***

“Ugh!”

Lily looked at her friend who seemed to be struggling with a test. She looked around to see everyone concentrating on their work and the teacher was dozing off on her desk.

She was already done with her work and was going through it for the third time.

“Hey,” she whispered to Sarah who looked at her with furrowed brows. “Let me give you clues that can help, eh?”

The furrow dissolved and was replaced with a small smile. She told Sarah a few tips which helped her to solve to problem quickly.

After the bells rang, the teacher woke from her slumber and asked everyone to submit their work. While they walked to the cafeteria, Sarah poked her with a grin.

“Thank you, Lily”

“You’re welcome Sarah”

School time flew by like a breeze and it was already time to leave school. Students, happy to leave already, walked out of the gate.

Some with their friends, some with their siblings and cliques.

Sarah and Lily stopped by the car park beside Sarah’s car.

“Sorry, I won’t be able to take you home, I need to take this baby to the mechanic and go meet my dad at his office” Sarah had an apologetic look on her face.

“Oh come on, no need to feel that way. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

They shared a hug “Sure, I’ll text when we get home” Sarah said when they leaned away from the hug. “Bye,” she waved her then entered her car.

Lily waved her and made her way to book store to get a Bible her money could afford.

She had arranged all the money she had in the bathroom and hoped it would be enough to get all she wanted to get.

***

Lily was done with shopping, a satisfied look on her face and she made her way to the park to meet Joshua.

She arrived in no time and then walked over to the bench she saw him sitting on the previous day

“Hello again,” Lily greets him, feeling a mixture of nervousness and determination.

Joshua nodded in greeting. “It’s good to see you again, Miss.”

Lily took a seat beside him, her backpack resting on her lap. She extended a sandwich towards him. “I brought you something to eat.”

Joshua smiled when she handed him the fancy-looking bag she was holding after giving him the sandwich.

“This is great, thank you” he appreciated then looked into the bag to see two packs of shirts, three pairs of trousers, some underwear a sandals, and a medium-sized Bible.

Joshua looked at her in appreciation, his eyes held unshed tears as he packed up the goods properly in the bag.

“I couldn’t afford a small box to have them all in a safe place but I hope you like them” she was nervous. Hoping that he likes them.

“This is more than enough Miss, I appreciate your kindness towards me”

“You’re welcome Joshua, I am glad you do,” she reached for her pocket to get an envelope which she handed to him “Please take this token and manage it. I know you have other needs aside from food and clothes,”

Joshua smiled. “Thank you, Lily, I appreciate all these. GOD bless you graciously”

“Amen,” she smiled and they ate their sandwich in silence.

“I hope it was not too much of a bother for you to get all these for me?”

“Oh no, the great part about all these is I didn’t pay for them. Whenever I want to pay for something, someone says they’ll take care of it. That’s why I was able to get some money reserved for you”

“Kindness beget kindness”

Lily nods in agreement.

“Joshua, I hope you don’t mind me asking but you mentioned to me about some things you faced yesterday and about your unwavering faith in GOD. Do you mind telling me more?”

Joshua smiled. “My faith is what sustained me till this date. It’s a rock I stand upon when everything went crumbling down, my faith kept me up and standing” he thought for a moment “I’ve seen the darkest of days, but the moment of grace I experienced afterward was sufficient to cover everything for me”

“How did you manage to keep this faith going? With what you experienced”

“Remember I told you that faith is a strong belief in GOD?” Lily nods “Well, I used to have what I wanted anytime I could get it. A good job to get me going and providing for my family. Everything I could ever ask for, I thank GOD for that provision, but you know life. Life could make things very complicated and difficult but you need to remind yourself of the good times you had and not let your situation get the best of you”

“Where are your family?”

“Far in another country” he chuckled “I don’t know exactly where they are now. But I do hope they are fine wherever they are”

“Amen Joshua”

“Things went bad but I didn’t let the darkness have control over my life. It was very difficult, I most of the time wondered how I found myself here, how things just escalated this bad” he sighed “But you know it’s during those times I was able to get stronger, my faith in GOD and his faithfulness grew solid than ever”

He smiled.

“Do you know that dark times make us stronger than ever? It didn’t kill you definitely you’re better and stronger than ever if you don’t let yourself dwell on the problem. Situations shouldn’t change who you are, you should get to control how the situation makes you. And that should be stronger”

“It during these dark times GOD showed me his faithfulness, sent many kind strangers like you to me, and just kept me assured that he’s with me always.”

“Wow,” she blinked back tears “your faith is inspiring. I feel like you’ll be the one to bring my faith alive. I’ve been struggling with my faith in GOD, I still can’t point to the hile but I want it to be better” she could feel a lump in her throat.

“I’m here to listen, many people go through moments of doubt in their lives but I want you to know that you’re not alone. GOD is always with you, okay?”

“Thank you, Joshua,” she nodded her head and then cleaned the tears that slipped out of her eyes. She looked at the time on her phone and she it a message notification. “My mum wants me home in time, I’ll see you later” she stood up to leave.

“Make sure to say a prayer to GOD, don’t think if your faith is too little to get it to him. He listens and will answer those that truly seek him”

“Thank you, Joshua,” she carried her bag and waved him bye which he reciprocated.