Steve cleared his throat. “Of course, I could ask for a paternity test and we could fight this out,” he began, “but that wouldn’t be good for Gracie.”
He smiled at them reassuringly. “You are her family. You are the only home that she knows. I couldn’t do that to you or to her.”
The Bolton’s seemed to collapse into their chairs in relief. Lee Ann smiled weakly at him. “Thank you for that, Steven. Ever since I saw you at that doctor’s appointment, I have been terrified of what you would do if you figured out the truth.”
“It was my first reaction,” he admitted ruefully. “I thought that you were deliberately keeping her from me. But cooler heads prevailed in the end.”
Instinctively everyone looked at Reverend Graham who smiled deprecatingly. “I only helped him think it through. It was his decision, really.”
Then Steve cleared his throat. “I don’t want to take her from you, but are you willing to share her with me? Let her know that she has a daddy, and let me spend time with her? And with my mom”, he added glancing sideways at his stunned and silent mother. “That’s her granddaughter, too, after all.”
“Yes, Lee Ann, I would very much like to know my granddaughter,” Laura Williams said softly in a shaken voice.
Lee Ann looked nervously at Richard. “I think,” she began carefully, “it would be good, Richard, considering what’s coming.”
Richard gave her a warning look, but Laura Williams did not let Lee Ann’s words pass unnoticed. “Lee Ann, what do you mean by ‘what’s coming’?”
Lee Ann sighed and rolled her eyes a little. “I can’t hide it for much longer, anyway. I’ve got a tumor in my lungs. I’ve done chemo, and the radiation treatments, but it’s not shrinking.” She looked at Steve. “The day that Gracie stayed with you, we were at my last appointment with the radiologist in New Bern. She said a lot of things, but mostly she just apologized that she hadn’t been able to help me.”
Laura reached across the table and took one of Lee Ann’s hands. “Oh my, I am so sorry, Lee Ann! I had heard a rumor, but I didn’t want to believe it.” Steve sat in numb disbelief. He couldn’t fathom losing Sarah’s mother so soon after finally regaining her goodwill.
“How long?” Reverend Graham asked her gently.
Lee Ann shrugged. “A couple more good months, hopefully. After that…?” she shrugged again and her voice trailed off. “But let’s not dwell on it. It’s already taking up too much of my life.”
“I’m sorry, Lee Ann, but I have to ask you,” Reverend Graham persisted. “Do you believe in Jesus as your savoir?”
Lee Ann looked startled, and Laura Williams drew back, offended by the abrupt question. “I hardly think you should be asking..” she began angrily.
Reverend Graham interrupted her. “No, it’s exactly what I must ask,” he told her firmly, and turned back to Lee Ann. “Do you believe, Lee Ann?”
She stared at the pastor for a full minute. “I really don’t know,” she said at last.
“Would it offend you if Steve and I pray for you?” He asked her.
“What… right HERE?” She asked startled, her drawl suddenly thick as mud.
Reverend Graham smiled. “And now,” he added.
She looked at Richard, who merely shrugged and rolled his eyes. “It can’t hurt, I suppose,” he muttered uncomfortably.
“What do I have to do?” She asked warily.
Reverend Graham stood up and motioned to Steve to come with him. “Just sit there,” he said soothingly. “Sit there, and even if you can’t say you believe for certain, consider the possibility of Christ the Redeemer.” He placed his hands lightly on the crown of her head and shoulder, and Steve hesitantly placed both of his hands on her left shoulder.
Lee Ann sat up straighter, placing her hands on the table. Resolutely, she squeezed her eyes shut. “Okay, I’m ready.”
Steve grinned a little at the sight of her. “Relax, Mrs. Bolton. It’s not the firing squad. He’s done this to me before, and I promise that it is painless.”
“Just get on with it before I change my mind,” she advised them through gritted teeth.
Steve was only too aware of his mother, watching in silent disapproval of what she had often called ‘Religious Voodoo’. He sighed and resolutely blocked her out of his mind, choosing instead to center his thoughts on a plea to the Holy Spirit to take control of the next few minutes, and work His will on Lee Ann Bolton.
Reverend Graham bowed his head and was silent for a moment, also focusing his thoughts on the woman before him. “Precious Jesus,” he began, his voice vibrant with the strength of his own faith. “We call on you as our God and our king. You hear our hearts’ desires. You know our joys, and our sufferings. We humbly claim your promises, Lord. Draw near to Lee Ann. Look into her heart and heal her unbelief. Help her to find peace and comfort by resting in your word. And Lord, if it be in Your will, heal her body too. We remember the story of the friends of the paralyzed man. Their love for their friend was so great that, when they were unable to get to you through the crowds that day, they dug a hole in the very roof of your dwelling and lowered their friend from the ceiling, so that he might come into your presence and be healed. Lord, you honored their persistence and faith by granting that healing, not just of his body, but of his spirit, even though we are never told that the man even believed in you. We ask this same healing for Lee Ann. May our faith lift her up and place her in Your presence. Heal her spirit, Lord. Fill her with your love and the everlasting peace that comes with being your child. And restore her to health, Father. Overcome her doubts and heal the wounds on her soul. Make her a new creation in you. And as always, we give all the glory and honor only to you. In all things we bow to your will. Amen.”
Several moments passed after Reverend Graham fell silent, and Steve struggled to open his eyes. He was acutely aware of the very air in the room, and of his fingers resting lightly on Lee Ann’s thin shoulders. Their tips seemed to grow warmer for a moment, tingling, and then it seemed as if something slipped from his grasp and flowed into Lee Ann. He heard her gasp slightly in surprise, as if she too felt the strange sensation passing to her from his hands. Then as quickly as it had come, the presence withdrew, and the room returned to normal. He drew a deep breath and opened his eyes, staring at his hands in uncertainty, afraid to speak.
“What was that?” Lee Ann asked in a breathless whisper.
Reverend Graham bowed over Lee Ann and gently kissed her forehead. “I think,” he said in a shaky awe-filled voice, “that you need to go in for a second opinion on that cancer.”
Lee Ann nodded, her hand resting lightly her chest. “I can still feel the warmth,” she said in quiet wonder. Then she looked up at Robert Graham’s joy filled face and laughed happily. “I think you may be right!” She exclaimed.
“Here now!” Richard Bolton growled in confusion and worry. “Don’t be getting her hopes up like that! It’s cruel.”
Lee Ann reached for Richard’s hand and squeezed it lovingly. “It’s all right, Richard. She glanced up at Steve. “You felt it, too, didn’t you?” She asked eagerly.
Steve nodded, not trusting himself to speak.
Lee Ann wiped her eyes on a napkin. “Reverend Graham, I’ve been such a fool! He’s been here all along and I never once even looked for Him." She bowed her head for a moment and then took a deep breath. "I want to become a believer,” she announced decidedly. “right now.”
“Lee Ann!” Richard snorted in disbelief. “That’s ridiculous! Do you know what you’re saying?” He waved his hand contemptuously in the air. “What if it’s nothing? What if you aren’t healed and this was just a trick? Think about what you are doing!”
Lee Ann was suddenly sober and serious. “I know exactly what I am saying and doing,” she said to her disturbed husband. “And it doesn’t matter if I am healed in body. He has already healed me where I needed it most. I feel whole!” Her face filled with the awe of the moment again and she looked keenly at
Richard. “I felt Him, Richard, and I think you felt something too! I can see it in your face.”
“I don’t know what that was!” He rasped.
“Then I am sorry for you,” she told him sincerely. “I can’t describe to you the peace that just came over me when Reverend Graham was praying. I feel wonderful, Richard! And I believe it was the Holy Spirit descending on me, just like it says in the Bible. I’ve always dismissed it as just stories, but I believe now, and that’s why I want to do this tonight, just for that reason! It won’t matter now if my body isn’t healed, God is with me and I believe in the Truth of Him!”
She turned to Steve and Robert Graham. “What do I need to do?” She asked, her eyes shining. Robert Graham squeezed her hand, but looked at Steve. “Would you like to lead her in the Sinner’s Prayer?”
Steve returned the smile. “You bet!” He breathed. He took Lee Ann’s hands in his. “Just repeat after me, and believe the words in your heart, as you confess your belief aloud,” he instructed her. He spoke slowly and she repeated each sentence with fervor.
“Holy Father, I acknowledge you as my Lord. You alone are God. Thank you for loving me, and for sending your son to die for my sins. Come into my heart, Lord, and be with me always. Forgive my sins. I want to live the rest of my life so to bring Honor and Glory to your Holy Name. Amen”
“Amen,” Lee Ann echoed. She grinned happily around the table, where Richard and Laura Williams sat in tight lipped disapproval. “Be happy for me,” she begged them. “I’m saved!”
Richard glared angrily at Robert Graham. “I don’t know what you just did in here, but I don’t believe it was some god, come down out of the sky just to heal her. Shame on you for making a fool of Lee Ann! Are you going to be here tomorrow to pick up the pieces when she realizes that nothing’s changed?”
Robert Graham looked gravely at Richard. “I understand your feelings, and that you feel that you have a right to be concerned, since you are not a believer. I care about Lee Ann, and tonight I simply wanted to pray for her. What happened here,” and Robert Graham looked around in amazed joy, “was not of my doing! It was a gift of the Holy Spirit!
Richard,” Reverend Graham pleaded gently as Richard Bolton maintained a stony silence. “This was a real miracle from God,” he insisted, “and when Lee Ann sees her doctor again, you will know who healed your wife.”
“Life doesn’t work like that!” Richard replied in a desperate and angry voice.
Reverend Graham looked at Richard with compassion. “Richard, it’s all right to have hope,” he said emphatically. “There is a God in heaven, and with Him all things are possible!”
Richard turned away. “I think that you should all go now. We’ll call in the morning with the great news,” He added sarcastically.
Lee Ann looked from Reverend Graham to her husband and sighed in sad frustration. “It is late,” she agreed. “Let’s all get some rest. We’ll talk more later.” She walked the three of them to the front door.
Steve said good night and stepped outside, but Laura Williams stopped in the doorway, taking Lee Ann’s hands in hers, a worried frown on her face. “Lee Ann, I know Steve believes in all this, but he carries it too far, in my opinion. Please don’t get your hopes up too high!” She pleaded.
Lee Ann smiled reassuringly at her old friend as she joined her son outside. “It’s going to be fine, Laura. Good night.”
Lee Ann hugged Pastor Graham tightly. “I can’t thank you enough!” She whispered. “I’ll call you tomorrow after I’ve seen my oncologist. I just know that it’s shrunk some already!”
Reverend Graham shook his head. “All honor and glory goes to God, Lee Ann,” Robert Graham reminded her firmly. “And I’ll be praying for confirmation on the tumor.” He turned to join Steve and Laura on the sidewalk.
“Reverend Graham!” Lee Ann called after him. He turned back to look at her. Her eyes were still filled the wonder of the evening, but her head tilted to one side as she studied him, and he knew that she was half serious, and half teasing. “I’ve often wondered over the years, are you related to that evangelist, Billy Graham? That was some powerful praying in there tonight!”
Robert Graham laughed. “No Lee Ann, no relation at all, except,” he added with a twinkle in his eye, “we do share the same Father.”
Ch 25
Vacation Bible School is for Adults Too
Richard Bolton pushed open the back door of the church and headed toward the picnic shelter, carrying two trays stacked with plates of snacks. Three other ladies followed closely behind him, equally laden with food, drink pitchers and cups of milk to wash it all down. The kids cheered at the sight of warm chocolate chip cookies, but Richard’s face remained unmoved by their joyful reception.
Steve, dressed in a tunic, a luxuriant fake beard, and carrying a net, grinned openly at Richard’s disgruntled demeanor. He walked over to the older man and helped him hand out the plates of cookies to the children. “It’s good of you to help out with Vacation Bible School,” he offered by way of opening a conversation, as he set down the last two plates. Richard barely muttered an acknowledgement, but then he grimaced unhappily and looked around. “The whole church thing makes me uncomfortable,” he grumbled, “but Gracie wanted to come…,” he trailed off. Richard stretched his back and looked at Steve as if what he was about to say left a bad taste in his mouth. “Lee Ann is better. The tumor is gone. The doctors are stumped, but she’s convinced your prayers,” he said the word with clear distaste, “brought her a miracle.”
The two men turned back to the building and walked inside. Steve stopped outside the kitchen door and faced Mr. Bolton. “You were there in the room with us that night,” he reminded Mr. Bolton quietly. “What do you think happened?”
A troubled expression crossed Mr. Bolton’s face. “Nothing,” he said flatly. “Nothing could have happened. But as long as Lee Ann believes that mumbling a few words are what made her better, I’ll keep carrying the cookies and sit through all the rest of it. What’s important to me is that she is well, and I will put up with a lot to make that woman happy.” He looked at Steve mutinously, expecting some sort of lecture for his unwillingness to believe that Lee Ann’s healing had been a bona fide miracle.
But Steve only nodded thoughtfully and smiled at Richard appreciatively. “You’re a good man, Richard,” Steve told him, clapping him on the shoulder. “Thanks again for being here.”
Steve turned away, but Richard grabbed his arm to stop him. “Are you being sarcastic?” He asked angrily.
Steve shook his head. “No, I meant it. It’s one thing to do something like this if you enjoy it,” Steve told him. “But to do something that makes you uncomfortable out of love for another,” Steve shook his head in admiration. ‘That, my friend, is as much as Jesus could as of anyone here.”
“You mean your Jesus would approve of my being here, even if I don’t like what I’m doing?” Richard challenged him, as if certain that Steve was pulling his leg.
Steve nodded. Trust me, Jesus was always getting people to do stuff they didn’t think they wanted to do.” He tucked a slim pocket edition of the Bible into Richard’s shirt pocket. “Read it sometime,” he advised. “You should at least understand what it is that you don’t think you like.” He patted the pocket and nodded his farewell. “Gotta get back to my station, it’s almost time for the skit.”
Richard stared at Steve’s robe and fake beard. “What are you supposed to be, anyway?” He asked frowning.
Steve made a half bow. “Just a simple fisherman.”
“What do fish have to do with Jesus? I thought he just sat around on a mountain and preached a lot” Richard asked in exasperation.
Steve flashed him a huge smile. “Trust me, Jesus was all about fishing!” He bowed again and walked swiftly for the stage door.
Richard glared at the empty hallway for a moment, more confused and frightened by what was happening in his life than he cared to admit. Two weeks ago, his wife had
been a hopeless stage four cancer patient. Today – just this morning – all signs of the cancer had faded from the x-ray. And he had watched it shrink!
And you will know who healed your wife. Robert Graham’s words kept echoing in his head. So was this what Lee Ann kept claiming? A true miracle of God? Richard had never had a place in his life for church, and God had gotten less of his attention than Santa Claus. Why would God waste His time on someone who didn’t believe in Him?
Of course, he could vaguely remember Lee Ann attending church by herself occasionally when they had been first married, but after a couple of years, once the twins were born, she had quit attending altogether.
But two weeks ago, all that had changed. And Lee Ann had known. She had been certain of what that x-ray would show before she ever saw the film! Where had that assurance come from? Richard wondered, at a complete loss to explain anything that had happened since Reverend Graham had prayed over Lee Ann in his dining room.
Richard gritted his teeth unable to stop the memory. He had lied to Steve. He had felt something that night. There had been a presence, energy -something, in the room. Just for a moment. He knew that it was impossible, and yet, it had been there, nonetheless.
He didn’t understand any of it, but Lee Ann had no doubts. She was jumping into church with both feet! Not only going to church, but she had gone out and bought a Bible! She read it everyday, then spent long periods of time just sitting there with her hands together and head bowed, apparently praying her heart out!
Richard shook his head at the sudden changes going on around him. For the second time this year, his world had been turned upside down! He was just learning to face the fact that Lee Ann would die, when suddenly, not only was she healed, she’d gotten religion! He was glad she was healed, but the rest of this…why couldn’t they just go back to the way they had been, before the cancer? He was ashamed to admit that he was more than a little angry with Lee Ann. And he was angry at himself for being angry at her. It made his head spin. Suddenly overwhelmed with the changes in his life, he knew that he didn’t want to wait alone back here where he couldn’t stop thinking about it all. He could hear clapping in the assembly hall where everyone had gathered to watch the skit. Gloomily, he slipped through the side door and took a seat in the back of the hall.
Far Country Page 21
