| . |
Chapter Sixty-one
The Generation to Come
"He [God] established a testimony... That the generation to come might know
them, even the children which should be born; who should arise and declare them to
their children: That they might set their hope in God, and not forget the
works of God, but keep His commandments."
~ Psalm 78: 5-7 ~
 ittle
and womanly." According to the book of baby names Maggie had given Charlie,
that's what the name "Charlotte" meant. Charlie wasn't sure she liked it
very much, but since her figure was presently so big, anything that called her little
or small had to be positive. A rumble of night thunder sounded outside their bedroom,
and Charlie noticed that it didn't disturb the man sleeping beside her in bed. For
once, Adam had fallen asleep at bedtime like a normal person, and unwittingly left
Charlie to endure her wakefulness alone. She usually wasn't the one to battle insomnia,
and it had taken Charlie by surprise.
Wearily, Charlie flipped through the small book. Even though Maggie had known that
Charlie's unborn son already had a name, Maggie had insisted that Charlie at least
have a look. "It's fun finding out what names mean!" Maggie had laughed.
As Charlie scanned the list of "M" names, she had to admit this was interesting.
To her delight, she discovered that "Matthew" meant "gift from Jehovah."
"How appropriate," Charlie mused quietly. Her hand gently caressed the
belly in front of her, while the baby inside continued to kick. "Are you ready
to let your mother go to sleep yet, Matthew?"
As if the caress had touched him as well, Adam stirred beside Charlie, and he sleepily
looked up at his wife. "Can't sleep?" he blinked groggily.
"Matthew's awake," Charlie shook her head. "It's two in the morning,
and I'm afraid he's already taking after his father."
Adam placed a warm hand on Charlie's belly and smiled in spite of the late hour.
"He's really moving around in there!"
"Adam, why can't you have insomnia when I do?" she lamented. "I've
been struggling to go to sleep all night!"
"Hardly seems fair, does it?" he grinned at her sympathetically.
"There goes Matthew again," sighed Charlie, as she felt another kick inside
her womb.
"Why don't you get up and move around?" suggested Adam. "Maybe the
movement will rock him to sleep."
"I've already tried that," Charlie whimpered. "Every time I lie down,
he starts up again!"
Tossing the covers back, Adam climbed out of bed. Even though it was late spring,
the carpeted floor felt cold to his bare feet. "I'll be right back," Adam
yawned, nearly stumbling over the dog as he left the bedroom. "Stay off the
bed, Wally."
Harmlessly, Wally raised her head and watched until Adam had left the bedroom. Then,
seeing her chance, the dog jumped onto the mattress and found a warm place beside
Charlie. The young woman petted Wally and continued to read from her book.
|