“So what are you going to do?” Midge asked Marlene during lunch period almost a week after their visit to Nancy’s house. “Have you decided?”
“Oh, Midge. I don’t know. I still haven’t told my folks, ‘cuz they’re gonna hit the roof. They’ve been so excited for me to go to college, and I know they’ll pressure me to ‘go get it taken care of.’ That’s just what my dad will say. And it would be so much easier. I mean, I’d go in on a Friday for the procedure and stay home sick on Monday if I had to. Voila! It’s over. Back to normal life.” She smiled wryly. “Older and wiser.”
“Older and wiser, with a big hole in your heart, Marlene. If you abort your baby, you’re never going to forget that infamous day. That baby has a mother, and you’re it. Look around us.” Midge motioned in the direction of the park across the street. “The apple trees are in bloom, and beautiful. It won’t be just that one infamous day. Every single year when you see apple tree blossoms you’re going to remember that day you ‘took care of it,’ like your dad puts it, and the beauty of the apple blossoms can’t be quite fully enjoyed because of the shadow that comes with that memory—the shadow of death.”
“Oh, Midge. Don’t be so dramatic.”
“I’m sorry. I’m just trying to force you to think about this with your eyes wide open. You can’t go back to the clinic for a refund and get your baby back. I don’t want you coming to me and saying, ‘If only I’d known! Why didn’t you tell me?’ But the bottom line is, I just don’t want you to carry that hole in your heart—that big scar—for the rest of your life. It’s a child you’re thinking about… killing.”
Marlene’s jaw was set in defiance, but she said nothing.
“And what if this is the only child you’ll ever be able to have? You know that sometimes happens.”
“Well, no one has a guarantee when or if they’ll have children. You don’t either.”
“No. But I could handle it better, I think, knowing I didn’t abort my first and only baby. That would be such a tragic irony.” She paused. “I don’t think I ever told you and Gerri what Candle Lawson said to me.”
“Candle Lawson? Huh-uh. I didn’t even know you guys were friends.”
“We’re not. That’s why I was so surprised one day a few weeks after Nicky was born. I was really feeling down that day, and Candle came up beside me in the hall. She locked arms with me on the way to the lunchroom—which really surprised me. Then she told me she really admired me and wished she’d made the same decision I’d made. Her last words changed my mood in an instant, and I’ll never forget them. ‘Smile, your baby’s alive,’ she whispered, and then went over to her friends, all upbeat and happy and everything. Well, you know for her to take the time to tell me she wished she could re-do that decision, must mean that she has moments that aren’t upbeat and happy.” Midge looked at her friend sitting pensively, but no longer defiant.
“Marlene,” Midge continued, “you’re such a good friend—such a great person. If that baby’s a little girl, I’ll bet she’s got a personality just as wonderful as yours. Let her live.”
“Ooh boy!” Marlene sighed. “I wish I’d never gotten pregnant.”
“I know. Those were my thoughts, too. But you’ll eventually get through it, no matter what your decision. I just don’t want you scarred for life. You know God will take care of you, Marlene. Go His way. If it lines up with what your parents want, great. If it doesn’t, it’s still best to go His way. Nick’s parents were really pushing for me to get an abortion, remember? But now that the baby’s born, they’d give anything just to see him. I know; Nick’s so much as told me. Trust me. Your parents will be glad you bucked them, and they’ll end up supporting your decision and be happy they did.”
Midge stood up and held out her hand to pull Marlene up off the grassy mound they’d been sitting on. “My mom told me about a man who said he’d been adamant that his daughter get an abortion, but she ended up keeping the baby, and the man said that little granddaughter is the delight of his life.”
“I’m scared, Midge.”
“Scared? Of what? Your dad and mom?”
“No. Just the whole thing. I’m not ready for this.”
Midge smiled. “I completely understand. You know what I did? I started saying three little words, ‘All is well,’ believing that although I deserved to be in my predicament, God would take care of the whole situation—me, my parents, my education, and especially the baby. Those three words I learned from a lady who really helped my mom and me. Actually, she’s Carla Chadwell’s mom. I’ll ask her to call you if you want me to. Her name’s Bonnie Chadwell.”
Marlene sighed again. “OK,” she said, almost in a whisper. Midge wanted to put her arm around Marlene to comfort her, but she could see that her friend was on the verge of tears, and knew only too well how that gesture could precipitate a meltdown for Marlene and disaster for her going into her next class. So instead she said, “OK, Marlene. Buck up. Just keep thinking about how much God loves you—and your baby.” She paused for emphasis. “And say it, ‘All is well”—all the way into chemistry class. Got it?”
Marlene smiled in spite of herself. “Got it,” she whispered.
“Let me hear it, just once, and then keep saying it under your breath.”
“All is well,” Marlene said, in a stronger voice this time, slapping gingerly at the tears that had already begun to lose their threat. She turned quickly and gave Midge a brief hug. “Thanks!” she whispered.
……….
Gene Chemosh sat in Joe Denspot’s office, having explained the predicament he and Sally perceived regarding their son Andy. “So how would you suggest we handle this?”
“I would suggest you acquaint him with the rules that have altered your own perspective on life. Let him know how important they are to you. Then share the Good News with him.”
Chemosh smiled, shaking his head. “You’ve got more up your sleeve?” His voice took on facetious buoyancy. “What’s the ‘Good News’?”
“The Good News.” Denspot stood up and walked over by Chemosh’s chair, leaning against the side table there. He crossed one foot in front of the other and looked thoughtfully at his friend. “These rules you’ve been following. They’ve made your life better, would you say?”
“Definitely.”
“That’s what they’re for, I believe—to give life a quality it wouldn’t have otherwise. A major aspect of that quality is learning about God—what pleases Him. We please Him by putting Him first in everything we do, by honoring and revering His name, by resting one day out of seven, by honoring our parents, etc. We learn not to lie, steal, kill, commit adultery or even harbor jealousy. It does make for a better life for us.”
“I agree,” Chemosh willingly acknowledged, and nodded, his eyes fixed on the floor.
“But it doesn’t do so much for God. This life is just our proving ground in His eyes. He’s looking for close fellowship, like you have with Andy, but fellowship that lasts way past this short lifetime—like forever. But because He’s pure and holy and we’re not, we just don’t make the cut—even the most saintly of us, like you, Gene.”
Gene looked up and rolled his eyes at Denspot’s tongue-in-cheek humor.
“So here comes the Good News. Being God, He’s made sure He gets what He wants—for us to be close to Him–His children forever, but it only happens supernaturally and by great sacrifice on His part.” Denspot smiled at his friend. “And this is how He did it, according to the Bible: He sent His dearest possession—His own son Jesus, his only son, to live with us and die for us, to be the sacrifice that would enable fellowship between Him, Holy God and us, sinful man.” Denspot smiled and shook his head, as if trying in vain himself to understand the incredible. “God’s love can never be comprehended by mankind.”
“That reminds me of the account of Abraham with his son,” Chemosh said, raising his eyebrows. He shook his head. “That’s a hard one for me.”
“Well, just remember that God didn’t let Abraham actually experience that pain. God ended up providing the sacrifice—the ram caught in the thicket. But He did allow Himself to go through the pain, and Jesus willingly signed up for it—to be the Christ. “Probably the most famous verse in that Bible you’ve been reading…” Denspot peered over his glasses at Gene. “You are still reading it?”
“I am!” Chemosh’s reply was enthusiastic, to Denspot’s satisfaction.
“It’s in the book of John, chapter 3, verse 16.” Chemosh scrambled for a small notepad from his coat pocket and the older man waited a moment. ‘For God so loved the world that He gave His only son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God sent not His son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.’ Jesus Christ was unique—supernaturally conceived, and sent from God. He was God’s perfect son, come to His creation miraculously through the physical body of a young virgin girl named Mary.
“God sent Jesus for the purpose of saving the world and to demonstrate to His creation the true character of Himself.”
“How could Jesus save the world?”
“Coming from God, Jesus was without sin, but He was willing to offer Himself as the perfect ‘lamb’ who would take on all the sins of the world. His excruciating death on the cross was the sacrifice that God ordained to cover everyone’s sin.”
“Everyone’s?”
“Everyone who believes in Him.”
“Believes?”
Denspot cocked his head as he thought for a moment before answering. “Every single person who loves and reverences God. Every single person who cares enough about what God thinks to study His word to find out, and then lives by it. Every single person who willingly turns away from his sin—and his own idea of righteousness, and acknowledges by his own mouth that his forgiveness and righteousness is only through the blood of Jesus Christ.”
“Hmm. I thought God loves everybody no matter what.”
“He does love everyone. As the Scripture says, He desires that no man miss out on living beyond death—eternally—with Him. But whereas God loves everyone, He doesn’t reward everyone—only those who love Him and know Him well enough to trust Him. The Bible says He sends rain on the just and the unjust, exactly because He loves the entire world. But the key issue with Jesus and God’s plan with His Son is, like I said before, having fellowship with them—that’s the reward, both now and forever. Jesus made it clear that the road is wide and easy that leads to destruction, but the path is narrow and difficult that leads to eternal life—and few follow that path. Many people flippantly say, ‘Jesus loves me.’ And He does. But what Jesus requires is following Him—that’s what brings His reward of eternal life.” Joe crossed his arms and looked at Gene. “Do you have a red-letter version of the Bible?”
“Yes, but I’m not there yet.”
“Yes, of course; you’re not in the New Testament yet. Well, the red letters, as I’m sure you know, are Jesus’ words. You’ll be more challenged than you’ve ever been when you get to the red-letter books. Jesus had no easy path, and he advises anyone who would be His follower to count the cost first. It’s not easy to give up the mindset you’re used to in order to follow God’s ways and pursue His heart. The good news is that God is good. Jesus called himself the Good Shepherd and promised us, ‘My sheep hear My voice.’”
Chemosh connected with these last words and smiled, as he nodded.
“So back to Andy. Be honest with him. Let him know you’re going to teach him about God’s love and His ways as you yourself learn. I’m sure you’ll find him an apt learner. As you’ll read in the book of Proverbs, it is the fear of the Lord that is the beginning of wisdom.”
Joe looked at Gene and smiled, reaching out his hand as his friend stood up. “Your Andy will grow up wise, and there aren’t too many things you could wish more for your child.”
Chemosh shook Joe’s hand heartily. When Joe would have taken back his hand, Gene held on to it tightly.
“Joe, I want to thank you for recommending me to the Briarwood group.” He nodded his head as he continued squeezing Joe’s hand. “I’m really enjoying the new job, and I know I would never have it except for your referral.”
“You’re welcome. Is Sally pleased?”
“She’s pleased because I’m pleased.”
“Are you and she headed towards the same page?”
Gene smiled. “I think we’ll get there. She’s a tremendous gift to me.”
“She is; I can see that. Tell her hello. The four of us will have to get together down the pike.”