Seeing he was listening now she grew a little nervous. “They were all wearing prayer coverings of one sort or another. No matter their activity, they wore a head covering. Some had scarves, others hats, some had head wraps, some shawls, kerchiefs, snoods, prayer caps like the Amish, veils, you name it.”
“Yes,” Jason said, indicating he was indeed listening.
Jennifer’s eyes grew misty as she said, “There I was in the dream without my prayer covering. My heart cried out for Him to forgive me for not being covered. You know what He said to me?”
Jason was wondering where this was going and why? “What?” he asked feeing tense.
Jennifer sat down beside him, gathered his hand in hers and replied, “Our Father said, ‘Jenny, did I ask such a hard thing of you? You feared what others would think and did your own will, not Mine. Did I ask such a hard thing?’”
Her face looked distraught. “Jason, my heart was breaking for I felt the deepest shame in my disobedience, such tremendous, shattering, soul wrenching shame! I begged His forgiveness and said if I ever am given another chance, I would be obedient.” Jenny became quiet.
Jason became guarded and asked, “What’s that mean?” Looking up at him through her wet lashes she admitted, “I have to wear a daily prayer covering. It is a witness, I was shown. It is God’s perfect will for His daughters. As we go about our tasks we pray, minister and pray some more, so – the covering – for me at least.”
He looked startled, so Jennifer prayed silently as she waited for her new husband to absorb what she had shared, with all its meanings.
“All the time?” he asked in stunned disbelief with his deep voice raised a couple of octaves.
Jenny got up and paced a little thinking how to best answer him. “Well, sweetheart, I’m to be covered during most of the day. Once we’re alone at home then I can remove it. But if any of the public can see me, it should be worn except for special circumstances,” she explained.
A thought came to her, “Jas, darling, when you see a religious sister wearing a habit, would you expect her to remove the veil to go shopping or to drive around town?”
Jason looked her straight in the eyes and his right brow rose. “Jen, you’re no religious sister. You’re my wife.”
Determined she wasn’t going to leave the room until her prayer covering was on her head, like she had promised God, she took a deep breath and said sweetly, “Talk to God, Jason, darling. Don’t say another word until you talk to the really Big Guy!”
With that said she hurried to her suitcase and grabbed the Bible she’d packed and opened it to First Corinthians chapter eleven and handed it to Jason.
Without reading it, full well knowing what it said when he saw the book of Scripture she had it opened to, Jason exclaimed in disbelief, “Jen, honey!”
Did she just raise her hand, palm facing him? Like she was a crossing guard? What’s happening here? he thought, feeling like his legs were being kicked out from him.
Jenny busied herself making certain all their items were packed up and all his shaving supplies and brushes were removed from the bathroom. The last thing she grabbed from the back of the vanity was deodorant to put away.
Snapping all the closures and making sure their airport luggage identification tags were secure on all luggage she went to the mirror. Next she put her pearl earrings in, and then clasped her new silver necklace with Crucifix her parents gave her.
Her pearl Rosary went into her right skirt pocket along with a laminated card with the Decades for saying the Rosary and the various prayers which she hadn’t memorized completely just yet.
She had a battle doing the Rosary at times. The repetition of the Hail Mary’s to be used for timing of meditating on the Mystery for that decade sometimes brought her trouble. But she’d determined to continue for as long as God showed her that’s what He wanted her to do.
She slowly clipped her hair up and without looking back at Jason she picked up her cream colored oblong scarf and began to place it over her head, covering her hair.
Now what? she thought stumped. How to wear the thing? Soon she decided she’d wrap it around her throat like she had for her First Holy Communion and let the long tails hang behind her. Her hands were trembling, but she refused to look at Jason’s face, knowing she couldn’t bear seeing his disapproval.
This was her second spiritual battle since becoming Jason’s wife, the first was truly offering God the chastity of her wedding night, if that’s what He wanted. She was really thrilled it wasn’t. Now this. Being extremely nervous she played with the scarf.
“Father, please let Jason know I am not trying to be defiant of his wishes. Show him please, I am striving to obey You, not my will but Yours,” Jennifer prayed silently.
Before she had crossed the scarf under her chin, two larger hands took over the task, tied a loose knot and brought the scarf ends over her shoulders to her back. “You might need a pin of some kind to secure it so the wind doesn’t blow it away,” Jason remarked as he kissed her covered head and turned her around so she would look at him.
“My Love,” he began, “I keep forgetting that God is using you . . . and me, to be the best examples we can be. He is leading us to restore the correct paths for His children to walk in, as He commands all Christians to do. It’s hard being among God’s Peculiar People, in our country and at this time, in our present culture. I feel fortunate He is allowing me to participate and to have you at my side, as my Helpmate.”
“Oh, Jas, I knew He would show you too!” Jennifer stated as they kissed and their hearts fell into rhythm together again.
“Now, how about that big buffet?” Jason asked as he opened the door for her.
They left late that evening for the airport. Jason and his happy new bride are heading for Italy, and the beginning of a new era of their lives.
THE END . . . ? No!
Their “How Did We Meet” story is just the beginning!
EPILOGUE
Their honeymoon is filled with adventure, laughter, embarrassment, revelations, meeting characters in Rome and Greece with Jennifer being introduced to many of Jason’s family members.
There is lots of love and even a little intrigue. Jason has to pray to get them safely back home before Jenny finds a way to get herself arrested while in Italy. He quickly discovers he must be her Warrior Defender at all times, and his sweet wife doesn’t have a clue.
When they return home, all sorts of excitement come their way as they strive to establish their work-a-day life. Spiritual battles bring more prayers and fasting’s when life and death are on the battle field trying to destroy their joy and tests their faith.
New friends bring laughter while old ones become more precious. Jason discovers a new exciting hobby while Jenny’s becomes dangerous.
The hilarity begins anew when they discover they are expecting their first child.
Come, join the fun!
Follow up with LIGHT OF DAY - Book 2
BOOKS WRITTEN BY:
LaVenia R Boswell
(Charismatic, Catholic, Contemp. Romance, Teen, Young Adult)
The Dawning Trilogy:
THE DAWNING - I
LIGHT OF DAY - II
EVENING STAR - III
(Catholic, Contemp. Romance, Teen, Young Adult)
ZEN TO HIS ZANG
(Futuristic, Strange Post-apoplectic Lifestyle, YA, Adult)
The Crossing Sagas:
VICTORIA’S CROSSING
APRIL’S CROSSING
(a genuine autobiography)
PRAYING DOWN HEAVEN
More coming soon!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
My avid love of reading has spurred me to great challenges in my writing, as I slowly matured to become the “teenaged – adult” I am today.
Personally, I enjoy Young Adult books most of the time. I particularly enjoy writing what I try to find to read but can’t, at least where I’m looking at the moment.
You will discover I don’
t write for certain romance sub-genres.
I also tend to not use formula’s of writing style that are very popular today in romance writing. Nothing wrong with it, probably should, but I do it different. I like to rock my own world and see where my characters will carry me. They are always full of surprises!
Usually my goal in a novel is to present a different path, though I hope a much better one than the norm.
Those who write me telling how they like my topics or how I display living one’s Christian faith, or even possible forbidden futuristic lifestyles always thrills me.
Writing about fascinating things, strange scenarios and what if’s is lots of fun.
I hope in some way my books serve a good purpose.
My hope is to become a blessing to someone, somewhere, somehow, through my words, works and my writing.
I desire to spur interest in God and help people emphasize more with their fellowman.
THE DAWNING (The Dawning Trilogy) Page 19
