were talking to me letting me know how ashamed he was of himself. The talk with Pastor Clem echoed in my head. What he said about forgiving and how I could be an example for God, and the fact that I was still so much in love with your father.
“You’re forgiven, Michael,” I said finally.
Tears fell down both of our cheeks and his hug was inviting. We did not talk, but we walked holding hands with our feet in the cold water. I’m sure both of us were busy thinking of the future. Where would we go from there? I’m not sure what was in your dad’s head, but I did know what was in mine. I knew this would be the hardest thing I ever had to do. Part of me still hurt due to the fact that he was so disloyal. I wasn’t sure I could sleep in the same bed as him again. However, I knew I had to watch my tongue and not say anything to hurt him back. That was not love. At that moment, a verse stumbled into my brain. I had received a letter from Pastor Clem that contained it.
“Love never fails; but where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away.”
I silently prayed that this entire affair would soon pass and be forgotten. Lisa, remember that bad stuff happens sometimes. It doesn’t matter if you’re a good person or bad. Also remember, Lisa, you have to move on. You have to pick up your head, stare at something beautiful like the sky or the lake, and move on enjoying the gift of life that God gave you. I had to find it in my heart to forgive your father, or feel like a failure at our marriage.
Lisa sat on her mother’s bed with tears running down her face. She wasn’t sure what she felt. Part of her was hurt, part of her was happy that he apologized, and part of her was confused. What would she do if that happened to her? The journal was so hard to read, and had so many unexpected surprises about her parents. She was angry with herself and ran to the closet. She picked up her father’s clothes and carefully placing them back on the hangers. Yes, if her mother and grandparents could forgive him, so could she. As she was doing this, she took one of his shirts, and shut her eyes tight. Then she hugged herself with both arms around the material. Lisa could feel her father kiss her on the head telling her that he loved her so much.
She needed a break from the journal with so much yet to do around the house. It had to be cleaned, out and she needed to get back to school. Going through the bathrooms, she pulled out a garbage bag and started throwing out old or used toiletries. Dad’s Old Spice came in soap, deodorant and aftershave. Mom had lots of little perfumes from France that seemed to be opened and not used up. There were open deodorants and toothpaste tubes squeezed in the middle just sitting in the mirror cabinet that needed to be thrown away. Boxes in the closet of nail polish that seemed dried out, half full nail polish remover, a bag of cotton balls, along with eye liner with only a little bit of the pencil left, and blush which was almost gone. Cans half full of hairspray, hairbrushes, and a box of Miss Clairol. It did not take long to wipe it out clean before she tackled the toilet and bathtub.
Lisa liked being busy, but did not really enjoy that particular job. It felt so final, like she was getting rid of her mother and her father. Shaking her head, she reminded herself that they had gone to heaven, and she had a couple of more bathrooms to clean.
Chapter Eighteen
Thoughts of Home
Present Day - Crystal
The afternoon sun fell out of the sky, and before she knew it evening came. Lisa and Crystal made dinner together and when Joey came home, the three of them said prayers. After eating, they cleaned the dishes, and Crystal decided to take a walk around the block. Memories of
“You’re forgiven, Michael,” I said finally.
Tears fell down both of our cheeks and his hug was inviting. We did not talk, but we walked holding hands with our feet in the cold water. I’m sure both of us were busy thinking of the future. Where would we go from there? I’m not sure what was in your dad’s head, but I did know what was in mine. I knew this would be the hardest thing I ever had to do. Part of me still hurt due to the fact that he was so disloyal. I wasn’t sure I could sleep in the same bed as him again. However, I knew I had to watch my tongue and not say anything to hurt him back. That was not love. At that moment, a verse stumbled into my brain. I had received a letter from Pastor Clem that contained it.
“Love never fails; but where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away.”
I silently prayed that this entire affair would soon pass and be forgotten. Lisa, remember that bad stuff happens sometimes. It doesn’t matter if you’re a good person or bad. Also remember, Lisa, you have to move on. You have to pick up your head, stare at something beautiful like the sky or the lake, and move on enjoying the gift of life that God gave you. I had to find it in my heart to forgive your father, or feel like a failure at our marriage.
Lisa sat on her mother’s bed with tears running down her face. She wasn’t sure what she felt. Part of her was hurt, part of her was happy that he apologized, and part of her was confused. What would she do if that happened to her? The journal was so hard to read, and had so many unexpected surprises about her parents. She was angry with herself and ran to the closet. She picked up her father’s clothes and carefully placing them back on the hangers. Yes, if her mother and grandparents could forgive him, so could she. As she was doing this, she took one of his shirts, and shut her eyes tight. Then she hugged herself with both arms around the material. Lisa could feel her father kiss her on the head telling her that he loved her so much.
She needed a break from the journal with so much yet to do around the house. It had to be cleaned, out and she needed to get back to school. Going through the bathrooms, she pulled out a garbage bag and started throwing out old or used toiletries. Dad’s Old Spice came in soap, deodorant and aftershave. Mom had lots of little perfumes from France that seemed to be opened and not used up. There were open deodorants and toothpaste tubes squeezed in the middle just sitting in the mirror cabinet that needed to be thrown away. Boxes in the closet of nail polish that seemed dried out, half full nail polish remover, a bag of cotton balls, along with eye liner with only a little bit of the pencil left, and blush which was almost gone. Cans half full of hairspray, hairbrushes, and a box of Miss Clairol. It did not take long to wipe it out clean before she tackled the toilet and bathtub.
Lisa liked being busy, but did not really enjoy that particular job. It felt so final, like she was getting rid of her mother and her father. Shaking her head, she reminded herself that they had gone to heaven, and she had a couple of more bathrooms to clean.
Chapter Eighteen
Thoughts of Home
Present Day - Crystal
The afternoon sun fell out of the sky, and before she knew it evening came. Lisa and Crystal made dinner together and when Joey came home, the three of them said prayers. After eating, they cleaned the dishes, and Crystal decided to take a walk around the block. Memories of
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