Free Season of Blessing by Beverly LaHaye

Sylvia said. “‘A light unto my path…’”
    â€œâ€˜A lamp unto my feet,’” Annie finished. “Maybe it’s a sign.”
    Sylvia glanced over at her. “A sign?”
    â€œYeah.” Annie broke off a branch and began peeling off its leaves. “For today. You know. The phone call you’re waiting for.”
    Sylvia stopped and faced the girl. “How did you know I’m waiting for a call?”
    â€œWell, I knew you were getting the results today. I’d be waiting.” She dropped the stick and dusted her hands on her shorts. “I just meant that maybe God lit up our path like that to tell you something.”
    Sylvia smiled. “What, Annie? What is he telling me?”
    â€œThat whatever happens, you won’t go into it alone. You won’t be groping through the darkness. He’ll light your way.”
    Sylvia looked at the path again. “Thanks, Annie. I think that’s just what he’s saying.”
    â€œI mean, I’m not expecting the news to be bad or anything,” Annie said. “Not at all. It’s probably going to be good news. I’ve just been a little nervous because you’ve been feeling so bad lately…Bad enough to come home.”
    â€œIt’s anemia, Annie. That’s probably all.”
    â€œYeah, I know.” But Sylvia knew she didn’t believe that for a moment. Annie turned away, scanning the trees. She knew the girl was hiding tears, and for the first time she wondered if her worry for Sylvia was what had gotten her up so early today.
    â€œWhatever the news is, I’ll be okay,” Sylvia said. “You know that, don’t you?”
    Annie still didn’t look at her. “I know.” She wiped her eyes, then quickly looked back toward the house. “Shouldn’t we go back? It’s probably almost eight by now. They could call.”
    Sylvia looked at her watch. Annie was right. “I guess so. The sooner I get that call, the sooner we can all breathe a sigh of relief and I can get back to León.”
    Annie’s smile was strained. “Wish I could go.”
    They started walking back, slower than they’d come. “Are you excited about school, Annie?”
    â€œA little. I’m looking forward to it, but I feel like I’ve left so much undone back in León.”
    â€œI know the feeling.”
    â€œI want to go back again,” Annie said. “I’m going to start saving now.”
    â€œWe’d love for you to come back.”
    â€œI would have just stayed, you know, but I missed my family and my friends. And I figured I’d never meet a guy if I stayed there. I really want to marry an American, and I wasn’t likely to meet one there, unless I happened on a tourist.”
    â€œNo, Annie, you did the right thing. You have plenty of time for the mission field if the Lord calls you to it.”
    Annie’s grin was back as they emerged out of the woods. “Since I’ve been back, though, I’ve realized that I don’t really like any of the guys I used to date. They’re not right for me. I wonder what I ever saw in them.”
    Annie was growing up, Sylvia thought. She had learned to see her life through more mature eyes.
    â€œI want a godly man, like Dr. Harry,” she said. “Like Steve. A man who answers to God. That way I’ll know he’ll never cheat on me.”
    Sylvia knew Annie had a hard time trusting men because of her father’s infidelity. Her family had been torn apart because of that.
    But Annie would be okay. She was too precious to fall through the cracks, and Sylvia would never stop praying for her.
    They got back to Sylvia’s porch, and Annie hung back. “Well, I’d better get home before my mother starts wondering where I am. If she notices I’m not there, she’ll think I was abducted by aliens or something.”
    Sylvia smiled. “I enjoyed