The thunder rolled and crashed and lightening pierced the dark storm Clouds. The rain was drenching everyone as they hurried down the busy sidewalk. People were crowding and shoving to get back to their work places and shoppers were running to their cars to escape the angry storm.

One lady stumbled over a little girl crouched on the sidewalk, and stopped briefly to exclaim. “Child, I nearly fell over you! Why are you huddled in middle of the sidewalk in this awful storm? The driving wind is so cold if you do not go home you will get sick. Get up now before someone else stumbles over you!”

“Please help me!” The little girl sobbed, tears rolling down her face. The lady had started to walk away but the little girl´s cry for help stopped her immediately. She reached down and took the little girl´s arm and helped her up, then helped her get against a building that offered some shelter. “Now, will you please tell me why you are out in this storm?”

The little girl attempted to regain her composure, as she could tell the lady was losing patience with her. “They pushed me down and I could not get up. I guess I was in their way. I am lost and so awfully cold and hungry. In a pleading voice she asked, “Will you please help me?”

The lady now realized that the little girl really needed help, so she leaned down and said to her. “Oh, course I will help you. What is your name honey, and where do you live. My car is close by, I can take you home.”

“My name is Sally Amberson, but I cannot tell you where I live. Because I do not have a home anymore!”

“Now, Sally, you must have someone you are living with because you certainly do not look like a street kid. If you want my help, you must tell me the truth.”

“I am not lying! I really don´t have a home now. My parents sent me away to a foster home. They hated my friend, and the fact that I am blind and cannot do all the chores. Now that you know I am blind, you probably will not help me either!” Sally hangs her head and began to cry again.

“Sally, you being blind has nothing to do with me helping you. I will help you if I can, but if I cannot help you, it has nothing to do with your blindness. So tell me, where were you going if not to your home or back to the foster home?”

Sally looked up again; a spark of hope radiated her face. “Well, I really don´t exactly where I was going or what I would do. I ran away from the foster home because they were so mean to me, just like my parents were and I was afraid! I kept running and then I dropped my cane and someone shoved it away from me. Then I got lost in this horrible storm and someone pushed me down. Everyone kept running past me and I wasn´t able to get back up.”

The lady took a deep breath then decided what she would do to help Sally. “You can come home with me, Sally. I have an extra bed and some dry clothes that my niece left at my house. We will decide later what to do about your problem. You mentioned a friend, could you can contact your friend and get some help that way?”

Sally hesitated a moment before responding, knowing that her next sentence Would determine her destiny. “I only have one friend. He is the sweetest friend anyone could ever have. His name is Jesus, and He is my Savior.”

The lady gasped. Her kind face suddenly became as angry looking as the storm, but of course Sally couldn´t see the change. “Sally, do you mean that you believe in that fairytale? Jesus isn´t real! If He was real then you would not be blind, because they say He was supposed to have healed blinded eyes. If He was a real God like some people believe, then He would not allow you to suffer this way, Sally. You know the rules here, I cannot help you if you really believe He is real!”

“You don´t know Him! He is not a fairytale. It isn´t His fault that I am blind. He is so precious to me and would never do anything to harm me. Wait, don´t walk away, please let me explain about my blindness!” Sally pleaded.

“No, I will not listen to that nonsense about your Jesus. If you are stupid enough to believe He is real, it is no wonder your parents sent you away. Do you not understand that it is against the law in our country to believe in Jesus? You could go to prison or even be shot if anyone heard you speaking such nonsense! I am leaving, Sally, I will not risk my life for you. Maybe your Jesus will!”

“But He loves you too, lady. Wait! Please don´t leave me. Are you still here?” Sally listened as her footsteps faded into the distance. All she heard was the rain and people rushing past her. She stood silent for a few moments considering what the lady had said to her. Then she burst into tears and cried out to God. “ Oh, sweet Jesus, my only friend. I have no one who wants me, no home or anyone who loves me or who will care for me, but You. Please help me!”

Poor Sally, no one wanted to help her. No one even liked her because of her friend Jesus. Sally was blind because her mother was so cruel and had thrown a cup of bleach into Sally´s eyes, they poured scolding hot water in her eyes to make sure she would never see again. The reason behind her mother´s cruelty was Jesus. She demanded that Sally denounce the name of Jesus and say that she hated Jesus and that He was not real. Sally refused to stop defending Jesus because in her heart she knew that Jesus is real. She stood steadfast in her beliefs and love for her Savior even after her blindness. Her parent beat her each time she mentioned His name, and then finally one day they sent her to a foster home. Sally was ten years old and a persecuted Christian. She lived in a country where very few were Christians, and those who were suffered mistreatment and many were killed for their faith. Sally was out of place in this hostile, godless land where she lived.

She longed to go home to be with Jesus, and so she prayed as someone in the rush to get out of the storm, knocked her down. She got up not knowing which Direction to walk in, but before she could decide someone screamed, “Get out Of my way!” In fear, Sally started to run, singing as she ran. “Precious Jesus, Take me home.”

A few moments later, the sound of screeching tires filled the air, and then a loud thumping noise as the bus ran over little Sally. Those around her had been deaf to her cries for help, and now she lay crumbled in the street. Angels reached down and picked up this precious little saint. They carried her away to Heaven, the place where she so longed to be with Her Lord.

Dear, sweet little Sally now sings with the angels in Heaven. Her tiny voice can be heard above all the angels, as she sings His praises in the Heavenly Choir. She looks about at everything in awe and wonder with her beautiful new blue eyes!

Tara Hart (copyright 1982/revised 2001)
all rights reserved by the author