The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. - Psalm 19:1 NIV
Across the Atlantic, two worlds collide as Ruth, a Scottish rural highlander with a heart full of faith and love for Jesus and a love for nature, embark...
After I Got home from my class and rushed home to get ready to go to work. It is my first day and I don't want to make a bad impression.
I walked into the small living room and saw Jaewon giggling and blushing while looking at her phone.
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"Who's the lucky lad?" I asked as she looked up from her phone. She shyly covered her face and muttered a name Quietly.
"Who?"
Another mumble.
"WHO?"
"TIMOTHY!" she shouted smiling shyly.
"Och, I'm so happy for you. Are you guys going on a date?" I exclaimed excitedly jumping up and down clapping as I did so.
"Yeah, we are going to the café that you work at. It's a cosy comfy bible study as well!"
"Tell me every detail when you get home." I said as I sat on the sofa and clasped her hands.
She sat up and sighed nervously.
"I'm a little nervous Ruth. I've never been on a date before." She said her smile fading a little.
Jaewon squeezed my hands tightly and cleared her throat .
"Really? But you're so pretty?" I said tilting my head in confusion.
Jaewon tucked her hair behind her ear and mumbled a small thank you.
"I can assure you Jaewon, you are a wonderful, kind and caring person. Anyone would be lucky to go on a date with let alone marry you. Let's pray?"
She nodded tears welling in her eyes.
"Heavenly father, I thank you for Jaewon and I thank you for showing her the way to go in life. Help her on this date and help her Know that she is loved by you Lord. In the name of Jesus, I rebuke all things that are not from you lord. In the mighty name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
"Amen. T-thank y-youu R-ruth." Jaewon said through tears.
I smiled and pulled her into a tight hug. We stayed like that for a while before Jaewon pulled away and wiped her eyes.
"You should get ready or you'll be late." She said shooing me off the couch.
I laughed and went into my room to get ready.
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20 minutes later
Everything went smoothly and I got along with my colleagues and customers.
I was handing out coffees left and right but one voice...
"Can I have a black coffee?"
It was Ben!
I replied.
"Right, aye Ben, go sit o'er there an' ah'll call ye when it's ready."
He looked up at me with his deep blue eyes.
"H-hi Ruth, I didn't know you had a job." He said putting his phone on the counter.
"Aye, I got the job yesterday an' started the day." Smiling thinking about earlier with Jaewon.
I pointed at a free table for him to sit at and I got started on my coffee. My colleague came up to me and tapped my shoulder.
"Was he your Boyfriend?" She asked smiling cheekily.
"Noo, he's just a friend and he lives in the room next to mine." I said as I finished his coffee. I saw that he hadn't ordered any cake or even a biscuit.
Who has coffee without something sweet?
I got him a slice of cake (I paid for it don't go round thinking I stole) and brought his tray to his table.
"You Cannae have coffee without cake so I bought you some." I said while placing the tray on the table before handing Ben a fork.
"Ruth, you didn't have to do that." Ben said tilting his head and flashing his smile.
"I know but I did." I said as I brushing some hair over my face to tie it back.
"Work's just wrapped up, so ah'm aff tae Bible study." I said after a while of silence.
"Really? I can come with you; I mean if you want." Ben said pushing back his chair.
"Aye, that'd be pure brilliant!" I said pulling out the chair Infront of him to have a seat.
Ben smiled and so did I.
"When did you find Jesus?" I asked and Ben shifted in his seat.
"I haven't really talked about this with anyone," Ben said, his American accent soft and measured, as if he was choosing his words carefully.
"But ever since my grandmother passed away, my dad and I... we just don't believe in Jesus anymore. It feels like whatever faith we had died with her."
I felt a pang in my chest as I listened, my heart aching for him. I could hear the pain in his voice, the way he was struggling to make sense of it all.
My instinct was to reach across the table and take his hand, but I held back, unsure if it was what he needed.
"Ben, I cannae imagine what it's been like for ye," I said gently "Losing someone ye love, especially someone like a grandmother, it's bound tae shake ye up. But... I dinnae think it means ye have tae lose yer faith along wi' her."
Ben looked at me, his eyes searching mine, as if he wanted to believe what I was saying but wasn't sure how.
I knew how important faith was—how it had always been a constant in my life, something that steadied me even when things were rough.
I wanted to share that with him, to help him find that same comfort, but I also knew that I couldn't push him. Faith wasn't something you could force on someone; it had to come from within.
"When my granddad died," I continued, "I was gutted. I loved him more than I can say. But I found peace in Jesus, in knowing that he was in a better place. It was very hard for me to say the least but Jesus gave me hope that one day we would see each other again."
Ben was quiet for a moment, his gaze dropping to the table between us. I could see the conflict in his eyes, the way he was wrestling with everything he'd been feeling. I didn't know if my words would make a difference, but hoped and silently prayed they might give him something to hold onto.
"Maybe," he said finally, his voice barely above a whisper. "It's just... hard to see it that way right now."
I nodded, understanding more than he might realize. "Aye, I get that. But ye don't have tae figure it all out tonight. Just know that... I'm here if ye ever need tae talk."
That was by far my favourite chapter. We saw a little bit of vulnerability from ben. The Writers block is Gone (HURRAH) but it took me longer to write cause would you know it......SCHOOLS BACK! Uni is tough but I'll use up my free time to get this done on time. Remember that we have to put our faith in Jesus Christ and we need to share the word with others who may not know him.
