DISCLAIMER: We DO NOT own any of the characters you recognize. They belong to Martha Williamson. I do however own Min and her family, as well as Miss Melody and the various students in her class. My friend, Megan owns Grace and her family. If anyone would like to use any of these OC's, please ask our permission first.
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"The Faith of a Child"

Chapter 14

Twenty minutes later, Monica and Gloria found themselves at a very familiar place.

Getting out of the car, Gloria ran ahead of her supervisor. She was feeling more relaxed as she ran further into the familiar wooded area.

"Gloria! Gloria, wait!" Monica called after her case worker.

But for the first time, Gloria didn't listen to her. She was listening to someone else and her Heavenly Father had told her to keep going.

Sighing to herself, Monica ran to catch up with her daughter. She knew if Gloria hadn't listened to her, there was a good reason for it.

It was then that Gloria's voice rang out loud and clear.

"I found her! Monica! Monica! I found her! Quick!"

Monica rushed to where the child was standing. She gasped at the sight she found.

Grace was at the base of the mountain, curled against it. She was shivering and bruises covered her body. She was also in tears.

Kneeling down to the child's level, Monica put the back of her hand to Grace's forehead.

Frowning, the Irish angel turned to her charge.

"She's burning up." She told her. "We need to get her to a hospital and call Catherine right away. I need you to be a big girl and help me."

"Monica, I'm scared!" Gloria cried. "Is Grace going to die?"

Monica's heart broke at the sight of Gloria's trembling lower lip.

Pulling her close, she kissed her cheek before giving her a hug.

"Not if we help her." She assured her daughter. "It's okay to be afraid, but if you ask God to help you, He can take it away."

Gloria nodded. She fought back tears and tried to be strong for her friend.

Monica smiled with pride at her 'little one. She knew it was hard, but Gloria was doing a great job.

Turning her attention to Grace, the Irish angel concentrated on getting her to the hospital.

As Grace felt someone lift her up, she whimpered in protest.

"Shh, it's okay, Grace. You're safe, darlin'. We're gonna help you."

Grace merely whimpered again as the Irish angel carried her to her car.

Once there, Gloria buckled herself in and they were off.

On the way, Monica called Catherine to tell her what had happened.

"Thank God!" Catherine praised. "I'll be right there. Tell Gracie, tell her I…I love her."

"She knows, Catherine. " The Irish angel assured her. "She knows." With that, the call ended.

Upon arriving at the hospital, Monica explained to the desk clerk, Tony, what was going on.

Tony paged Dr. Susan Larkin and Dr. Anna Marcela immediately.

Once Grace was taken into the first available trauma room, Gloria found comfort and reassurance in the best place she knew-her supervisor's arms.

"You did very well, little one." Monica praised her case worker. "I'm very proud of you."

Gloria nodded as she let the tears fall. She was scared for Grace, but a part of her knew God would take care of her.

"The assignment's not over yet, babies." Tess reminded them as she appeared in front of the two angels.

"We still have to tell Grace God loves her." Gloria replied.

"That's right, little angel." Her superior confirmed. "But you're going to do that in a few minutes. Monica will help you, but when it comes time for the actual revelation, I don't think you'll need her help. All you need to do is let God lead the way. You'll know what to do."

Gloria nodded.

"Tess, I feel…strange." Gloria confided in her. "When we were looking for Grace, I felt like God was leading me to her."

"That's because He was." Tess affirmed. "He wanted you to find her first."

"He did?" Gloria asked.

"Uh-huh."

Gloria grinned despite the situation.

"I love working for God."

Tess laughed softly.

"So do I, little angel. So do I."

Just then, Catherine ran into the room. Her cheeks were tear stained with more tears to come. She ran straight over to Monica.

"Thank you so much!" She exclaimed the minute she saw the Irish angel. "You found my baby! Is she all right?"

Monica put up a hand to silence Catherine.

"The doctors are working on her right now." She explained. "But she should be fine."

Catherine sank down in a chair and buried her face in her hands.

Monica glanced at Tess for instructions.

The wise angel shook her head. It wasn't time yet.

Monica nodded. She resituated Gloria on her lap before turning her attention back to Catherine.

A few hours later, Catherine stepped into the hospital room where her daughter lay sleeping. She couldn't believe this had happened. And what made matters worse, it was all her fault. At least that's what she thought.

As Catherine gazed down at her baby girl battered and beaten, she couldn't hold it back any longer. The tears came in rivers down her cheeks. She loved this little girl so much and yet she had hurt her so badly.

"I'm so sorry, baby." She apologized tearfully. "Mommy loves you so much. I never meant for this to happen! Oh God, I'm sorry! Oh my God, if you're there, please help me! I can't do this alone. Please, help us! Oh God, I'm so sorry!" With that, Catherine broke down completely.

"He knows that." A familiar voice assured her. "He knows."

Catherine gazed up to find Monica standing there. As her gaze landed on her new friend, she gasped. The Irish woman wasn't as Catherine remembered. She was now glowing, a golden light shining around her. She was also wearing a flowing white gown.

Seeing the look of fear that flashed across her face, Monica hastened to assure her.

"Don't be afraid, Catherine. I'm not going to hurt you and neither will God. God sent me here to help you. I'm an angel."

Catherine shook her head in disbelief.

"An angel? Why would God send me an angel? I don't deserve one. I've hurt my baby and let someone hurt us. Why isn't God punishing me right now? Why!"

"God knows it wasn't your fault." Monica assured her. The soft light of God's love was still around her. "God knows Richard Smith for who he really is. He knew long before you did. God loves you and your wee girl so much. He wants to help you, but only you can make the decision to let Him. He never wanted this for you or Grace. Never. But it didn't' start with Richard, did it?" She asked softly.

Catherine was crying openly now as she gazed at Monica's glowing form.

Shaking her head, Catherine allowed the angel to reach out and rest a hand on her trembling shoulder.

"Someone else hurt you before Richard came into your life. They made you think you deserved to be hit and treated unkindly. So when Richard started hitting you, you accepted it because you knew no different. And then when Grace came along, you tried your best to protect her. Something your own mother didn't do for you. She didn't protect you or love you as she should have. Instead she hurt you both emotionally and physically, didn't she?"

Catherine nodded.

"I…I never wanted to hurt Gracie like that."

"God knows that." She assured her. "And you've never laid a hand on her in a harmful way."

"No." Catherine agreed bitterly. "I just let someone else do it for the past six years! What kind of mother am I?"

"A good one." She told her. "You put your daughter's safety before your own. Just as God puts the needs of His children before His own. Children are the most precious gift God blesses us with. They are meant to be loved and cherished as God loves and cherishes every one of His children. He knew you needed help. That's why He sent me to help you."

"I want it to stop!" Catherine cried desperately.

Monica had pulled her in for a hug at this point.

Once the Irish angel had wrapped her arms around her, Catherine found herself crying harder than she had ever cried in a long time.

"Shh, it's okay now." Monica assured her. "Just let it out. You're safe. If you want it to stop, you need to take the steps to make it happen. God will help you, but you need to ask Him."

"I'm scared!" Catherine confessed.

"I know you are. And so does God. But He promises that if you ask Him, He'll help you take the first step. And when it gets to be too hard to take another, He'll carry you and your daughter through the rest of the way."

Catherine nodded.

After a few minutes, she spoke again. Her concern wasn't for herself, but for her daughter.

"What about Gracie?"

Monica smiled.

"Grace is going to be fine. God sent her angels too."

Catherine nodded as it dawned upon her.

"Gloria's an…"

Monica nodded warmly.

After the Irish angel had delivered the rest of her message from the Father, she left to help Gloria with her own revelation. She knew her 'little one would know what to do when the time came, but Monica needed to be there in case Gloria needed her.

Stepping out of the room and into the hallway, she spotted Gloria and Tess sitting in the waiting area.

Smiling gently down at her 'little one, Monica approached them and held out her hand.

"Gloria, it's time, sweetheart." She told her kindly.

Gloria glanced back at Tess for reassurance. It wasn't that she didn't trust Monica, far from it. IT was just her superior had been the one to explain what was going to happen next.

"Little angel, you'll be fine. I promise. Monica will be there the whole time."

Gloria nodded uncertainly.

After Tess gave her a hug, she stood up and prepared to leave.

"Where are you goin', Tess?" Monica inquired as she picked Gloria up.

Tess just winked at her 'angel girl before leaving them alone.

Shaking her head, Monica gave Gloria a hug and ruffled her hair comfortingly before setting her down.

"You can do this, little one. I know you can. I love you." With that, the Irish angel lead her charge to Grace's hospital room. She knew it was empty now except for the little girl within.

When they arrived, Gloria squeezed Monica's hand for comfort. She was starting to remember another time she had revealed herself to someone in the hospital and it wasn't a pleasant experience.

Monica could sense her charge's fear and knew she was probably remembering Madeline.

"It's okay, sweetheart." She assured her. "This will be different than Madeline's. You'll see."

Nodding, Gloria took a deep breath before opening the door to her friend's room.

When Monica didn't step in behind her, the little girl glanced back at her supervisor.

She threw her a questioning look and the Irish angel shook her head.

"You can do this." She encouraged. "I know you can. I'm right here. But more importantly, God is with you. He won't leave you and He'll help you reveal the truth of His love to Grace."