DESTINY IN A BOX

Let me introduce you to Sarah. Sarah was born on the 13th of October 1967 in Savannah Georgia, to a young southern Baptist couple with nothing but love to give. When Sarah was 7 years old her mother and father were taken from her suddenly in a horrific car accident. Sarah had no living relatives that she was aware of nor could social services locate anyone, so she was placed in foster care. In the 70’s most couples that were willing to adopt all wanted babies, not a 7 year old.

After many years bouncing from foster family to foster family, her last 3 years, before she was officially not a ward of the state anymore, and would be on her own as an adult – she was placed with Mrs. Parker.

Mrs. Parker was the sweetest, little old black lady you could ever meet. All the people, white or black in the neighborhood highly respected Mrs. Parker. If you grew up in that neighborhood there was a good chance you had been disciplined by Mrs. Parker at least once throughout your childhood. Mrs. Parker loved all things and treated everyone equally no matter what indifference society would place on a person, especially back in the 70’s.

Sarah was about 15 years old when she arrived at Mrs. Parker’s humble abode for the first time. After meeting Mrs. Parker Sarah thought to herself,

“This little old woman is old enough to be my great grandmother”, and that she was. No one truly knew how old Mrs. Parker was. It almost seemed like she had been a little old lady as far back as anyone could remember, but no one questioned it enough to really figure it out.

Sarah and Mrs. Parker got real close, real fast; as if they were meant to be together. Sarah never called Mrs. Parker “Mom” or anything, but she always called her “Mrs. P” for short.

For the first time since Sarah had lost her parents, she finally felt at home. A home that carried this kind of warmth - it felt the same every single day she walked through the front door; a hug of warmth was waiting to greet her when she came home from school.

One day after school Sarah and Mrs. Parker were baking cookies together like they did often. Sarah turned to Mrs. Parker and asked, “What is your first name, Mrs. P?” Mrs. Parker replied as gracious as a wise southern woman could and said, “Well child, that is for me to know and for you to find out, one day.”

Sarah wondered if one day would ever come, since Mrs. Parker never talked about her life as a child, teenager or even a young adult. There wasn’t much about Mrs. Parker she did know - besides the fact she was the greatest person to ever come into her life - that is all that really mattered.

Three glorious years had passed. Sarah was now ready to take on the world. She went off to college on a full scholarship due to her impeccable grade point average, which sustained throughout all her studies. The graduation ceremony was right around the corner. Sarah and Mrs. Parker spoke on the phone from time to time, but not as frequently as one might think considering how close they were. Sarah was engulfed with her academics and a part time job. She barely had enough time for sleep.

Sarah called the day before the ceremony; no one answered. Sarah assumed Mrs. P was either down at the corner store or out in the yard; she didn’t hear the phone ring, is all. “Oh well, I will see her tomorrow.” Sarah mumbled under her breath, as she went about her day preparing for tomorrow’s graduation ceremony.

Sarah hadn’t seen or heard from Mrs. P at all that whole morning. It was Sarah’s time at the podium and all she could do was scour the audience for any sign of Mrs. P. There was no sign of her. Dread set in filling her gut, as she shook hands and hugged faculty on her way down the stairs and off the stage.

When it came to people in Sarah’s life she couldn’t hold stock in anyone except Mrs. Parker. So naturally, she feared the worst. At that very moment her fears were validated with one sound; ring, ring...

Many years go by as Sarah grew into a sophisticated, independent, and very successful business woman. She buried herself in her work. Mainly, so she could drown out her fear of intimacy which led to a lack in the relationship department. Well, none that held any true substance, that is.

Sarah did not flash her financial standings around like most would in her position. No matter how much success and accomplishment you can achieve, having no one close to share it with ultimately feels like failure.

At least it did for Sarah.

Sarah now 32 on the cusp of her 33rd birthday she arrives home from work like any other day. Except today there is a strange parcel on her front porch. She thought to herself, “This must be for a neighbor and got placed here by accident.” She wasn’t expecting any packages of any kind so she glanced over the large box wrapped in strange outdated brown paper.

The strange paper wrapping reminded her of when she was in grade school. Teachers would have the students protect their books with a covering and all she ever used for her books were brown paper bags from the Piggly Wiggly grocery store. She had no money to get fancy like her classmates.

Continuing to investigate the uninvited parcel for clues on which neighbor this package was for, she then noticed it had no return address. The parcel was address to her with her address and full name. “Well who in the world sent me this package?” She thought to herself.

After a while she finally gives in and brings the package inside the house and sets in on the floor in front of her. “Ok, her goes nothing!” she dives right in taking the outer layer of brown paper off, then folded it while placing it on the table, as if one day she may reuse it.

Sarah looks inside the box that was wrapped in grocery bags. She sees 3 smaller boxes and an envelope atop one of the boxes. Sarah was written on the front of the envelope.

Nervous, excited, and a bit confused she opens the envelope and begins to read.

Dear Sarah,

How I have longed for this day to arrive. The day you will finally get to know who I really was. There is so much to tell you. Some of what I will tell you in this letter will be hard to believe at first. More than likely you will throw this letter down and walk away, not wanting to know more. I understand - because, I was in your shoes once. What is even more refreshing, you will know how truly special you have always been. Your childhood was meant to prepare you for what’s to come and for us to spend those 3 glorious years together getting to know one another - all for a much bigger purpose than you and I.

You asked me what my first name was in the kitchen that day we were baking cookies. I could not tell you then in case you may have thought it odd we both had the same first name. So I waited to tell you - My name is Sarah - just like you. That is not all we share in similarity. I know you and most others in the neighborhood wondered what my true age was. Well, I am going to tell you, but please continue reading - it is your destiny to do so.

I was born October 13th 1667 on a small island far, far away from here.

Sarah drops the letter.

“This has to be a joke!” Ha, Ha, very funny! Sarah shouts out with disgust, as she marched out the front door onto the porch ready to confront the villain responsible for this heinous attempt at a funny. No one was there. A couple of hours of Sarah pacing back and forth wearing the front porch down to nothing, she finally goes back inside the house and stares at the letter lying on the floor.

Sarah picks up the letter.

Sarah, you and I are one in the same. We are a rare breed of gifted beings that serve this realm for the greater good of all things. We are here to remind humanity they are just as special as they place their idols on pedestals’ and how they perceive their Gods. We help keep balance and provide healing to those that are pure of heart. We show miracles to those that need to experience one. We live for 323 years. Every 333 years the mission is passed to the next. We pass 10 years prior giving this realm time without our assistance or interference. Yes- we must change our names and outlive people in our lives more often than not. You were sent from the heavens for this very purpose - do not ever second guess yourself! You were always destined. We are not fertile - children would complicate the mission. Yes, you can marry. I waited until my last hundred years to do so. Since we do age, it wasn’t as hard to get away with surpassing my husband. This is a lot to process, I know. Inside each box holds a key. One unlocks your gifts you will possess. One unlocks your locations you must journey and for how long your stay at each shall be. The 3rd one will be …. Well, that one is a surprise!

To each that roam a foreign realm - are sent from above by a force unseen, but felt - over time the folk of these foreign realms came to call them the "Wonder Nealm."

Until we meet again,

Mrs. P