In a quiet village nestled between hills and olive trees, there lived a boy named Eli. He was small for his age, with curious eyes and a gentle spirit. Life had not been easy for him—his father had passed away the year before, and his mother worked tirelessly in the fields to provide for them. Eli missed his father deeply, and though he never said much, he often carried the ache like a stone in his chest.
Every evening, Eli would sneak away to a quiet spot just outside the village—a hill with a single olive tree that overlooked the valley. He would sit there with his knees pulled to his chest, staring at the clouds that changed colors as the sun dipped low. He didn’t have the words to pray out loud, but his heart whispered things only heaven could hear.
One day, as Eli sat in his usual place, the wind gently stirred the leaves, and he felt a presence beside him. He turned, and there was a man sitting next to him—a man with kind eyes and a peace that seemed to wrap around him like sunlight.
“Hello, Eli,” the man said, his voice like a soft breeze.
Eli blinked. “Do I know you?”
The man smiled. “I’ve known you since before you were born. I hear you every day, even when you say nothing.”
The boy’s eyes filled with tears. “You do?”
“Yes,” the man said, placing a hand over Eli’s heart. “Your silent prayers are louder than you know.”
For the first time in a long while, Eli felt something lift from his chest. The ache didn’t vanish, but it was as if someone was helping him carry it.
“Are you Jesus?” he asked in a small voice.
“I am,” Jesus said. “And I will always be near, especially when your heart speaks what your mouth cannot.”
They sat together for a long time, not saying much—just watching the sky change and the stars slowly appear. Eli leaned against Jesus, feeling warmth and comfort he hadn’t felt since his father was alive.
From that day on, whenever Eli sat under the olive tree, he no longer felt alone. And even when he couldn’t find the words to pray, he knew his heart had already been heard.
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