The Other Side of Goodness by Vanessa Davis Griggs

will be done, but I believe God will do it. I do.”
    â€œSo does that mean you believe Jasmine’s biological father is going to go get tested?” Jessica asked. “Does that mean that if he’s not a match, he’ll have his children tested, if he has any, to see if any of them might be a match?”
    â€œI can’t answer those questions at this point. I’m just praying that God will move in the way we need Him to move. That God will touch hearts—”
    â€œAnd if God doesn’t?”
    Gabrielle was crying but trying not to let Jessica know that she was. “Let’s just keep our thoughts on what we desire, okay? Are you familiar with the scripture that talks about whatsoever things are true, pure, lovely, and of good report, that if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, to think on these things? Well, let’s just think on these things for now. Let’s think on the good we desire. Jessica, I believe God is going to bring Jasmine through this. I honestly and truly do. I have faith.”
    â€œI hope God does,” Jessica said. “I’m just so beat up at this point. I don’t know anymore. My husband died. Jasmine is deathly ill. I have my own health issues. And what should be a simple thing, just like it was after you learned Jasmine needed your help, is turning into just more waiting, more anxious moments, and more having to pray.” Jessica was crying now, too. Gabrielle could hear her sniffles as she spoke. “I just feel so alone. It’s like I’m all by myself. It’s just so hard!”
    â€œWell, you’re not alone. God is with you.”
    â€œYeah, but God created us to have people down here to help us through things. And right now, I don’t have anybody. That’s a fact. I have no family left. And right now, at this moment, the only person Jasmine has left in this world is me.”
    Gabrielle considered what Jessica said. “Well, you have me. And if you ever need someone to talk to, a shoulder to cry on, someone to lean on, someone who’s pulling for both you and Jasmine, then I’m here. I don’t mind . . . if you need someone.”
    â€œSeriously?”
    â€œYeah.”
    â€œSo if I were to ask you to come here to the hospital and sit with me, would you? Knowing that, should things go the way we desire them to, that after this is all over, we all will go back to our respective lives? Knowing that Jasmine is the child you gave up for adoption . . . the child who likely won’t even know she was adopted at least for a few more years down the road? You’re saying you would be there for me now, knowing all of this will most likely come after ward?”
    â€œJasmine doesn’t know she’s even adopted?” Gabrielle hadn’t ever thought about this. She didn’t know what she thought now because she hadn’t been forced to ever think about the child she’d given up all those years ago.
    â€œNo, she doesn’t. My late husband and I had many discussions on when might be the appropriate age and time to tell her. We decided to wait until she was old enough to understand everything and to appreciate how much we truly love her, in spite of her being adopted, and truthfully, how incredibly much her birth mother loved her to make the sacrifices as she’d done.”
    Gabrielle’s tears were flowing really fast down her face now. But she was determined to hold her voice steady. “And here we are.”
    â€œYes, here we are. Praying and doing all that we can to be sure she lives to see her ninth birthday. It’s just not fair.” Jessica stopped speaking, then released an audible sigh. “Listen, I’m going to get off this phone. But if you should hear anything . . . anything at all, will you please—”
    â€œI’ll call you the moment I know something from my end. I promise.”
    Gabrielle hung up after saying good-bye. She