Sparkatale

The soldiers came one day, and took my papá.

They gave no warning, and never explained why.

But they didn't need to, because we knew.

We had known such a day might come,

But had always tried to pretend it wouldn't,

Because it frightened us so much.

No. In truth, it had only frightened me.

My papá was brave.

He loved Christ more than his own family,

And that is why, when they took him away

He smiled at me.

He wasn't scared,

And he was trying to tell me not to be scared.

...

In the beautiful city of Constantinople,

In this terrible year of the Apostate,

Anyone of the Christian faith,

Is immediately taken before the emperor,

To either sacrifice to the idols,

Or be put to death.

Papá made his choice,

And they tortured him,

And then they took him to the block.

I couldn't watch.

I was afraid if I did, my faith would fail,

And I didn't want to betray him.

I didn't want to betray Christ.

I knew Papá was going to Paradise now,

To be with Christ.

Of the two of us,

Papá was the more fortunate.

...

After we buried Papá,

I found a small wooden cross

That he used to wear around his neck.

He'd said it was the symbol of Christ,

And we should never be ashamed to wear it.

He'd said it is a silent confession of our faith,

And if someone sees it and thinks badly of us,

Or turns us in to the emperor,

Then we should glorify God for this chance

To confess him.

We should not turn away from God,

Because he will not turn away from us.

He is with us forever, and will never leave us,

Not even at the end of the age.

...

Now I wear my papa's cross, and it has given me strength.

I am not ashamed.

And I am not afraid.