The Thorn in My Flesh

What happened next was simply indescribable.

“Give me your cross,” Mom said as she undid the clasp that held the chain on her cross.

I removed the cross from my neck and undid its clasp.  Mom collected my cross and placed it in its natural position beside its other half.

At that moment, a light filled the room that was unimaginable.  It was as if a bolt of lightning fell from the sky and struck the cross.  Mom’s body convulsed violently.  I raised my hand and shielded my eyes from the light and rushed over to where Mom was sitting, only to be repelled by what appeared to be some sort of force field that was surrounding Mom.    It was as if we were two magnets with like poles pointed at each other.  The more I tried to reach her, the stronger the force pushed me away.  All I could do was stand by and watch, as the power seemed to consume her.

By this time, the commotion had pricked Granny’s attention.  She had not left her room in months, because she was too weak in the lower portion of her body.  We had waited on her hand and foot, even assisting her when going to the bathroom.   Somehow or the other, she gained strength and was able to get out of her bed and walk, unassisted, into the kitchen.   The whole ordeal had been going on for about two minutes now and Mom’s body appeared to be as limp as a wet rag.

Granny entered the room, immediately dropped to her knees, looked up and began to pray and call on the name of the Lord.  Then, as quickly as it all began, Mom was released from the unknown power’s force.  She slumped over onto the table, still holding the cross in her hand.  I rushed over to see what I could do for her.  I checked her pulse and discovered that she was still breathing.  As I touched her, the hair on my arms and on the back of my neck stood up.  It was as if some sort of electricity had filled the room.  I grabbed a towel and some ice from the fridge and made a compress for Mom’s head.

Granny was still in the corner of the room praying.  I don’t believe she even realized what she had done by getting out of bed on her own and walking into the kitchen.  After about five minutes, Mom began to regain consciousness.  When she was able to speak, she began to speak in an almost inaudible voice.

“It is complete again.”

I had no idea what she was talking about.  I looked into her eyes and I saw a deep soul-piercing look that I have never seen before.  When I was able to speak again, I asked Mom what she meant.  She looked down at the hand that was holding the cross, raised it a few inches off the table and nodded her head in its direction.

What I saw next, I have never been able to explain.  I looked down at her hand.  The cross that was formerly split right down the middle was now one complete unit.  I took the cross from Mom’s hand and examined it.  It was shinier than any piece of jewelry I have ever seen.  Try as I may, I could not find any imperfections in it.  Even the chain that held it was complete.  The original chain had a link that disconnects much like the chain that you would find on a ceiling fan, or a set of dog tags.  You know the type I am talking about.  You slide one little ball of the end of the chain into a slot and it would lock and hold the chain in place.  The original chain was made up of little links and balls.  The chain was now woven throughout with no beginning or end.

I pulled hard as hard as I could on the chain, but I could not break or damage it in any way.  There was a ghostly difference about the cross now.  I did not know exactly what to make of it.  All I knew is that I didn’t want to wear it around my neck at that moment.     I guess I was sort of afraid.  After witnessing what had just taken place with Mom and the whole ordeal of the light and force, I wasn’t taking any chances of a repeat performance of the same.  I slid the cross in my pocket and proceeded to assist Mom.

She started to come around and the glow and piercing look in her eyes had gone.  Granny was standing at the table’s edge stroking Mom’s head and still repeating the same phrase over and over again.

“Thank you Jesus, thank you Jesus.”

Believe me, something very special had just taken place around our little kitchen table.  Granny was standing on her own without the aid of a walker or needing to prop her self up by holding on to anything.  Truth is I don’t think she even realized what she was doing. I think she was so involved with Mom and what had taken place that she didn’t have time to really think about it.  Must have been the adrenalin that was coursing through her body, I hadn’t seen her looking that strong in months.

When Mom was able to speak coherently, she started to