Page 36 of Lion and the Lamb: Easter

“Nay! I refuse to accept that this little one’s life has been snuffed out before it even began.”

“There is nothing you can do, Son. The baby was just born too early. Now let it go,” said his mother sadly.

Lionel wouldn’t accept that, and decided to listen to his gut instead of what everyone was telling him to do. He stuck his finger into the baby’s mouth to clear the passageway and then lowered his face, covering the baby’s mouth and nose, blowing the breath of life back into it.

“What is he going? Stop it!” cried Lily. “Mother, make him stop!”

“Lionel, please,” cried his mother.

“Father, what are you doing?” asked Winifred.

“Hush! All of you,” he yelled, angry now. “I need to listen to hear if the baby starts breathing again. Now, not another word! Do you hear me?”

He wasn’t sure if they all believed he could save the baby, or if they were just too frightened of his outrage, but no one said a word.

“Breathe,” he commanded, once again blowing air into the baby, gently pressing up and down on its little chest. “Breathe, damn it! That’s an order. Do you hear me?”

Rachael could seehow much the baby meant to everyone and how hard Lionel worked to try to save it, but she needed to put a stop to this. It was over now, and Lionel needed to accept the death.

“Lionel,” she said, walking over to him and holding out her hands. “I know how much you wanted this baby to live. We all did. But it’s over.”

“Nay, I won’t give up,” he said, turning the baby over and over, rubbing it and continuing to blow air into its lungs.

“Lionel,” she said, hearing Lily and the other women crying from behind her. “It’s over. Now please, give him to me. You’re making everyone upset.” Her eyes interlocked with his, and she saw as well as felt his pain. His eyes became glassy, and she could see him biting the inside of his cheek so he wouldn’t cry in front of the women. He slowly handed her the child, and turned to leave.

With her eyes still on Lionel’s back as he headed for the door, Rachael held the little newborn to her chest, kissing him on the head. Why did this poor, innocent child have to die? It just wasn’t fair. “Please, take him to heaven,” she whispered, saying a silent prayer in her mind. Her eyes closed and she rocked the baby gently, remembering when Drew was born, and what a miracle it was to have a child. Her heart broke for Lily, as well as for Lionel and the rest of his family. It just wasn’t right.

Suddenly, she thought she felt movement in her hands, and then heard the slightest sound of a whimper. She looked down to the baby in her arms to see his little eyelids flutter.

“Lionel!” she screamed, just as he was about to leave the room.

He stopped and turned around, looking so sad. Tears of joy fell from Rachael’s eyes as the little baby’s mouth started moving in sucking motions and then, like a miracle, he started to cry.

“Lionel, he’s alive! You did it!” cried Rachael. “You saved his life.”

“What? My baby lives?” asked Lily with a newfound happiness.

“God’s eyes, it worked.” Lionel ran across the room, taking the baby in two hands, staring down at its little face. “He’s alive!” he called out, holding the baby to his chest, laughing. Then he kissed the little boy atop the head and took it over to his sister, laying it gently into her arms.

“Thank you, Brother,” said Lily. “You saved my baby. How can I ever repay you?”

“You don’t have to repay me,” said Lionel with a chuckle. “Just having the baby alive is enough.”

Rachael walked up behind Lionel, slipping her arms around his waist and laying her head against his back. This was her husband. Her wonderful husband. At that moment, she decided she never wanted to lose him, because she had just fallen in love with this extraordinary man.