The Heart of Royalty, part 6
He looked intensely into Simon’s eyes. Simon wanted to answer correctly, wanted to please the young Prince at that moment more than anything else in life. But he wasn’t sure what the answer was; the heart of royalty? “I’m not sure.” Said Simon.
David smiled. “You are not far from being sure, dear Simon. You think on that a bit more and we will talk again one day.” Simon thanked the Prince and walked out the front entrance. His thoughts carried him on the long journey home. He thought of the King, the Queen, the Prince and the heart of royalty.
Mary, Andrew and Rebekah greeted him when he got home and excitedly showed him the new roof on their aging cottage. The roof had been leaking for some time now, but it seemed to Simon that when he had the time to fix it he didn’t have the money, and when he had the money he didn’t have the time. But the roof had been completely rethatched and repaired. Mary told Simon of a kind man who came shortly after Simon had left for the city. The man arrived early one day with materials and said that a friend had hired him to fix their roof. The man had worked all day and then stayed the night in their barn. He left the next morning after breakfast with Simon’s family. Simon asked about the man. He was older, with a beautiful smile and large hands. He wore a denim work jacket.
The days and weeks following Simon’s visit to the city were different in Simon’s house. Simon found many ways to do things, unexpected kind things, for his wife and children. And, as he served them, they began to act more kindly toward each other. He also found that he now noticed that his neighbors had needs. He had always been busy with the demands of his family and farm, but now, for some reason, as he looked for extra things to do to serve his family, he also had more time to help a neighbor pull a stump or to repair a stranger’s broken wagon wheel. He changed and his family changed. Mary found time to take bread to a family in need and Andrew and Rebekah were excited to clear the rocks from the yard of an elderly woman.
Simon talked often and with enthusiasm to anyone who would listen about his trip to the city. Everyone who knew Simon commented on the change in Simon and in his family. One person would say, “Simon was always a good man, but ever since his trip, he’s been different.” Another would respond, “It’s like he has a new direction in life. He’s more noble somehow.” Another would say, “He has seen the King.”
And Simon would hear the comments and agree to himself. He knew that he was different. And he knew that he had seen the heart of royalty.
the end
