WEB NOVEL: SET APART

Written by Abby Caymol | May 6, 2024

Abrielle
Mama Selam and I have planned to do Bible study on her day off tomorrow. When I got home, we had dinner and helped my Dad clean up the kitchen. No matter how long my mom has been gone, the house will never be the same without her, especially the kitchen. It is where good memories of our family are created. I will never get used to it. Afterward, I sat down in my study area and organized my books and notebooks to prepare the scripture I wanted to share with Mama Selam tomorrow. I prayed to God to grant me His word so we could discuss it tomorrow. The Holy Spirit led me to check my bookshelf behind me and pointed me to one of the books about healing. As I scanned the book chapters, one of them caught my attention on its title page.
It says, “For He wounds, but He also binds up.” After reading a bit, I found the verse in Job 5:17-18, which says, “Blessed is the one whom God corrects, so do not despise the discipline of the Almighty. For He wounds but He binds up; He injures, but His hands also heal.” Sometimes, God may cause pain and suffering, but He also delivers us from it and heals our wounds. This reminds me of a story I heard from one of the preachers before. In the story, there are one hundred sheep, but one tends to wander off. The Shepherd leaves the ninety-nine sheep and searches for the wandering one. When he finally finds it, he intentionally breaks its leg so it won’t wander off again. The sheep is in much pain, but the Shepherd binds up its leg and provides comfort so the wound heals properly.
As the Shepherd and the sheep come together, a bond is formed, making them inseparable. This ensures that the sheep will not wander off again and will be reunited forever with the Shepherd and the ninety-nine sheep. This experience made me realize that we need a Savior like Jesus, the Shepherd, and we are like wandering sheep. While lost in my thoughts, I went to the kitchen to get milk for the refrigerator. As I drank, I saw the full moon shining above the skies, so I opened my window to breathe fresh air. Suddenly, I remembered Mama Selam and prayed to God that she would be reunited with her daughter before it was too late. They are blessed to have each other, separated by time and healing.
I long to hug my mom once again, but I believe that God had a reason for taking her away from us. Right now, all I can feel is regret for not spending more time with her when I had the chance. I pray the Lord will restore the relationship between Mama Selam and her daughter. I know it must have been twice as painful for a mother to be separated from her child in so many ways. May God touch their hearts and revive their relationship, and may the lost motherly affection be restored. Nothing is too hard for the Lord. He made the heavens and the earth with His great power, so we can trust that nothing is impossible for God.
As I was lost in thought, I recalled Hebrews 11:6, which says that without faith, it is impossible to please God. To draw near to God, one must believe that He exists and rewards those who seek Him. I took a deep breath and closed the window. I was so engrossed in my thoughts that I didn’t even feel the cold breeze coming in. I turned off the kitchen light and hit the hay.

Jeremiah
Today, I am meeting Mr. Jose Ferrer at Pike Place Market to fish together at Baker Lake. The lake is known for its abundant fish and marine life, and I am excited to try and catch some sockeye salmon. This will be my first time exploring nature in the State of Washington, and I look forward to it.
After preparing the fishing gear, I left my house and headed over to meet Mr. Ferrer. Once I arrived at Pike Place Market, I called him right away. “Good morning, Mr. Ferrer!” I greeted him. “Hello, Mr. Jeremiah Kim! Thank you for picking me up,” he replied. I told him I was excited to go fishing with him, and we had already been exchanging text messages and phone calls about our preparations and what to expect.
Mr. Ferrer is a very talkative and cheerful person, which is great since I am more on the quiet side. I enjoy listening to him share his stories and fishing techniques.

We were so engrossed in conversation that we didn’t realize we had arrived at Baker Lake. We gathered all our gear and headed to the fishing spot. Baker Lake is a vast area surrounded by tall green trees and enclosed by gigantic mountains that seem to embrace each other. After preparing the rented boat and the necessary fishing gear, I stepped inside and felt like an infant in a cradle held amid the water. The weather was wonderful, the sun shining on us despite the previously gloomy sky. Though the temperature was cold, it felt perfect. As we waited for the bait, Mr. Ferrer smiled at the sky. “What a wonderful creation of God!” he exclaimed. His remark gave me the opportunity to ask him questions about his beliefs.

“Mr. Jose, how did you encounter God?” I asked him.
“I was young then when my father was very ill. My mother endured a lot of things for our family, especially the time when my father got this chronic illness that took his life. When my father passed away, my mom would always tell me that God has a good reason for allowing things to happen, and we must put our enduring trust in Him.
I became resentful when God took my father away. We had a good relationship in our family, but suddenly, God took him away. I became a restless wanderer in my teenage years, and I never thought of getting back up again. I saw how my mother was devastated about what I chose in life. I knew exactly what I must do but couldn’t make it right for some reason.” He paused.
“I don’t know, but I felt a deep connection to what I’m going through in Mr. Jose Ferrer’s past,” I said. “Until I met my daughter’s mom, that’s when I started to encounter God. She became a vessel of encouragement for me to have a deep relationship with the Lord,” Mr. Ferrer replied. I commented that his story of meeting God was unique and that knowing how God uses people to answer our deepest questions was a blessing. Mr. Ferrer explained, “Jeremiah, once God plants a seed in your heart, no matter where you go, you will always find your way back to the spot where God planted you.” His words resonated with me deeply. I nodded in agreement. “Once you encounter Jesus, you will be an imperishable seed through God’s living and enduring word. The roots of your tree will be attached to the cornerstone that will grow healthy fruits as it is preserved by time,” he added. It was a beautiful realization.
I nodded my head in agreement and smiled. Mr. Jose Ferrer is an experienced advisor who counsels everyone he meets. “There you go!” he exclaimed excitedly. We cheered as a fish took our bait. It felt like I had achieved a goal after all these years. It is only the beginning, but I’m learning so much already. As we drifted into the lake, I felt grateful for the peace surrounding us. The solitude in the middle of nowhere assured my heart that there was nothing to fear. I felt God’s presence and knew He had planted a seed deep within me. I looked up and thanked God that He had heard my prayers for a friend with whom I could talk about Him. I am grateful for my new friendship with Mr. Jose Ferrer. We may be wanderers in these deep waters, but we will always be found.