Beautiful: Truth's Found When Beauty's Lost Part 30

Ryan: That's another progressive step in changing the world.

Ellie: A slow progression.

The little girl s.h.i.+fted in her seat as Raymond hit the brakes and then lurched forward again. How he missed hitting people and vehicles, she had no idea.

Ellie: The conditions were terrible.

They had bathed the children at a local church before heading out of the city. It might have been the first bath they'd had in months, or even longer. They'd picked up the kids from a temporary housing unit. The people there couldn't feed the kids any longer and were sending them out to the streets in a matter of days.

Gangs of children survived in the back alleys of countless cities throughout South America. The aid organization Ellie was with was building orphanages, schools, and free clinics. It was slow progress, the director told her, but every life was precious.

The girl had stared at Ellie, as the children often did. They stared at her face and came to a conclusion.

"Como se llama?" Ellie asked.

"Esperanza," the child said and crawled into Ellie's lap.

"Her name means 'hope,'" Raymond said.

Ellie nodded. She almost said, Of course. Ellie thought of Pandora's box-or jar, as Will would correct-and how hope was saved from being lost among the evils of the world. Maybe she'd write to Will that she'd found Hope in more than one way since she'd come here.

Ryan: Are you okay?

Ellie: Yes. I really am.

Ryan: I know you already know what today is.

Ellie: Yes.

It had been exactly one year. Only one year that felt like decades. A year ago, Ryan had surprised her with a candlelit path to a sunset picnic. Grandfather's funeral was over, by only a day.

A year ago, Ellie's house was still full of relatives, she'd lost the bracelet that was now on her wrist, Megan had worn the yellow dress and still hated her, and Ellie had talked to Will for the first time in years outside on the back patio. This was the date they'd gone to Mitch's house. It was the day Stasia left the earth, and Ellie stayed behind with scars to testify to her survival.

Ellie: The day my life changed.

She was in Peru for another month. Then she'd start college in the spring semester, though she wasn't sure which school she'd be attending. Ellie wasn't sure about anything in the future, which was both scary and exciting.

She thought of the bottle she'd tossed into the ocean several months earlier on her first trip alone. Where was that bottle now? she wondered. Could it have made its way along some ocean current to the South American coast, as she had? Or had someone found it by now? Ellie would never know. She hadn't included her address or phone number. And there was only one word on the paper.

Ellie.

It was a one-word declaration that said it all. For that was who she was. And that was who she would be. And G.o.d would complete the work He had begun in her, and her life did and would matter. And she knew that she was no longer afraid to love.

They were barely out of the city when Raymond slowed for a herd of sheep that were crossing the road.

Ellie: Sheep parade again.

Then she looked back at the little boy staring out the window. He was smiling and waving at the sheep. He saw her looking at him, and he smiled at her as well.

The children loved her, because she knew them without ever having met them. She was one of them, a survivor of pain. They saw her, touched the scars that would never fully disappear. They needed no words of explanation.

"You have a gift, you know," Raymond had told Ellie.

Ryan: Gotta get to my last cla.s.s. Know that you're loved in the North.

Ellie: And you in the South.

She slid her phone into her bag and watched the sun falling toward the sharp peaks of the Andes.

Touching a curl in Esperanza's hair, Ellie took in a deep breath and wondered about all that waited ahead. It was more than she could imagine, and that seemed exactly how it should be.

Acknowledgments.

Natalie Hanemann-my wonderful editor with a golden heart! You provided essential guidance with this ma.n.u.script that created a much richer story. I can't thank you enough for that, and I appreciate your love of words and story while always caring deeply for the readers. It's a blessing working with you.

LB Norton-it should be wrong to have this much fun doing the line edits with an editor, but you make it a joy. And the book simply s.h.i.+nes with your touch.

The Thomas Nelson fiction team-it's a blessing to be part of such a wonderful group. Thank you!

Janet Kobobel Grant-dear agent and friend, thank you as always always always.

Nieldon Coloma-thank you for your beautiful love that surrounds and uplifts me. You've brought healing to my soul and excitement for our new horizons. You are a gift from G.o.d.

Madelyn, Cody, and Weston Martinusen-you each never cease to inspire and amaze me. I'm honored to have such unique and wonderful people as my children. Your mom loves you, this much and more!

Amanda Darrah-my beautiful Aloha sister, how I miss you and treasure all that you bring to my life, and I always will. It's only the beginning.

Jenna Benton-your daily morning prayers and Jenna stories carried me through challenging times, thank you friend (Sylvia!). You mean so much to me, Jenna Jane.

Kimberly Carlson-my sister-friend who understands this love of words perfectly. I hold you in my heart, my wolf-woman friend.

Kate Martinusen-sister-friend since 3rd grade and forever more. I love who you are and can't wait to see the next journey G.o.d is taking you on.

Alanna Ramsey-what an amazing journey of friends.h.i.+p we've been on. You are always loved, and I still owe you a night out eating hot dogs (even if I only eat them once a year).

Mom-You provide such support, laughter, and love that grows and grows. I appreciate and admire you beyond words. And I love you too!

Dad-I've loved the extra time we've had together in the past few years. I'll treasure it always. Thanks for the many days you made my lunch and all the fun stories you shared.

And to my little sister Jennifer Harman-sometimes called "the good sister"-though this story doesn't mirror our own, we sure had our childhood days of fighting. I'm glad you grew out of that, just kidding. :) We've been there for each other through such painful times but also the most wonderful of times. No one makes me laugh like you-and at the weirdest of things. I'm so blessed to have you as both beloved sister and friend. Onward toward many more adventures in the future-go McCormick sisters! I love you Jenny.

Finally, to you, the reader. I hope you embrace the beauty created within you, and that you discover more and more the beauty of G.o.d Himself.

Reading Group Guide.

1. Which sister did you identify with the most-Megan or Ellie? In what ways did the journey of the sisters' lives influence your life?

2. Do you have a sister or a best friend that is like a sister? How has that sister-relations.h.i.+p helped you? How has it been hard and brought feelings of insecurity and/or jealousy? Are their ways you can improve your sister-relations.h.i.+ps, feel more secure about yourself and more okay about your differences?

3. In what ways has your self-image hindered you from seeking your dreams?

4. What are some of the most beautiful aspects of your friends and family members? What are the most beautiful aspects of you?

5. Have you experienced a tragedy that made you feel like no one could understand or relate? Where can you go for help and healing?

6. What are your thoughts and struggles with the idea that every person is beautiful?

7. What do you find meaningful?

8. What makes you feel beautiful? What doesn't make you feel beautiful? Are there ways for you to come to peace with your self-image and believe that your worth and value are not attached to physical attributes?

9. Do you believe that G.o.d loves some people more than others? How do you think G.o.d views you? Do you think G.o.d created beauty in every person? In what ways can you become closer to G.o.d and see more of the beauty he created within you?

10. What do you think are some of the purposes in life? How can you be beautiful in those purposes?

end.