“So are we supposed to think that just by reading this book from cover to cover, we are all guaranteed eternal life in God’s kingdom? Well, if you think that, you’re in for a rude awakening, aren’t you?
“Throughout the Bible, you are asked to do three things.
“You’re asked to praise God. You’re asked to accept God, but most important of all, you’re asked to believe in God.
“Do you really think that a few thousand people can be fed with a few fish and a few loaves of bread? Ask yourself if all of us here were to be fed with only a few pieces of fish and a few loaves of bread. Wouldn’t you still be hungry for more?
“Not if you believed in God’s word. If God told you that you would be hungry no more, and you truly believed in him, then your hunger would be gone, would it not?
“But there are rules aren’t there? Of course there are. But if you want to know what question it is that I hear most, it’s if God is so mighty, so powerful, why then doesn’t he simply do away with war, murder, rape, and all of the rest of everything evil in this world?
“Good question, isn’t it? Well, I have a great answer for it.
“If God did away with everything evil, if he killed off Satan, if he made this world a perfect kingdom, then how would you stand up to everyone else when you get to heaven’s gate? What would set you apart from me?
“You see, Satan has to remain. He just has to be. And why is that you ask? One word—temptation. Without it, where would we be? We’d be in one hell of a mess.
“Your parents taught you the difference between right and wrong, didn’t they? Well, where do you think your parents got their education? From their parents and from here in God’s house from God’s book.
“So believe in God no matter what you do. Believe each and every word that you read from God’s book, and believe in Jesus Christ as your savior, and eternal life in God’s kingdom is yours. Guaranteed. But only if you truly believe in God and the power of his words.”
As Father Mathews finished his sermon and took the rest of the congregation into prayer, Katie closed her eyes and thought about her mother. She had always been able to know whenever her mom was around. It was a warming sensation down deep inside. And as always, she didn’t have to wait very long.
Mom, is that you? she asked to herself.
You know it is, answered her mom.
Mom, I don’t think I need your help singing today. I want to do this on my own, she told her.
Katie, I have a surprise for you. I didn’t help you last time. I was there to give you support just as I am now, her mom answered.
But I felt you . . . inside . . . and that glow that was behind me. That wasn’t you? Katie asked her.
Katie sweetheart, you felt me inside because that’s where your heart is, Katie. I can’t do much from where I am. It’s not that I don’t want to, sweetheart, but your father and I raised you to be strong, to have confidence in yourself, and it appears that we did a pretty good job. Everything that you have done so far, and everything else that you will do, is all done by you. God and I can’t jump in and save you. Your choices are yours. You were raised in a very loving home, Katie, and I could never be any prouder of you than I am right now. But your life is yours to live. And that mysterious glow that everyone saw, well, that was God’s doing. Believe it or not, sometimes he just likes to show off. But you do understand what I’m telling, right? her mother asked.
I do. I really do. I just thought that you were guiding me, Katie told her.
Katie, I taught you to guide yourself, dear. Everything that your father and I taught you from the day that you were born, that’s what’s guiding you. You’re a very good person, Katie, and you make me proud. But I can’t be watching over you every minute of the day. I have to hope that you’ll make the right choices on your own. And you have.
And for those special times in your life like the birth of your children, your upcoming wedding, and even when it’s your time to join me here, I’ll be there for you then. And if you need some guidance, then I’ll be there to help you. Okay, sweetheart? her mom explained.
Okay, I understand. It’s just that I love you and miss you so much. Wait a second, you know that I’m getting married? Katie asked.
Well, of course I do. I might not see everything, Katie, but God does. And he told me that this was a good thing. You’ll be very happy, Katie. I’ll be there. I promise. Hey, I hate to do this, but I have to go. Your father needs me. You take care, okay, sweetheart? I love you, her mom told her.
I love you too, she said as she opened her eyes. Father Mathews was just finishing the prayer. Katie turned her attention back to Father Mathews.
“Last week, we were blessed with the singing voice of a very charming and talented young lady. And it’s my honor to have her back with us this week as well. Now before she comes up here, I need to apologize to her and to all of you for something that didn’t happen last week.
“When Ms. Windslow sang, everyone saw a glow radiating from behind her. I give you my word that it was not staged in any way. Not by us nor by Ms. Windslow.
“What you all saw was a true miracle. But instead of jumping for joy and announcing it as the work of the Lord, I failed you all when I questioned it. For that, I apologize from the bottom of my heart. And that is why I gave the sermon that I did today. Religion is having the faith to believe in your God. Always, each and every day, in everything that we do. And last Sunday, I actually failed to do that, which wasn’t right. So to all of you, again I apologize for letting you all down.
“So with that all being said, I’d like to again welcome Ms. Windslow back up to the microphone.”
Katie walked up to the microphone and stood there for a few seconds before she spoke.
“Thank you, Father Mathews. With your permission, I’d like to do something totally different for all of you today. Is that all right?” she asked.
“Whatever you want to do is all right with us. May I inquire as to what you’re planning to do?” he asked.
“I want to sing a song that’s called ‘In Your Heart,’” she told him.
“That will be fine, but I don’t think I know that one,” he said.
“Well, considering I just wrote it in my head, I didn’t think that you would,” she answered.
“You just wrote a song in your head and you want to sing it for all of us here? Well, this should be interesting. Whenever you’re ready—wait what about music?” he asked.
“Nothing personal, but I don’t think I’ll be needing it today,” she answered.
“Really? So whenever you’re ready, you may begin.”
Katie began,
“Late at night, when I close my eyes for sleeping,
I dream of all those wonderful promises that you’re keeping.
And when I wake to greet each new day,
I look around, and I’m blessed to see you all around me.
In your heart, I know that I’m forever safe,
At my side, I know that you’ll be there to protect me.
As I journey through my life, I may sometimes stumble,
In your heart, I know that you’ll catch me before I fall.
Late at night, when I close my eyes for sleeping,
And I know that someday I will be there beside you,
At your side in the glory of your kingdom.
In your heart, you lead me not to temptations
But deliver me to salvation, a place in heaven forever
In your heart where the sun shines down from above.
You paid for our sins with your one only son.
In your heart, I know that I am truly loved.
Your gift that you sent down from your heart.
Late at night, when I close my eyes for sleeping,
I dream of all those wonderful promises that you’re keeping.
And in your heart, I know that I will be warm
As I hold your undying love forever in my heart.
Late at night
, when I close my eyes for sleeping,
I dream of all those wonderful promises that you’re keeping.
And I wonder if I am truly worthy of your love
As I kneel before you and reach out to touch the hand of God.”
When she had finished, there was silence. Nobody spoke. Nobody even moved a muscle. Father Mathews just stood there, a look of total disbelief came over his face.
“You just thought that up in your head while you were sitting there and then you sang it perfectly?” he asked Katie.
“Yes, sir. Why? Did it not come out the way that it should have?” she asked.
“Ladies and gentlemen, normally we do not whoop, holler, and cheer in this chapel of God,” Father Matthews said. However, if there are any of you out there that would like to clap or whatever to show Ms. Windslow here just what you thought of her song, I’m fairly certain that God will understand.”
Nobody did anything. Katie was about to walk away from the microphone, totally discouraged that nobody had liked her song. Michael was the first to stand up and started clapping. He was followed by Melissa and Rick, and then the whole congregation was on their feet clapping with approval. Katie’s heart soared to new heights.
Katie turned to see Father Mathews clapping right along with the rest of them. She suddenly realized that she was blushing, her cheeks turning a very distinctive shade of red. As Katie slowly made her way back to her seat, the applause started to die off. Everyone around her was patting her on the shoulder or on her back and telling her how much they had liked her singing. She just nodded her head with approval. Michael gave her a small peck on the cheek as she sat down.
“Thank you, Michael,” she told him.
“That, my dear Katie, was . . . well, beyond words,” Michael said. She just looked back at him and smiled.
Father Mathews tried to bring some kind of order back to his once-quiet little church.
“Ladies and gentlemen, please,” he said as the crowd became quiet again. “Thank you, that is so much better.”
He just stared at Katie. “Ms. Windslow, you’re just one surprise after another, aren’t you?” he asked.
“Well, I don’t try to be . . . It just happens,” she told him.
“Well, you are, and you’ll just have to take my word for it. You are,” he told her.
“Well, thank you, Father. That was very kind of you,” she answered.
“Well, ladies and gentlemen, that will conclude our sermon for today. I’m not even going to attempt to top that.
“And by the way, all you single guys out there, I have some rather bad news for you all. Ms. Windslow is now engaged to Mr. Michael Gibbes, so you’re out of luck.
“Let’s close this with nice simple little prayer, shall we?” As the father lead them through a short but sincere prayer, Katie was thinking about what her mom had said. She would be there for the birth of her babies, at her wedding, and when it was her turn to go to heaven, but then she said that her daddy needed her.
No, not, Daddy! Not now! she said to herself. As soon as the father had finished and everyone was standing to leave, Katie looked at Michael and Melissa.
“We need to go home . . . right now. I think Daddy is in trouble,” she told them.
“Trouble? What kind of trouble?” Michael asked.
“Michael, I’ll explain on the way. We have to go now . . . Please, Michael,” she said as the tears from her eyes started to run down her cheeks.
“Katie, okay, calm down, sweetheart. We’re leaving right now, okay?” Michael told her. He looked over at his sister. “Help her out to the car, okay? Something isn’t right. I’ll be there in a second,” he told her.
“Sure, no problem. Come on, Katie. Let’s go to the car,” she told her as she held the totally distraught woman against her.
Mike ran over to Father Mathews and explained what was going on.
“My God, is he okay?” Father Mathews asked.
“We don’t know anything yet. But you know Katie. She doesn’t do this without a reason,” Mike told him.
“Well, you go on, and I’ll summon some help just in case,” the father suggested.
“Thanks, I’ll let you know as soon as we do,” Michael said as he ran toward the car.
Michael drove as fast as he could, even running two red lights as he tried to get to Katie’s house in record time.
As they entered the driveway to Matterson House, they were followed in by two fire trucks, an ambulance, and the local sheriff with Father Mathews himself bringing up the rear.
They were out of the car even before it stopped. As they all ran into the house, Katie called for her dad.
“Daddy! Daddy, where are you?” she yelled but got no response.
“Grady!” Michael yelled followed by Melissa and Rick. They went upstairs and downstairs, but there was no sign of him.
“Michael, where is he? Something has happened to him. I just know it. I know it in my heart,” she told him.
“We’ll find him, Katie. We’ll find him,” he told her. But to himself, he was getting a bad feeling about this. It didn’t look good.
Everyone was running around yelling for him. Everyone from Father Mathews to the firemen, all of them were looking for Grady. But he was nowhere to be found.
Now clear across the meadow, Grady and Aaron were walking and talking about the current events of last week. Grady stopped and turned toward the house.
“Do you hear something? It sounded like sirens,” Grady asked.
“Yeah, I did. Kind of sounded like it was coming from your place, didn’t it?” Aaron answered back.
Grady looked at his watch. “Church shouldn’t be done already! Still, I think it’s time we head back toward the house,” he said with a hint of caution to his voice.
“I agree. Let’s head back,” Aaron said.
As they rounded the hill, they could see the house and all of the emergency equipment with their revolving red lights.
“Katie! Something is wrong with Katie,” he said in a very serious voice.
“How do you know that?” Aaron asked.
“Well, there’s only two people that live there, and as you can clearly see, there ain’t nothing wrong with me, so it has to be Katie,” Grady replied.
“I see your point. I’m sure that it’s nothing, but let’s go,” Aaron said as Grady flew by him.
“Damn! For an old fart, you sure can run fast,” Aaron yelled as he fought to catch the old man.
“When it comes to my Katie, I can damn near fly,” Grady yelled back to the government agent that was falling behind. “You’d better get out from behind your desk more often, especially if you want to keep up with me. Hell, son, you’re out of shape!” Grady yelled back to him.
But Aaron didn’t hear him. All he could hear was the pounding of his heart in his chest. “Crazy old fart!” Aaron yelled as he slowed down considerably.
Grady flew up onto the porch just about the time Katie had come out of the front door.
“Katie, are you all right?” he yelled.
“Daddy, are you all right?” she yelled too.
The two of them just stared at each other, and then they threw their arms around each other.
“Daddy, I thought you were in trouble,” she told him.
“Me? I thought you were in trouble. I saw all of the emergency stuff, and I thought you were hurt,” he said.
Michael came out onto the porch. “Grady, thank God you’re okay,” Mike told him.
“Well, of course I am! Why wouldn’t I be?” he asked.
About that time, Melissa came around from the back side of the house and saw Grady standing up on the porch with Katie and her brother. “Oh, Grady, thank God you’re okay,” she told him as she tried to catch her breath.
“Why does everyone keep saying that? Dang nabbit! I’m as fine as a rooster in a hen house. So what in the darn nations is going on here? I go for a little walk, and the next thing I know, everyone thinks that I’m dea
d or something,” Grady told them.
Katie explained what her mom had said, and then she just looked at her dad. “I was afraid that I had lost you too,” she told him.
“I did ask to talk to your mother, Katie. I was going to tell her about you getting married and all. Should have figured she already knew,” he told her.
About that time, Father Mathews came out of the house. “Oh, thank God you’re okay, Grady! You had us scared half to death,” he told him as he wiped the sweat from his brow.
Everyone just looked at him, and they all started laughing.
“What? Was it something that I said?” he asked.
Aaron seeing that everything was all right just stopped and fell to the ground. “I really need to get out more,” he said as he fell onto his back. “Crazy old fart.”
Shotguns not Required
After all of the emergency people had left, they all sat around the dining room table laughing about the day’s events. Then the conversation turned to wedding talk—no, more like double-wedding talk.
“Excuse me, can I say something about all of this?” Melissa asked. There was no response from anyone, so she continued. “You’re all talking about having the weddings in six to eight weeks. I can’t do that. I do have to go back to school, remember?
Hearts of Grey Page 28
