Got It Going On by Stephanie Perry Moore Page B

cool for God to forgive me, but for me to forgive somebody else ... particularly my uncle? Was this a joke? Was I being punked in the sanctuary? I wanted to scream, but Konner wouldn’t let up. He kept preaching about how God wanted us to forgive, to go to our brother and fix things, and if we could ask God to forgive us our sins, how could we expect that to happen when we couldn’t pardon anyone else? If we loved God and allowed Him to live in our hearts, we couldn’t have hearts that were hard. We had to be loving, generous, and kind—give people the benefit of the doubt, in hopes that they would find God to change them from their wicked ways, accept forgiveness, and become better.
    I was so inspired by the end of the message I was practically in tears. I had been so selfish, I’d just left a note telling my mom I was going back to school. I knew my mom would have stopped me, and I didn’t want that, so I’d done things my way, not caring if I hurt her.
    From one of the payphones in the church I called home. My mom picked up and said, “I didn’t even get a chance to say good-bye to you. I’m so sorry.”
    â€œI know, Mom, I’m sorry, too. I just had to get outta there.”
    â€œI got your note, and I apologize that you were experiencing so much pain here.”
    â€œIt’s okay now. God’s got my back, Mom. He’s got us all.”
    â€œI wanna tell her I’m sorry again,” I heard Uncle Bill saying in the background.
    â€œShe doesn’t wanna speak to you. You’re only here to eat and then leave. Nothing else.”
    â€œMom, can I talk to him, please?” I heard them arguing, but she handed him the phone. Before he could say anything, I said, “Uncle Bill, you stole something precious from me, and I’ve been damaged because of it. But ... I forgive you.”
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    There were no strings attached. There were no preconditions. There was nothing God needed to do for me in the New Year. I just needed to move on, forgive, and obey God’s Word and hope that the one who’d wronged me would find God. After all, Konner had said we all fell short to the glory of God, and we all needed another chance to get right again.
    â€œI was hoping you didn’t leave,” the fine reverend said, startling me before I was able to head back into the sanctuary.
    â€œNo, I just had to make a phone call,” I said in a giddy voice, intrigued that he was looking for me.
    â€œDid you maybe wanna go get something to eat?” he asked after a long, awkward pause.
    â€œBeing that it’s New Year’s, don’t you think everywhere will be crowded?” I couldn’t think of anything else to say.
    â€œI just wanna spend some time getting to know you, that’s all.” He reached out and grabbed my hand, placing his other hand on my cheek and stroking it gently. “You’re a beautiful girl. I look out when I’m preaching a lot and notice you’re really into my sermons. Sometimes on your face I can tell you’ve had pain and issues you’ve gone through that were not good at all. Maybe I can be a part of your life now and give you good memories from this point on. You deserve only the best.”
    Okay. He’d had me when he’d told me he’d hoped I hadn’t left. Now he was stroking my cheek and making me feel extra special. “Uh, I came here with Isha.”
    â€œWell, I don’t think that’s gonna be a big problem.”
    â€œWhat do you mean?” I asked.
    â€œShe likes Mark, the music director. I think the two of them are planning to hang out.” I can’t believe my girl didn’t tell me, I thought. But I was happy for her. He continued, “She just wanted me to catch up with you and let you know she’d be downstairs if I found you.”
    Processing what he said, I asked, “She thought I left, too? I didn’t mean to scare