lunch.
Dear God, what are you doing to me?
“I’m sorry, Mrs. Morris. I need to find the restroom.”
“It’s through that door and to the right. Are you okay, honey?”
“Just a bit of morning sickness still hanging around.” Beth did her best to smile as she nudged Josh to let her by.
The funeral was inspirational and uplifting. A celebration of a life well lived. Josh wished he had known Danny’s motherbetter. No doubt she had played a big role in honing the character of her son. Some of the stories that were related about Mrs. Stevens reminded Josh of his own mom, a woman full of humor as well as faith.
After they had gathered around the grave, Jim Stevens motioned for everyone to move in closer. He would be giving a personal and, most likely, tearful tribute to his wife.
“This is from Proverbs 31,” he said and then cleared his throat, gathering his composure.
“Who can find a virtuous and capable wife?” He began. “She is worth more than precious rubies.” He wiped a tear.
“Her husband can trust her, and she will greatly enrich his life. Her children stand and bless her. Her husband praises her.” His words came in bursts of emotion.
“Charm is deceptive, and beauty does not last. But a woman who fears the Lord will be greatly praised.” The Reverend Stevens looked up to the sky and smiled.
“Reward her, Lord, for all she has done. For all she has been. Let her deeds publicly declare her praise.” He wiped his face again, pulled the rose from his lapel, and placed it gently on the casket.
“Amen.”
A few minutes later, the smell of dirt filled Josh’s nostrils. An involuntary twitch spread throughout his body, a shudder that could easily be attributed to the late autumn chill. But he knew better.
He had been here before, standing at a graveside while a broken and questioning man eulogized his wife. This time it was Jim Stevens. Almost two years ago it had been his own father, paying tribute to his wife of thirty-five years.
From all appearances, Danny’s dad had managed to hold onto his convictions, to make peace with them, and toreconcile his spiritual beliefs with the untimely loss of his wife. But Josh’s father had died in spirit the day he lost his wife.
Samuel Harrison had mustered the strength to see her through to the end. But after she passed away, his trust in God had been shoveled into a four-by-six-foot hole and covered with dust.
19
Present Day
Abuzz of activity surrounded Beth as she and Josh prepared to leave their Sunday school classroom. They had announced her pregnancy to the class this morning, and everyone wanted to offer congratulations.
Men slapped Josh on the back and shook his hand. “Good going, man!” Women gushed, giddy with excitement.
Sarah Gilmore grabbed Beth’s neck and squealed. “You’ll be the best mom!”
“I’m so happy for you, hon,” Rachel Monroe drawled.
“Is this your first?” A new member of the class asked Beth.
She shook her head, almost indiscernibly.
“Oh, yes! Isn’t it exciting?” Sarah replied on Beth’s behalf and then added, “Congratulations, Josh. We’re happy for you both.”
Beth glanced sideways to her husband. His face reflected the enthusiasm of the well-wishers. He also seemed to be relaxing more now that he’d had a few days off the road. Beth knew that the weight of the world rested on his shoulders, and she could do little to help.
“Are you okay, honey?” Josh grabbed her arm and walked her toward the sanctuary.
“I have a headache, but I’m okay.”
“If you’re feeling up to it, I’d like to stay for the service.” His brown eyes entreated.
“I can handle it,” she said halfheartedly, hoping he would pick up on her lack of excitement.
“Great!” Josh opened the door to the main worship area and, placing his hand on the small of her back, ushered her to their usual seat near the front of the large auditorium. They always sat three rows back, to the right of the pulpit, and
Dear God, what are you doing to me?
“I’m sorry, Mrs. Morris. I need to find the restroom.”
“It’s through that door and to the right. Are you okay, honey?”
“Just a bit of morning sickness still hanging around.” Beth did her best to smile as she nudged Josh to let her by.
The funeral was inspirational and uplifting. A celebration of a life well lived. Josh wished he had known Danny’s motherbetter. No doubt she had played a big role in honing the character of her son. Some of the stories that were related about Mrs. Stevens reminded Josh of his own mom, a woman full of humor as well as faith.
After they had gathered around the grave, Jim Stevens motioned for everyone to move in closer. He would be giving a personal and, most likely, tearful tribute to his wife.
“This is from Proverbs 31,” he said and then cleared his throat, gathering his composure.
“Who can find a virtuous and capable wife?” He began. “She is worth more than precious rubies.” He wiped a tear.
“Her husband can trust her, and she will greatly enrich his life. Her children stand and bless her. Her husband praises her.” His words came in bursts of emotion.
“Charm is deceptive, and beauty does not last. But a woman who fears the Lord will be greatly praised.” The Reverend Stevens looked up to the sky and smiled.
“Reward her, Lord, for all she has done. For all she has been. Let her deeds publicly declare her praise.” He wiped his face again, pulled the rose from his lapel, and placed it gently on the casket.
“Amen.”
A few minutes later, the smell of dirt filled Josh’s nostrils. An involuntary twitch spread throughout his body, a shudder that could easily be attributed to the late autumn chill. But he knew better.
He had been here before, standing at a graveside while a broken and questioning man eulogized his wife. This time it was Jim Stevens. Almost two years ago it had been his own father, paying tribute to his wife of thirty-five years.
From all appearances, Danny’s dad had managed to hold onto his convictions, to make peace with them, and toreconcile his spiritual beliefs with the untimely loss of his wife. But Josh’s father had died in spirit the day he lost his wife.
Samuel Harrison had mustered the strength to see her through to the end. But after she passed away, his trust in God had been shoveled into a four-by-six-foot hole and covered with dust.
19
Present Day
Abuzz of activity surrounded Beth as she and Josh prepared to leave their Sunday school classroom. They had announced her pregnancy to the class this morning, and everyone wanted to offer congratulations.
Men slapped Josh on the back and shook his hand. “Good going, man!” Women gushed, giddy with excitement.
Sarah Gilmore grabbed Beth’s neck and squealed. “You’ll be the best mom!”
“I’m so happy for you, hon,” Rachel Monroe drawled.
“Is this your first?” A new member of the class asked Beth.
She shook her head, almost indiscernibly.
“Oh, yes! Isn’t it exciting?” Sarah replied on Beth’s behalf and then added, “Congratulations, Josh. We’re happy for you both.”
Beth glanced sideways to her husband. His face reflected the enthusiasm of the well-wishers. He also seemed to be relaxing more now that he’d had a few days off the road. Beth knew that the weight of the world rested on his shoulders, and she could do little to help.
“Are you okay, honey?” Josh grabbed her arm and walked her toward the sanctuary.
“I have a headache, but I’m okay.”
“If you’re feeling up to it, I’d like to stay for the service.” His brown eyes entreated.
“I can handle it,” she said halfheartedly, hoping he would pick up on her lack of excitement.
“Great!” Josh opened the door to the main worship area and, placing his hand on the small of her back, ushered her to their usual seat near the front of the large auditorium. They always sat three rows back, to the right of the pulpit, and
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