ON THE RUN

Tales from the year of the war

The story takes place the second year of World War II. In Sweden there was still peace, but from the neighboring country in the west sad and sinister intelligence came and many fled across the border.

In a small forest village near the border Gurly was busy with Christmas preparations. She was ironing curtains and baked gingerbread, the only cakes that they could afford to do this year. The children she had sent out in the woods to find a Christmas tree. The snow could begin anytime.

Despite the heat in the kitchen Gurly froze in the legs. The cold draught came up from the leaky floor . She sighed, and then the thoughts were back to the old. If only you had been able to afford to repair. Walls and floors should be isolated and water should be put into and sink in the kitchen. When this was done she could dream about luxury items as new wallpaper and new furniture in the living room.

Gurly was embarrassed by the old furniture. They were well polished up, but when she thought of many other homes she had seen with armchairs and thick carpets on the floors, so she barely had the energy to look at its own scrubbed floors and unraveled chairs. Strangely enough, many people like their homes and many said that it was cozy and tidy and nice, but this Gurly dared not believe. She had stared herself totally blind to how others were and saw no longer any beauty in a simple but clean and tidy home. She had said to Valfred earlier in the day that now there had to be a change. There was advertised with cheap furniture in the newspapers. Surely, a sofa and some chairs they should be able to buy. They had sold some lumber and other farming products.

Gurly had forgotten the cold draught from the floor, she hummed one Christmas song while she took gingerbread cakes from the oven. It was already dark now and she had to put the coffee over. The children should have returned long ago, and where was Valfred now ?

A little later the children's voices could be heard in the hallway. - We have found a large Christmas tree, Mom. Hopefully, we will get enough light now. We cannot afford buying more.

At that moment her husband came in rapidly.
- Gurly, he said, the neighbor was here and told that there are refugees around and they will come over tonight - they 're lost and are situated in the northern end of the forest - they are exhausted. We must accept any some of them, the authorities cannot reach here at night, these people must get food and warmth. I will run over to the neighbor and say they can come here.

Gurly did not have time to answer before he was out the door again. The children stared at her with wide eyes. Refugees they had heard talk about, but never seen any.

- Mother, do they get killed if they stay in their own country, they whispered anxiously.
- Yes, they might, but now you must be quiet when they come. They are so tired, you understands?
Gurly quickly put the coffee on and lit the fireplace in the living room. Now she was pleased with the large open fireplace which could heat the room in a hurry. She put the sheets up to heat and then she heard steps in the corridor. She hurried to open the door for the guests.

A pale and gaunt woman with her two children stepped hesitantly into the room. The light blinded her and she received Gurlis warm welcome quietly. She was completely apathetic, but the kids lit up when they saw other children and that there were large dish with peanuts.

Soon the 3 of them sat at the table and tried to get the cold out of their body with a hot drink. For the children Gurly had warm milk, and their appetite for buns and gingerbread was absolutely incredible. Then they got the tired guests a bed to rest in, while Gurly continued her work while she answered a myriad of questions from her children. When they finally realized that the alien children and their mother had left all their belongings and fled for their lives, they became very worried.
- But it's almost Christmas, said the smallest. Where would they get the Christmas tree from? And who would give them Christmas presents?
- Christmas gifts you can give them. See if you do not have any toys that you do no longer use.
The children immediately left for their playthings. Soon they came back to their mother and showed her their gifts. There was a doll, a bear , and a wooden car that they would give the refugee children.

And I have to pack it nicely with red ribbon and labels, the elder sister said. Do you have any Christmas paper, Mom?

When all the children had fallen asleep the refugee mother told us about their misfortune.
- We had a small farm - only 2 cows - but we were happy. Not as fine as here of course - she looked admiringly about in the room - but we were happy and satisfied, me, my husband and our 4 children . I have had 4 children, but one died at the beginning of the war - He was 18 years and volunteered - and then one of the girls. She became ill last fall - we had little food, and we did not get either doctor or medicine. She died, small Astri, and I've taught myself to thank God for it. Her I know where I have. But my husband, he disappeared 4 mounths ago and since then the living conditions at home deteriorated, I could not wait any longer. I had to save the two, which I still have. We were more from our home area, who fled, but we parted – lost our way - how we have starved and frozen. We had given up all hope when we finally saw the lights of a house. God wanted that we should live a little longer, I suppose. If only I knew where my husband was, I would be unspeakably happy.

She put her head in her thin hands, and Gurly wiped her eyes, which were full of tears. She thought of her comfortable home on her husband and children that she had around her. She felt ashamed.

Lord, who am I that you give me so much grace. How can I thank you? And the answer gave itself: By earning your suffering brothers in the world.

Valfred went after the Bible. He knew they all needed a word of comfort. He read with deep seriousness:
“Hear my prayer, LORD; listen to my cry for mercy. When I am in distress, I call to you, because you answer me. Teach me your way, LORD, that I may rely on your faithfulness; give me an undivided heart, that I may fear your name. I will praise you, Lord my God, with all my heart;
I will glorify your name forever.”

" Psalm 86

This evening Gurly and Valfred agreed to give the exiled the two hundred-kroner bank notes that they had put aside for the repair of the house.

Next day they continued further down through the village to the refugee camp where they were to celebrate Chritma. The kids bar with great care each package. It was the playing items, they had got - and a big bag of peanuts.

Gurly and Valfred had previously given money and gifts to relieve distress among people in need. But they had never given something so personal, and their gifts had not previously been called to sacrifice.

Now, Gurly saw everything with new, appreciative eyes. There fell such a sacred peace on the home, even before Christmas had began. - We have had angels as visitors thought Gurly, I can never forget this. They gave more than they received. They opened my eyes, they taught me what distress and grief is. I have not fully realized that before. Now I cannot help but pray for all the poverty on earth.

And when the kids on Christmas Eve gathered around the Christmas tree and singing the well known and dear Christmas songs, Gurly went into the kitchen for a moment in silence to cry out, and to thank the Lord, who sent his son down to this dark, unhappy world, in order to save poor, errant sinners. She and her husband had called themselves believers for many years, but she had never so clearly realized what salvation meant before now. She understood that her husband felt the same way when he at the prayer presented the usual devotional moment with a fervent thanksgiving that God once and for all gave Jesus for all mankind.

When the children had gone to bedhappy and tired, Gurly heard their prayer: - Good God, let our refugees have a good Christmas and give them a home. Amen.