Natasha and Nikita were twins – a sister and brother pair who lived together. Even though they were both older, they still kept their home running. Natasha cooked, cleaned, and took care of the house, and Nikita’s job was the yard.
Natasha woke up as the sun rose over the hills of the chilly Russian countryside. She sat up in bed and surveyed her small room with its dirty white walls and rickety furniture. The 64-year-old reached over the side of her bed and picked up a small worn Bible. That and a wooden cross carved by her father years ago were her most prized possessions. Lovingly, she opened it to a passage in Psalms and read the beautiful words to herself.
Then, she slowly got out of bed, her old bones creaking, and went over to the window. She opened the blinds and looked out into the drab countryside with a gray sky hanging low overhead and the new sun trying to add it’s light.
“What a beautiful day the Lord has given us.” She murmured. Slowly, Natasha dressed, then hobbled out to the kitchen to start breakfast.
Nikita woke up when the smell of porridge hit his nose. He grunted and lay back in his bed. As he surveyed the room, his eyes picked up all of its decrepitness, noticing the small cracks in the plaster and the rickety furniture. He heard Natasha humming in the kitchen/living room and sighed; what was there to be happy about?
Slowly, he got his feet out of bed and let them down to the floor. Leisurely standing up, he shuffled towards the door. Upon reaching it, his foot bumped something hard. Slowly bending down, Nikita picked it up. To his surprise, it was the old wooden cross his father had carved for him when he and Natasha were little.
He threw it towards the corner of the room.
“Phooey.” He muttered. Nikita continued towards the kitchen and stomped to the little table.
The siblings ate breakfast in silence, both with very different viewpoints but the same life.
“For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Matthew 6:21
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