by Pat Simmons
“Not yet.” Reaching out, he squeezed his wife’s hand. Peace seemed to replace her physical angst.
“Thank you for asking me to marry you,” she said out of nowhere. “A godly man is so irresistible.”
He smirked. “Really?” Christian took that as his cue to rekindle the fire from earlier and shower his wife with all the love God gave him.
***
“I can wear the white dress Grandma Knight made me,” Bethani suggested the following morning at breakfast.
Christian glanced at Joy. Her silence meant he had to be the bad guy because they weren’t one hundred percent in agreement with a yea or nay. God, please help us to make the decision to encourage her in You. “We haven’t quite made up our minds. We’ll talk about it some more when Christian and I come home from work. Okay, sweetie?”
Bethani bobbed her head. Her expression was unreadable. Did she have a feeling what their answer might be? he wondered. Then the child got up from the table. Bethani embraced her aunt anyway, then hugged him. “Thank you, Mr. Andersen.”
To be called Mr. Andersen in his home always grated on his nerves. Legally, he was her father since the adoption, and Bethani respected him and adored him as the father figure, but that’s where it ended. He knew it would take time for her to feel it in her heart, hopefully soon like before she was grown.
He drained the rest of his decaf coffee before gathering his plate and placing them in the sink. “Lord’s will, I’ll see everybody later.”
“Bye, Daddy!” the little ones shouted in unison and he graced them all with juicy kisses on their foreheads, except for Joy where his target was her lips.
Grabbing his car keys, Christian winked at his wife and left. He made a detour to Hope for Salvation Food Pantry before going into the office. As part of giving back to the community, he and his two brothers focused on different outreach programs; Nathan, the oldest, sponsored and funded college scholarship programs. His younger brother, David, had an off-and-on commitment to programs that offered senior citizen assistance.
Christian thought about Proverbs 28:27 as his obligation to feed the hungry. The food pantry was birthed and had been his passion for years. It was also the special place where his and Joy’s relationship really began and the first time he met her oldest niece.
Joy and Bethani were in line to get a free turkey dinner to feed five mouths for Thanksgiving. Christian had made sure her box was overstuffed.
He had no shame about meeting his wife in “the soup” line or the children God put under his charge. When he arrived at the pantry, the staff was busy, preparing for Easter holiday food handouts. Christian not only liked to make sure the shelves were fully stocked, but that there was enough people to man the place. The fifty-plus volunteers and five paid employees picked items and filled boxes that contained butterball hams.
The Andersen brothers had purchased the old shoe factory four years earlier and gutted it. Christian had it renovated into a state-of-art warehouse for shipping and receiving.
He always received a warm welcome with handshakes, hugs and kisses. Most of the volunteers were in-between jobs, so the food donations also fed their families. Since he had a meeting in a few hours, Christian didn’t have time to linger. He planned a quick walk-through and quicker exit before small talk detained him.
“’Bout time you came to check up on an old woman.” Nanette Tucker said, emerging from a side office adjacent to a break room. “There’s nothing like a big smile on a married man’s face in the morning.” Her eyes twinkled as she opened her arms for a hug. Christian had hired the elderly retired school teacher to run the place on a part-time basis for extra income.
“Hi, Mr. Andersen,” one of the delivery drivers, called to him from the back door with a wave.
“Hey, Geoff. How’s it going?” He waved back after returning Nanette’s embrace, then checked his watch.
Less than an hour later, Christian was satisfied there were enough side dishes, boxes and drivers. He was about to head out when Nanette stopped him, peeling the plastic gloves off her arthritic fingers. When he came closer, she looked around for privacy.
Christian stiffened, hoping that she wasn’t going to tell him that there was a problem again like one of the drivers not delivering food or something.
“Is something wrong?”
“Oh no. I wanted to invite your babies to our annual Easter egg hunt at my church.”
It took everything within Christian to keep a straight face. Not you too. Why would a church sponsor this distraction? He frowned. “Thank you, Mrs. Tucker, but we won’t be able to make it.” He bowed out as graciously as he could.
“Why? I couldn’t invite everyone around here,” she lowered her voice, “but I thought about you and your little darlings.” Nanette was physically disappointed.
Lord, help me not to come across as judgmental, but spiritually aware. “That’s not the Spirit of Easter I’m trying to portray to my children.”
“This is harmless fun for your sweet little babies. Everybody knows Easter is about Jesus dying on the cross, but that’s too gory. I couldn’t even watch The Great Passion Play.” She shivered.
“Yet, without His bloody death we wouldn’t be given white robes in the end,” Christian explained. She was a faithful churchgoer. He surely hoped she understood his position. “Again, thanks for the invitation, but I can dye eggs with my children and have a hunt in our backyard any time, but not on Sunday.”
Shaking her head, the woman walked away.
“Lord, what is wrong with everybody?” Christian mumbled.
They are asleep, God answered.
Jesus, please help us not to be lost, he thought as he got inside his SUV and drove to his office. Before he was married, Christian hadn’t thought much about the entrapments the devil set up for Easter, especially for the children. “Lord, help the Andersens not to doze.”
CHAPTER THREE
My people are asleep. My people are asleep. How many times had the Scriptures mentioned God’s people sleeping on His job? The Lord had planted that burden on Christian as he arrived at Andersen Investors & Consultants, LLC. Nodding to his assistant, he didn’t stop for small talk as he continued to his executive suite.
Once behind closed doors, Christian dumped his keys on his desk and removed his suit jacket. On autopilot, he collapsed in his chair behind his desk and bowed his head. “Jesus, Your Word says Your people perish for lack of knowledge. Please open our eyes of understanding and stir up Your Spirit. Revive us...”
Christian didn’t know how long he prayed or all he said, but when he opened his eyes, Nathan and David stood in his doorway, wearing concerned looks.
“What’s going on?” Nathan asked, stepping all the way into his office. David trailed him without saying a word.
The pair flopped into the chairs in front of his desk. They appeared not in a hurry to go anywhere.
The siblings were not only business partners, but served as one another’s confidant. All three shared the same height and muscular build. That’s where the similarities ended. Christian was the middle brother at thirty-four. Nathan was two years older and David two years younger. Nathan was endowed with rich dark skin and preferred a bald head and a thick beard. David had fairer skin and sported a goatee. Christian’s skin tone was a blend of both of theirs. He also was the only brother who was married with children.
Was Christian being too trivial? “This whole commercial Easter whoopla.” He picked up an ink pen and tapped it on his desk in irritation. His brothers watched without commenting. “I think the world is brainwashing people, even some of the religious folks, some who act as if anything goes as long as it’s harmless when it comes to these holidays. Now that I’m a father, I’m being chased by bunnies—real and chocolate—plus baskets and even Easter bonnets.”
“Easter bon?” David interrupted.
“Hats.” Christian tsked. “I’m torn, wondering if they’re too young to know the details about what Jesus did
for us.”
Nathan leaned back in his chair and crossed a leg over his knee. He wore the “look,” which translated to him seriously considering the dilemma. “Mom and Dad drilled Calvary into us as children. We still did our dirty deeds, but it must have stuck with us. We all returned to our roots and have been water and Holy Ghost baptized in Jesus’ name today.”
“You can try,” David chimed in, “but don’t think you can shelter them from violence in movies, on the news, or even the nature of some toys. Even cartoons are filled with slapstick violence and magical characters that are practicing undercover witchcraft. It’s everywhere, bro.”
Christian thought about the scriptures in Ecclesiastes 4: 3 and 4: Wherefore I praised the dead which are already dead more than the living which are yet alive. Yea, better is he than both they, which hath not yet been, who hath not seen the evil work that is done under the sun.
“True, but don’t let the world pressure you for doing what’s right,” Nathan said with a scowl to back up his words. It was a habit or a warning to others in elementary and high school not to mess with the Andersen brothers.
His serious expression gave Christian encouragement about what to do regarding his children’s interaction with worldly events even though they hadn’t even started school yet.
“‘For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek,’” David quoted Romans 1:16. “We can’t be ashamed of the righteousness of God. We’re soldiers in the army of the Lord.” He gave Christian a mock salute.
The brothers laughed, but were serious. The joy the devil had stolen from Christian earlier was returning. “Thanks for the spiritual ammunition. Keep praying for me and the wife that we bring those little rugrats to God’s glory.”
The three exchanged fist bumps before his brothers stood to leave.
“Just because they’re young doesn’t mean God can’t use them. There were young kings who ruled Israel and David was a young buck when he killed Goliath.”
Christian nodded and rocked back in his chair. “Hey, what did you two want anyway?”
They shrugged, but Nathan answered, “I guess you can say the Lord sent us.” Laughing, the pair strolled out of his office.
“Yeah.” Christian chuckled. “Jesus does have a reputation for being an on-time God.”
He found out later his brothers stopped by his office to see what he wanted to order the staff for lunch.
***
Joy sniffed the roses that arrived on her desk at work minutes earlier. She reread the card. Because I love. C
She was about to phone her husband and thank him when her mother called.
“I’ve overnighted the children’s clothes for Easter. Wait until you see them,” Francine Knight seemed to gush right through the phone. Her parents had lived in North Carolina since her dad’s retirement. “I have to say, I’ve outdone myself this year. They’ll look picture perfect on Sunday…”
As her mother rambled on, Joy thought about Bethani’s classmate’s invitation to be in the fashion show. She and Christian would have to give her an answer after dinner.
“What’s the matter, baby? You sound down. Is everything okay with Christian and the babies?”
“I don’t know if I’m making a much to do about nothing,” she paused, twisting a few strands of hair around her finger. Her mother prompted her to explain. “I never gave the clothes you make them every year for holidays much thought, but Christian and I are trying to be spiritually proactive.”
Francine remained silent.
“Bethani’s classmate wants her to model in her church’s Easter fashion show, but I feel like a Christian hypocrite letting her be involved with something that doesn’t glorify Jesus.”
Joy held her breath, hoping she hadn’t hurt her mother’s feelings. Francine Knight took such pleasure in sewing clothes for her grandbabies on special occasions—Easter being one of them, then there were their birthdays and Christmas.
“Honey, I’ve been there and done that as the saying goes. There’s always going to be peer pressure whether it involves God or another questionable behavior. I’ve learned to pray morning, noon and night. Bethani has always been a leader, maybe because she was the oldest and had to help with the little ones when Regina became ill. I believe she can be a godly light in whatever situation she’s in. Besides the Holy Ghost, God has given her a special gift. You watch and see.”
Thank God for a mother’s wisdom. Joy was still learning. “I love you, Mom.”
“Love you too. Give Christian my love and my babies a hug and kiss. I expect to see you all this summer. Your dad and I are saving money to take them to Disney World.”
Joy didn’t protest as they disconnected, but she and Christian had already made their minds up they wouldn’t allow her parents to dip into their monthly pension checks to entertain their grandbabies.
Noting the time, Joy called Christian before she started a new task.
“Hey, baby,” he answered, sending wonderful chills throughout her body.
She loved it when he cooed to her. “Hi, handsome. Thank you for the flowers. I’m surely blessed.”
“That works both ways.”
“Listen, I’ve got to run, but I think we should let Bethani participate,” she suggested.
“I know you wouldn’t allow it unless God gave you peace.”
Christian was right. She had learned whenever something worried her, regardless of how insignificant; the Lord gave her peace after she consulted Him and waited for the understanding to come through His Word or others that He chose to send his way. “Yes, sir.”
“But I think we should scrap the egg hunt for the little ones. I don’t think we should make it a big deal.”
“Two hearts beat as one.” She smacked a loud kiss on the phone before ending their call.
Later at home, Joy and Christian decided to use the three remaining days to Good Friday to spend extra time with the children talking about why Jesus rose from the dead. That evening after dinner, they played a board game and began a string of sing-alongs. They chose what they termed as Blood songs: “Jesus Rose,” “The Blood Still Works,” and “Power in the Blood of Jesus.”
Darla scrunched her nose. “Auntie,” she said, only reserving Mommy for when she was tired or wanted something badly. “Blood is yucky. You put a Band-Aid on it.”
“This type of Blood is like medicine that makes everything better. Do you understand, sweetie?” Joy asked.
Darla and Jada shook their heads.
Christian tugged on their ponytails. “You will. Maybe next year or the year after.”
They giggled until Shane wanted to be the center of attention and began to pull on his sister’s hair. Darla cried out in pain.
Before Shane could cause any more damage, Christian scooped him up.
Bethani, who had been patiently waiting for the answer all evening, finally asked, “What about me, Auntie and Mr. Andersen?” She looked between the two of them.
Fumbling with her fingers, Joy took a deep breath. “Yes.”
Christian reached out and stilled Joy’s hand, before giving the girl his answer as if they were on some sort of game show. “Yes.”
Bethani leaped to her feet and started a happy dance. The little ones jumped up and down, without a clue of what was going on. Shane squirmed to be set free.
Joy laughed at their antics until Christian got to his feet and bowed in front of her. “Shall we, Mrs. Andersen?” He winked.
As they all danced, Joy hoped she had made the right decision.
CHAPTER FOUR
Easter before the crack of dawn
Christian stretched his muscles before going to wake up the girls. He entered Darla and Jada’s spacious bedroom that they shared and smiled. Each slept with numerous stuffed animals tucked under the covers with them.
“It’s time to get up for sunrise service.” He gently shook Jada in her
twin bed and then Darla in hers. “Jesus rose on the third day, but we’re celebrating today.”
“Daddy, I’m sleepy,” Jade protested, rubbing her eyes without opening them, then rolled over as if her word was final. He glanced back at Darla. She hadn’t stirred at all.
Joy peeped into the room. “Honey, Bethani’s awake…” She paused and eyed the girls. “Having trouble?” she joked as she stepped farther into the room. “Rise and shine. Give God the Glory.” Joy cooed the words of the song until her melodious voice grew louder.
He admired her singing ability as he pulled her into another morning hug and brushed his lips against hers. Refocusing on their joint mission, they each chose a bed and gently pulled the girls from under the covers. When Jada and Darla were steady on their feet, Joy guided them to the bathroom.
Before long, the entire household was awake—barely. The children were like walking zombies—cute little zombies—after they were dressed in their Easter best.
Christian had to commend his mother-in-law’s sewing skills. With only Joy’s measurements to go on, Francine Knight had created one-of-a-kind outfits for the children. “Your mother is truly talented,” he stated as he tied his tie, facing his reflection in their bathroom mirror.
“It’s one of those Easter traditions she started when Bethani was born,” Joy said, standing next to him and brushing powder on her face.
“Well, I’m looking forward to starting our own tradition with this sunrise service.”
Joy agreed. “I’m just glad the church sponsors an Easter brunch following the service. I doubt if we could even force feed them this early.”
That was one of many benefits of attending Salvation Is Free Church. Every year, the pastor fed the flock following the Resurrection celebration
After sharing a few kisses, they exited their bedroom and found the little ones lined up on the sofa like dominoes, anchored against each other, asleep. Bethani was sitting quietly, not asleep, but definitely drifting. Christian heaved Shane first on one shoulder, then his sister, Darla, on the other. “Let’s go.”
