You are my precious one whom I have chosen for this task. Trust in Me.
Raising her head, she wiped her eyes and looked up through the grimy window. “Me? Chosen?”
No answer came, just a blanket of peace and love that wrapped around her, chasing away her doubts and fears. After several minutes, during which she worshiped her King, Tori returned to find everyone awake.
Thomas was helping Sara to her feet, Brianna breast-fed Callie in the corner, and Aaron slurped down water from a bottle. Carla approached Tori. “I’m hungry.”
Tori knelt. “I know, sweetheart. God will provide.” Though she said the words with finality, she wasn’t completely sure of them anymore. Quietly repenting, she rose. “Let’s get ready to go. Use the bathroom if you need to, and let’s fill up those water bottles from the sink.”
With moans and groans, everyone did as they were told, leaving Tori alone in the room. Or so she thought. A tug on her shirt brought her gaze down to Carla.
“Onafiel says to look outside.”
Tori chuckled. “Oh, he does, does he? Well, we’ll be out there soon enough.” Saying a silent prayer for food, she took the little girl’s hand and, after checking to ensure the coast was clear, led the others out the back door of the restaurant.
Spread across a small patch of grass were tiny specks of something that sparkled in the morning sun.
“Food!” Tugging her hand free, Carla ran toward the odd sight.
“Wait!” Brianna dashed after her, but the little girl had already picked up whatever it was and shoved it in her mouth.
The group circled around her, staring in horror.
“Yummy!” she exclaimed and reached for more, but her mother grabbed her hand before she could. “Don’t! We don’t know what this is.”
Carla looked up at her with glee. “It’s angel food, Mama.”
Stooping, Tori lifted a piece from the grass to her nose. The scent of fresh-baked bread filled her nostrils. Her mouth watered. She placed it on her tongue, and her tastebuds exploded with a taste similar to donuts, but much, much better.
Manna, the word drifted through her mind.
“It’s manna,” she said with excitement. “God has provided!” Grabbing a cluster of the sweet bread, she held it up to heaven. “Thank you, Father, for this food. Bless it to our bodies!”
“Amen. Praise God!” Brianna gave the nod for Carla to keep eating as she brought piece after piece of the heavenly wafers to her own mouth.
Thomas stood staring at them all as if they were nuts.
Tori looked up at him in between bites. “Try some. It’s good.”
“But where did it come from?” he asked.
Aaron stood by his side, looking equally puzzled, but at least Sara had dropped to her knees and was enjoying the meal.
“It’s from heaven. From God,” Tori said. “You know your Bible,pastor. Remember the manna God provided for the Israelites in the desert?”
“Yeah, but that was just a fable.”
“Really? Well, come have a bite of a fable.” She smiled. “And you too, Aaron. This may be our only meal for today.”
???
Onafiel fluttered his wings in joy, hoisting the sack of manna over his shoulder. “I love it when the Father provides!”
Zarall smiled. “And you had the privilege to transfer it into their dimension, my friend. Well done.”
Onafiel smiled.
Arithem crossed arms over his chest and watched the sons and daughters of the Most High enjoy the divine treats. Too much heartache, pain, and loss had followed them of late. ’Twas good to see them enjoy a moment of heaven.
