A relationship with God is the most important relationship you can have. Trust him and everything will turn out fine. — Unknown
                    

When the first raindrop fell, the siblings knew it was time to say another goodbye to their baby brother. However, barely a few minutes later, the drizzle stopped. 

Now, an hour later after leaving the cemetery, the siblings were huddled together on a bench in a park some minutes from the cemetery. 

Fola and Kala sat in the middle of the bench. On one side Marilyn rested her head against Kala's shoulder while on the other side, Emma laid her head against Fola's shoulder.  Jordan sat on the adjacent bench with dark eyes and clenched fists. 

A cloud of gloom hung over the group. Their eyes were void of tears but their hearts were heavy with pain. 

The heaviness in Fola's heart pushed her to break down into tears. However, the weight on her shoulder told her that she couldn't give in to that urge because her younger ones were looking up to her for comfort and she wouldn't let them down. Never again. 

She steeled her heart and suppressed the desire to wail.  Thoughts of the months after Kit's death filled her mind and her anger returned. Anger at herself for being helpless and unable to do anything for her brother. But most of all her fury was directed at God.  

Why didn't you listen to my pleas? She silently asked as her eyes drifted heavenward. 

Why didn't you save him from the clutches of death? Her hands curled into a fist.

Didn't you say in your holy book that we should ask and we would receive? Tears burned the back of her eyes.

 She clenched her fists tighter and gritted her teeth. Jordan broke the deafening silence but his words did nothing but fuel Fola's rage. 

"Big sis, why did God let Kit die? And Mama and Papa too."  

Fola turned to him and her eyes clouded. He stared at her with confusion shining in his eyes. 

"I don't know, Jordy," she muttered using his pet name. 

His eyes darkened and his lips formed a thin line. "It's just unfair!" he exclaimed and his jaw hardened. "I don't want to have anything to do with Him again," he gritted out.  

Same here, bro! Fola said in her mind.  

"Don't say that, Jord!" Emma shot up to an upright position and frowned. "We are nothing without God." 

Fola turned to face her with surprise rushing through her. Emma had never been vocal about her religious beliefs.

Jordan scoffed. "Please, Em, he has proved that he doesn't care about us.

"That's not true," Kala chimed in. 

It's true! Fola wanted to say but stopped herself. She was well aware of Kala's beliefs and faith and she promised herself never to condemn them even though she didn't believe in them. At least not anymore.   

Her eyes remained on Emma and she watched her with attentiveness. A smile grazed Emma's lips as she 
spoke.  

"God loves us deeply." Her eyes shimmered with conviction. 

Jordan's brows wrinkled. "I find that hard to believe because we have lost so much."

"But he has given us so much," Marilyn chimed in a quiet voice.  

Fola's amazement doubled and she blurted, "How can you be so sure?" 

A gasp sounded. 

"Big sis, don't tell me you also believe that God doesn't love us," Emma's shocked voice filled her senses.  

Fola's eyes lowered as something akin to shame surged through her. "I don't know what to believe anymore," she whispered. "If He cared for us then why did he allow so many bad things to happen to us?" Her voice came out thick with emotion. 

"To make us stronger," Kala said without skipping a bit. "Remember in James chapter 1 verse 2-3 it says: My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into  various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience."

"It also says in Jeremiah 29:11 that God has only good plans for us," Emma said.  

Jordan scoffed. "I don't believe it. If He truly loved us then he wouldn't have let bad things happen to us."

Kala heaved a sigh. "Come on, Jord, don't think like that. I know we have suffered a lot but one thing I am sure of is that God's love for us never ceased."

Jordan shook his head. "When you love someone then you won't allow anything bad to happen to them."

"That's true. But it's not every bad thing you can protect them from," Kala stated.  "Let me give you an example. Remember, when we went to your friend's birthday party, you were given one of the balloons to go home with and you didn't allow any of us to touch it because you were scared it would burst. However, do you remember what happened next?" She leaned forward and stared at him with anticipation. 

Jordan gave a short nod. "The heavy wind blew it out the car window on our way home."

"Exactly!" Kala grinned. "That's my point.  You loved that balloon so much but you couldn't stop the wind from blowing it away." 

"I get that. But what does that have to do with God's love?" He arched a brow. 

Kala produced a chuckle. "What I mean is that God loves us just like the way you loved that balloon. And just like the heavy wind that blew the balloon away, the Devil exists to create problems for us. And although God can protect us from the Devil's schemes, sometimes he chooses not to. Not because he doesn't love us anymore but because he wants to see whether we will continue to love and trust him when things are hard. Just like in the story of Job." A smile played on her lips.  

Jordan hummed and a thoughtful look crossed his face.  "Hmm, you might be onto something," he murmured.  

Kala laughed. "Think about what I said."

Something twisted in Fola's guts as she digested the words of her sister. Jordan's questions were not different from the questions that plagued her mind. But Kala seemed to have an answer for every question.  And she couldn't deny that Kala sounded very convincing. However, something prevented her from fully believing.  

New questions cropped up in her mind. 

 Had she gotten it wrong? She wondered. Was she wrong for losing faith in God?

The questions floated in her head, begging for answers but she got no answer.  Kala's words tangled with her doubts and dragged her into a sea of plight. Suddenly, the feeling of being watched washed over her and she looked up.  

Emma stared at her with a thoughtful look. "Sis, you have been quiet. Are you okay?" 

Fola's lips rose in a half smile. "I was lost in thought, that's all."

Understanding shone in Emma's eyes and she nodded. "So… have all your doubts been cleared?" 

Fola's eyes clouded. "What do you mean?" 

Emma produced a soft smile. "You might not say anything but I know your faith is not as strong as it was before." 

A lump lodged in her throat and tears stung her eyes. There was no denying it. The biblical teachings of her mother and father had become empty words to her and she no longer followed them. 

Guilt welled within her. She had promised her mother on her deathbed that she would make God her companion and the Bible her guiding light. But after her mother's funeral, she found herself breaking all her promises one after the other.

Bile rose to her throat as she realized that she had disappointed her mother. Pain stabbed her heart. She couldn't stop the tears that rolled down her face.  

Her eyes darted down as she felt a touch on her hand.  Emma's hand covered the fist she had made.  She stiffened slightly as Kala wrapped an arm around her shoulders.  

"You can let it out, Sis," Emma whispered.  

However, Fola gritted her teeth to hold in a sob. She told herself she had to be strong because crying was a sign of her helplessness.  

A squeeze on her hand jolted her back to the present and she turned to the side.

Emma stared at her with tear-rimmed eyes. She cleared her throat and smiled. "Sis, after the death of Mama and Papa, you became our mother and father.  You fought to make sure we always stayed together. Come rain or shine, we had shelter, food, and clothes on our backs, all because of you and you were more or less a child yourself." 

Tears ran down Fola's face while Kala who was crying as well rubbed her shoulder in comfort.  

Emma sniffled and resumed talking. "You shielded us from our harsh reality. Although we knew things were tough, you made sure it didn't affect our childhood. You suffered a lot of humiliation and sacrificed a lot to care for us. Even now, years later, you are still doing the same thing." She exhaled and continued speaking, "I know the trials of life have made you bitter and jaded but I want you to do something for me."

"What is that?" Fola breathed out as more tears rushed forward.  

 "I want you to try and rebuild your relationship with God." 

                ★★★★★★

Hmm, do you think Fola would be able to do it?

I guess we'll see in future chapters. 

And what do you think of the conversation with her siblings?

Ahh...there is not much to say today. 

But don't forget to vote, comment and share if you love the story.

Until next time, stay safe❤️