Eating the Fruit of Lies

by Sandra Thompson Williams

  “Who was driving, doctor?” she asked with great expectancy.

  “A Miss Nichols was behind the wheel. Is she a friend of the family?” he inquired.

  “No, she’s a friend of my husband,” she explained.

  “How is she doing?” Darlene asked out of curiosity.

  “She’s stable,” the doctor said. “Her sister is with her now.”

  “How bad is my husband’s head injury?”

  “He’s in what we believe to be a temporary coma,” he said.

  “Were there other cars involved?” Darlene asked him, as she pulled tissue from her purse.

  “No, it appeared they hit a light pole trying to avoid another car,” according to the report I heard from the officer.

  “Can I see him now?” she asked.

  “Yes, you may, but remember he can’t respond,” he cautioned. Sometimes it helps when you talk to them in this condition, as long as you are reassuring.”

  She stood up to follow the doctor to a room where a sign read Intensive Care Unit. She could hear the sounds of machines beeping, while working to perform the functions of a body that was unaware of its surroundings.

  Dr. Jones pulled a chair up for her to be seated. There were so many things that came to her, as she observed the bandaged head of her husband. It was only five years ago that they were dating. Keith had not been a Christian very long when they met. He was just getting over a nasty divorce from a marriage that hadn’t lasted a year. When he met Darlene he had given his life to Christ and prayed for a Christian wife. They had only dated twice before he confessed his love for her and asked her to be his wife. He said he knew that God had put them together.

  She tried to remember when things started going wrong. She couldn’t. They had been so thrilled to have their first child. He adored Janie from birth. But somehow when she wasn’t looking, he started to wander. Since her last session with David Edwards, she had continued to make positive confessions. She would pray specifically for her husband and not against him. Now this.

  “Lord, how much more can I take?” she whispered. She reached over to grab Keith’s hand and prayed for his recovery. She included her confession in her prayer. “God wants my marriage to succeed. In Jesus’ name. Amen.”

  The counseling center was buzzing with people keeping their bi-monthly appointments. David hadn’t had a break all morning. He had one more client before taking his lunch break. He planned to take a walk to help rejuvenate his strength, during his break.

  The receptionist knocked at the office door. “You have a cancellation Mr. Edwards,” she said. “Darlene Smith just called. She said something about her husband was in an accident and she needs to cancel her appointment.”

  “Is that right?” David said rhetorically. “How is he?” he asked.

  “I’m not sure, but it didn’t sound too good,” she said.

  “Thank you for the information. I need you to hold my calls until my two o’clock client shows,” he said.

  He locked his office door and got down on his knees. His life was about to increase to three specific times set aside for prayer. He prayed for exactly one hour both in tongues and for the particular needs that he was now made aware. He refused to feel defeated. He was going to fight the enemy with his faith. He didn’t care how bad things were looking for Keith Smith, God was still in charge of this situation. He prayed for his father. He knew that God would give him the answer to the dream. He prayed for all the others that he had been given a burden for, as well. After his hour of prayer, he thought he would rest at his table.

  He pulled his Bible out of the bottom left drawer and read from the 55th Psalm.” Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and he shall hear my voice.

  Afterward, he put his head down to rest and soon fell asleep. He would have continued to sleep but he was awakened by the ringing of a telephone.

  “Hello,” he answered.

  “Your two o’clock appointment is here, Mr. Edwards.”

  “Thank you,” he said smiling. “Give me about 3 minutes before you send them in,” he requested. He grabbed his pen and pad and wrote down everything he could remember about his dream. He then unlocked the door and greeted his next client.

  David went to the County Hospital after work. He found Darlene in the family waiting room with her head back in a meditative position.

  “Hello Darlene,” he said.

  She opened her eyes and smiled warmly. Her gratitude of his visit was evident in her eyes.

  “I just wanted to let you know that everything’s going to be alright. I’ve been praying for your husband. I want you to try not to worry, and to keep exercising your faith,” he said.

  “Thank you for coming,” she said, as she got up to hug David. “I believe everything will work out alright. I want you to know that I’m continuing my confession.”

  “Good,” said David, “because the enemy wants you to give up on your husband.”

  “I refuse to do it,” she said.

  “Is there anything I can do for you, specifically?” he asked.

  “Would you pray with me now?” she asked.

  David reached for her hands and held them both, as he bowed his head and gave a prayer of thanksgiving for the life of her husband and their bright future as a family together. He then promised to call and check on her later. He hurried home because he had an important phone call to make.

  When he got home, he opened a can of vegetable soup, and made a double decker ham sandwich. He ate a little slower than he thought he would, as he recalled the different things that had happened during the day. He was so thrilled to have an answer to his father’s dream. He was a little apprehensive regarding whether his father would accept the answer. Yet he was sure that he had heard from God. After checking to be sure that no one had left a message on his machine, he called his father’s apartment. A female voice answered the phone.

  “Hello is my dad there?” David asked. He was a bit disturbed that a woman answered.

  “Sure,” the woman said. “He just stepped into the hall to check his mail.”

  “Oh,” David said. “Would you have him call me later when he’s free?”

  “If you hold on I’m sure he’ll talk to you now,” she said.

  “Thanks, but I’d prefer he called when he’s not busy. Just tell him his son will be available this evening. Thanks.”

  “Goodbye,” she said.”

  “Bye,” David said. He shook his head quickly, as if that would erase her high pitched voice from his mind.

  David looked up the phone number for Aunt Tillie. He needed to talk with her and report on all the things that had happened. He called her number and the telephone seemed to ring an excessively long time. He was sure it was because he was so anxious to share all the news.

  “Hello,” a voice answered that sounded as if it was just awakened.

  Aunt Tillie?” David asked.

  “Oh, hello love,” she said.

  “Aunt Tillie, I’m sorry to wake you, I had no idea you’d be asleep by seven o’clock.

  “That’s alright dear,” she said. “Lately I’ve been catching a healing again.”

  “Aunt Tillie, I’ve got so much to share with you,” he said.

  “Can you come over tonight?” she asked. “I’ve got something for you.”

  “Oh, I’m sorry I can’t come tonight, but I’ll come tomorrow,” he promised. “See Aunt Tillie, Dad’s going to call me back. He called me the other day and asked me to pray for him. He told me not to tell anyone about his dream that he keeps having, so I couldn’t tell you, but Aunt Tillie, I fasted and prayed and God has given me an answer to his dream.”

  “That’s wonderful, baby,” she said. “You’re growing in the Lord. He’s got great things for you child, just keep seeking his face.”

  “Aunt Tillie, I’ve got another dream that I will share with you tomorrow concerning my sister. But I’ll let you go and get your rest because you sound tired,”
he explained.

  “I love you baby,” she said.

  “I love you too Aunt Tillie, Goodbye.” “Goodbye, love.” He smiled as he hung up the telephone. He didn’t know a sweeter saint. David began to put his dishes in the sink when the telephone rang. “Hello,” he answered cheerfully.

  “Hi Dave, it’s Dad.”

  “Hi Dad,” he said. “Are you alone?”

  “Oh yes, Melanie is gone, she just dropped by to bring me a fruitcake. She’s a very good cook,” he said, hoping to lighten the conversation.

  “That’s nice,” David said. “I just want you to know that I prayed about your dream.”

  “I knew you would son. Did you get an answer?” he asked his son rather slowly.

  “Yes, I did. Dad remember how you were trying to give Melanie money in your dream?” David asked.

  “Yes,” his father answered.

  “Well,” David continued, “the reason she couldn’t accept the money you were giving her is because it was counterfeit.”

  “What do you mean by that?” his father asked.

  “Well Dad, in your dream you’re certainly sincere about giving her the money to buy things, but you don‘t realize that the money is counterfeit. She wants to take it because it looks good, but even she knows that she can’t spend counterfeit money. And the money represents your love for her. You’re basing love on feelings. You feel it’s sincere, but God has examined what you feel and has determined that it’s only a feeling. Real love is not based on feelings alone. Feelings will change, but love is so much deeper than fleshly feelings. God is love and that’s the kind of commitment he wants us to make - the kind based on his steadfast love toward us. I didn’t really understand this until I had a dream myself this afternoon. I dreamed that I threw away my watch. As soon as I threw it away I was sorry. I said to myself why did I throw away my watch? It didn’t work anymore, but I knew that it only needed a battery. The watch represented time and time is an investment. Dad you invested many years in your marriage. I’m not saying this because I’m your son, I’m saying it because this is the answer God gave to me. You can throw your marriage away, but one day you will regretfully discover that it only needed a battery. So you have a choice, get a battery for your marriage or present your new wife with counterfeit love. I don’t have a battery for you, but I know where you can get one,” he said. There was a brief moment of silence that seemed to last for an eternity.

  “Thanks son,” his father said. “Goodnight.”

  “Goodnight Dad.”

  David could feel in his spirit that the enemy would do all he could to keep his father from accepting the dreams meaning. He wasted no time. Instead of waiting until bedtime, he immediately went into the prayer room. Warriors have to be prepared to fight at all times. He didn’t just walk into the prayer room. He was driven. His very appetite called for prayer. Yet each time he entered the room to pray was a new experience with God. He felt God calling him to a level that seemed way beyond his comprehension. After all, who was he? He was not the son of a minister. He was not even certain what his gift was in the body of Christ. Yet, somehow in this very room he was being shaped and developed to become a faithful and proven prayer warrior.

  His sleep that night was troubled. He sensed something in his spirit, but did not understand how to pray. Intermingled in his dream was Stephanie’s song. The bits and pieces that he heard made him feel both happy and sad. Finally the alarm went off. It was time to again seek the face of God.

  CHAPTER FIFTEEN

  Darlene again sat up all night hoping against hope that Keith would soon awake. She stood up from the uncomfortable hospital chair and stretched.

  “Thank you Jesus” she said, extending her arms. She was about to be seated again when she looked down and saw that Keith’s mouth was moving.

  “Keith!” she exclaimed in a loud whisper. “Oh my God, Keith!” she said a little louder. She moved in closer and called his name a little louder. Almost impulsively she sprang up and ran out of the room to find the doctor.

  “He’s waking up!” she said excitedly to the nurse at the nurse’s station. “My husband is coming out of his coma!” The nurse quickly dropped her paperwork on the table and ran to the room, following Darlene. When they returned, Keith was muttering something they could not understand. The nurse took his pulse, smiled and left to get the doctor. Darlene pulled her chair up closer and held his hand. “Keith sweetheart, open your eyes. If you can hear me open your eyes,” she repeated. She started to cry. She wiped her tears and placed her wet hand in his hand. He opened his eyes.

  “Home again,” he whispered. “I want to go home again.” “Sure, I’ll take you home,” Darlene answered.

  “I want to go home with my family; where’s my family?” he asked.

  Darlene realized that he was not aware that she was there. The doctor came in with an assistant to check him over. When he heard Keith muttering, he took his temperature and checked his vision.

  “He’s delirious,” the doctor said. “He’s not yet aware of our presence. But the important thing is that he’s not comatose any longer. The delirium will in all likeliness only last for a few hours. Why don’t you get some rest?” he told Darlene. “I’ll alert you when he’s coherent,” the doctor said.

  “Thanks anyway Doctor, but I’d rather not leave my husband,” she insisted.

  “I understand,” the Doctor said. “Just give me a few moments to check his vital signs.”

  Darlene stepped aside to the other part of the hospital room. She was so excited she didn’t know what to do. A humongous smile filled her face as she looked up and acknowledged God. “Lord, I thank you so much,” she said, not caring that the medical team was listening.

  “Dar -lene, Dar-lene,” she heard Keith call out. She quickly ran back to his side.

  “I’m here baby,” she said.

  He was starting to perspire on his forehead. She grabbed his hand and held it as tightly as she could. She was hoping he would squeeze her hand back. But without her holding it, his hand fell limp like a dish cloth. Keith closed his eyes and fell back asleep.

  “It may be some time before he’s coherent, but if you insist on staying, just let me know if you see a significant change,” the doctor said. “The nurses will be right down the hall,” he assured her.

  Darlene pulled a Gideon’s Bible from out of the hospital drawer and began to read aloud to him. The passage she selected was Psalm 23.

  “And I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. The Lord wants my marriage to be successful. No weapon formed against me shall prosper,” she said as she closed the book.

  Keith appeared to be resting comfortably. Darlene took the opportunity to call her mother from the telephone in the waiting room. Her mother was quite relieved to hear the progress of Keith. Darlene could hear Janie in the background. She thought it best not to talk to her because she didn’t want to upset her. She promised to call back later with news of any changes regarding his condition. She did her best not to think about the accident or the circumstances surrounding it. She wanted to concentrate on her husband’s recuperating.

  When she entered the room again, Keith’s eyes were open again, but this time he was following her with his eyes. She ran to his side and they both wept together. “I need to tell you what happened,” he said in a voice a little louder than a whisper.

  “No, tell me later when you’re better. Save your strength. I have to get the doctor.”

  “No Darlene,” he insisted while holding her hand. “Please listen to me.” She sat in the chair and bent her head close to his.

  “God has spoken to me,” he said with a strange look on his face. Darlene thought he was still delirious and tried to get up again to get the doctor.

  “No, please listen to what I have to say,” he insisted. “I’ve just had an experience with God. He told me some things about myself. Things I thought didn’t matter. I had my own ideas about marriage and they were all wrong. I wanted our
marriage to be what I had in mind for it to be. My motives were selfish. I thought after my first marriage failed that I wouldn’t make the same mistakes as before. I wanted to be in control. I know now that I was wrong. I could hear the voice of Jesus talking to me. He said that he designed marriage to be a reflection of his relationship to his church. That’s when I knew I’d have to ask you to forgive me. I was way off course.” He paused for a moment to get his breath.

  “Christ is always loving and caring and forgiving, no matter how the other person is. I’ve been selfish and stupid. I guess you know I’ve been seeing another woman...and Darlene, it had nothing to do with you. You’ve been wonderful. I love you and Janie so much,” he said, with tears streaming down his face. “I don’t know why I was pursuing someone else. I was coming close to having an affair for no reason at all. That’s why I’m asking you to forgive me Darlene. If you can trust me with another chance, I promise to treat you in a way that would make you proud to have me for your husband. I’m just ashamed of myself right now for not being able to face my dreadful past with you. I was always trying to escape my hurtful past. The fact that my ex-wife left me for another person, was still a hurtful memory. I didn’t want to talk to you about it because, it really wasn’t your problem. It was mine. So if you can just find it in your heart to forgive me Darlene, with the Lord’s help I-..”

  “You don’t have to ask me to forgive you again Keith,” Darlene interrupted. “I forgive you and I forgive your lady friend too. By the way, the doctor says she’ll be alright, she has a few broken ribs. I believe in my heart Keith that God wants our marriage to be successful,” she said smiling.

  “I thought I was dead after hitting the pole or whatever I hit,” he said. “But Jesus appeared and held out his hand for my hand. He said to me, ‘I have a covenant with you.’ Then he told me I had to make a covenant with you Darlene. Just as he is my covering. I must be your covering.” He paused for a moment and rubbed his head. “But the last thing he said to me,” Keith continued in almost a whisper, “was that I had to show Janie how much God loved her by showing Janie how much I love you.” At that moment the doctor walked in and Darlene stood up to wipe the tears from her cheeks.