RAJAH’S DAUGHTER HAS A SECRET.

Trismi lay back on her pillow. Her usually dark face was now pale as her brown eyes turned towards her mother, then back to her faithful nurse.

In this bed room in the Rajah’s palace stood special meranti and teak wood furniture, with carved patterns fashioned by the palace carpenters, who worked the intricate patters with tiny tools. Chip by chip the wood-carvers fashioned flowers and birds until the bed was fit for a princess.

Now the young princess, Trismi, lay very sick on her bed. She was 13 years old and the pride and joy of her father. And the youngest of the Rajah’s ten children. While he loved all his children, yet Trismi seemed his favourite, and none of the family begrudged their father’s special love for her, especially at this time of severe illness. But now she knew she would soon die.

Bright as the sunshine, always smiling, and sweet-tempered- she always helped her mother. Even the palace servants honoured the young girl, and when her father’s special subjects visited, Trismi always found how to show kindness in a special way.

Among the palace servants lived a nurse, who always cared for the smaller children. She had lived at the palace since Trismi was a small child, and watched as she grew into a beautiful teenage girl.

Of the many servants at the palace, one drew water from the well. Another daily visited the market to bargain for meat, fruit and vegetables for the Rajah’s household. It was a busy domestic arrangement, so two cooks prepared appetising meals. While a villager and two boys attended the garden, two older ladies washed and ironed the clothing.

While Trismi loved her parents and respected the servants, it was Suri who became special helper and nurse to Trismi.

One day Suri began to tell Trismi of her best friend. The young girl listened eagerly, because she realised how special must be any friend to Suri, who began to read stories to which Trismi eagerly listened.

Later , Suri sat with Trismi and explained that her friend died.

‘Oh, no. How sad, ‘ and Trismi began to cry. She drew her hand across her eyes to wipe away the tears.

‘Ah, but He came alive,’ assured Suri.

‘Alive. Was it magic?’ Trismi could hardly believe Suri.

‘No, it wasn’t magic. Wicked men put Him on the cross, and He died there because of all the naughty things we have done and said, Trismi. He paid the price to God for our sin.’

‘How terrible,’ said Trismi, as she rubbed her hands together, hardly believing what she had heard. ‘And then what happened?’

‘Three days late He came alive. And then one day He gathered His friends to tell them that He was going away to heaven, where He had prepared homes for them who love Him.. But one day he would return again for all those on earth who love and trust Him’

‘Oh,’ gasped Trismi, her dark face shining. ‘I’d love anyone who did that for me. Did He really take my place on that awful cross, Suri?’ She looked up at her nurse.

‘Yes, dear,’ she replied. ‘He did that for you, and for me.’

Trismi could not believe that Suri had ever done done anything wrong. But she went on, ‘Tell me His name, so I can say ‘Thank you’ and tell Him I love Him.’ Trismi clutched her arm in joy, as if to emphasise that she really meant it.

‘His name is the Lord Jesus Christ,’ said Suri, as she put her arms around the young girl.

And from that day Trismi and Suri talked together, and Trismi learned to pray, And Suri taught her how to read and understand the Javanese Bible. She taught Trismi that when you love and trust Jesus His special Spirit helps to keep you kind and loving, and not to get angry or resentful.

Sometimes Trismi’s brothers teased her to say something unkind back to them. But she knew that God’s other Self, the Holy Spirit, enabled her to be kind and loving to her brothers and sisters.

‘You must tell your family,’ Suri invited the princess.

‘Oh, I could not do that. Couldn’t I just keep it to myself. It is so special,’ wondered Trismi as she hunched her shoulders, as though afraid what her father might say.

‘Jesus said that we are to tell people the good news,’ encouraged Suri, but she knew how difficult it might be for Trismi to tell her father who believed in a religion which taught that Jesus was not the sin-bearer who died on the cross and rose again.

‘Then if Jesus was brave enough to die for me,’ said Trismi humbly, ’I must be brave enough to tell my father, even if he be angry with me.’

Amazingly, while the old Rajah was surprised at his daughter’s news, he was not angry. He loved to see her happy and peaceful, because that day he received sad, unhappy news.

Often, over her young life Trismi was unwell, and now the Rajah knew that his beautiful princess would not live very long, because Tuberculosis riddled her body. At her last bout of sickness the Doctor came three times a day to see her, but now he told the Rajah and his wife the sad news that Trismi could not recover. This was prior to special medication for this disease.

And that is why Trismi lay on her bed so weak, so pale, so tired, but with her beloved mother and Suri beside her.

‘Do not grieve for me, dear Mother,’ whispered Trismi , so bravely, as she held her hand, with the other in Suri’s grasp. And at that moment, the Rajah hurried into the room, dressed in his official clothes, having attended an important Council meeting.

He stood by the bed where his princess lay. Although he did not accept the christian way, he knew how much Trismi’s peace and joy influenced the whole family.

Knowing that her life was ebbing away, and despite intense pain, Trismi spoke to her father.

‘Dear father, when I die I want you to arrange a christian funeral. Suri will help you. She knows the christian pastor. I do not wish for you to be sad. I am going to my heavenly Father who has a home in heaven waiting for me.’ She flinched for a moment with a spasm of pain.

‘I will go to heaven and meet my best Friend.’

‘I will do as you ask, dear daughter,’ said the Rajah, as he place his hand on her fevered head. And the young princess who had been a faithful witness in the palace of her father, smiled at her parents and her dear nurse, and with a gentle sigh slipped quietly into the presence of her friend, the Lord Jesus Christ. She may have been dead to her earthly life, but she was now certainly alive with Jesus Christ.

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This beautiful story was told me by Suri ( not her real name ) . Suri became one of my dearest friends, and helped me when our babies were born in East Java. Priscilla was delivered by Suri on her 50 th birthday ( she was God’s Jubilee present to her).