"The Battle"

"I'm scared, Momma," Sadie whined as I leaned down to straighten and tie her little belt.

"Why do we even need to wear these things? Hardly anyone else does anymore and mine gets so heavy," complained Titus as he fidgeted with the leather belt around his waist.

"You know it's because we have been called by the King. He's given us our gear and we need to get it on so we can go!" Priscilla quickly explained in her common matter-of-fact tone. I glanced over at her and was again reminded of how much she had grown recently. Not only in height, but her mind was sharp and she was so anxious to get out in that battle. My heart quickened and I could feel a fear for her creep into my neck, but I forced my mind back to the TRUTH.

I paused and breathed a quick prayer for the right words.

"Children, we must hurry. Your father will be here soon to walk with us to town. Priscilla is exactly right. Our Almighty King has called us into this battle and we are fighting for the TRUTH. Many have come before us and have stood firm and fought well. Recently, though, it seems there are fewer and fewer soldiers."

Again I could feel that rush in my neck, but tried to keep my mind on my explanation.

"But we don't need to be afraid, Sadie. Our King has given us all that we need to be prepared. Look at your belt, for instance. Our Master knew we would need something to keep us all together, to keep our clothes close to our body and out of the way. Something to hang our weapons on and to show we are ready to face the enemy. When you put this on, my Dear Children, you are showing the world that you are committed to TRUTH."

"But Mom, Giles says that no one really knows the TRUTH anymore. He said that it's old fashioned to stand for something let alone to fight for it. I try to be strong, Mom, but I see the look in his eyes and most of the time I get scared and just start talking about something else. How do we know there is a right and wrong?"

"Titus, that is a very good question. To help you understand I'm going to have you three children do something for me. All of you close your eyes. No peeking. Now I want you to point to the North. No peeking, Sadie Girl."

Priscilla shot her arm out in her usual confident manner while the other two took longer to decide.

"Okay, open your eyes."

Little Sadie quickly glanced at her sister and swung her arm in the same direction to match Priscillla's.

"Those are all great guesses, but you are all wrong. North is straight that way," I said gently, pointing toward the tall oak in the distance.

"Priscilla, you seemed very sure of yourself when you were pointing. You thought you were dead on, didn't you?"

As she nodded I went on,

"Life is like that too. Many people think they are right, but haven't checked out their "facts" with the TRUTH. The King has given us His Word and all that He says is TRUTH. There is only one right way, Dear Children, and we must continue to stand for the TRUTH that we have been in trusted with. Come now, I hear your father coming. Let's not keep him waiting."

To be continued...