Taking a Ride on the Train

 

 

 Sunway Charters.com

I guess all little kids are intrigued by the sound of a train. When it came rolling into the depot, blowing it's whistle, about three blocks from our home, it was rather eerie, but exciting. My mother and I would occasionally walk up near the depot to watch it roll in. I would hold her hand, walk, slightly behind her and peer around her as it pulled in.

One day my Mother told me I needed to clean up a bit; wash my face and hands and put on a dress. She didn't tell me why but I soon discovered the reason. Our neighbor, Mr. O. had asked if he could take me, along with his daughter, who was younger than I, to the train depot. Once there, we were going to board that big train and ride to the other side of Eureka Springs and back. To say I was excited would have been wrong; I was estatic ! Imagine me getting to ride on the same train that I had been hearing for ages.

As we boarded the train, I felt my knees shake just a wee bit. I wasn't afraid, only excited. I had never imagined being able to set in those red leather seats and look out the window. My mother had walked to the depot with us and she waved at me as the train picked up steam. The whistle blew and I almost jumped out of my seat. As the scenery flew by, I could hardly contain myself. I know I was talking a mile a minute; asking questions by the dozen. Meanwhile, Mr. O's daughter was setting on his lap, not quite knowing what to make of all of this. I recall Mr. O. telling us we would approach a tunnel and everything would go black outside for just a bit but not to be frighened because we would soon be on the other side. Sure enough, darkness enveloped the passenger car and the conductor blew his whistle as we exited the other side.

The ride back home was just as exiting. I could hardly wait to tell my mother and daddy about my experience; particularly, about the tunnel and the darkness that it caused, but how we had come out on the other side and the light coming in the windows seemed even brighter than when we had entered.

All of us experience periods of darkness in our lives. However, if we put our trust in our Heavenly Father, He will bring us through that dark period often into a life that is even more fulfilling.

" There’s more to come: We continue to shout our praise even when we’re hemmed in with troubles, because we know how troubles can develop passionate patience in us, and how that patience in turn forges the tempered steel of virtue, keeping us alert for whatever God will do next. In alert expectancy such as this, we’re never left feeling shortchanged. Quite the contrary—we can’t round up enough containers to hold everything God generously pours into our lives through the Holy Spirit!" Romans 5:3-5

The Message Translation