad’s prayers, and of course ‘Trina and some of your friends’, too.” Everett said in an encouraging manner. “For that, I can only thank the Lord.” Eugene told him.

  “So, you were reading when I came in.” Everett noted, even spotting where his brother had set his Bible aside. “What were you reading?” He wondered. “When you came in, I was reading Hebrews eleven.” Eugene answered. Everett smiled. “A chapter on faith. Very fitting.” He recalled. “Hardly a coincidence, of course.” Everett nodded in agreement. “Actually, funny thing. Not long ago, I read some verses on faith, myself.”

  “Oh? Which, praytell?” Tapping his fingers on his knee, Everett’s brow knit together in thought. “I think it was in Mark nine… I forget which verse exactly*.” He began. “It was something Jesus had said.” As he spoke, Eugene had picked up his Bible again to try and find the verse in question. “About if you can believe, all things are possible.” And not a moment later, Eugene landed his finger on the verse. “Mark nine twenty three.” Everett leaned over to looked at the verse, too. “(…) If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.” 

  “That actually reminds me of a verse from Matthew seventeen.” Everett commented. “I believe I know to which one you are referring.” Eugene turned back several pages to find verse twenty of Matthew chapter seventeen. “It’s the one that says if you have faith the size of a mustard seen, nothing can be impossible.” Eugene nodded. “The verse below it says, ‘Howbeit, this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting’.” He read. “Which is what we’ve been doing.” Everett said. “It wouldn’t take that much faith in God’s provisions that he’ll bring a donor your way.”

  “Of course—be it His will.” Eugene agreed. 

  The two then fell quiet for a moment, as Eugene set his Bible aside again. And, he was the one to break the silence. “I greatly appreciate your visiting me, Everett.” His younger brother smiled. “You’re welcome, brother.”