The Power of Prayer

by Lorana Hoopes

  I turned the thin pages, realizing I still wasn’t sure how to read the Bible with purpose. The word ‘womb’ caught my eye, and I stopped. “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.” Jeremiah 1:5. What did that mean? I didn’t feel like a prophet. What would I prophesy about? I filed the question in the back of my mind to ask my mother or Sandra about later and replaced the Bible on the nightstand. Turning out the light, I placed my hands on my belly and pictured the life that was inside. Was it a girl as I had dreamed before? “Lord, whatever gender, please let this baby be healthy and help me to be a good mother.”

  I woke and glanced around; the field of daisies surrounded me again. I held a hand up to my eyes to shield the bright sunlight, and warmth flowed from my heart. The little blond angel frolicked through the flowers. She turned and smiled at me, then ran toward me. I scooped her up in my arms and breathed in her fresh scent as I whirled her around. She was older again this time.

  The little girl placed two tiny hands on my face causing sheer joy to plummet through my body. “Thank you, Mommy, thank you for choosing life for me.”

  I hugged the girl closer and caressed her soft hair. “I’m sorry I ever thought of ending your life before it began; I hope you can forgive me.”

  “Of course, Mommy,” the girl giggled. “Now, let’s go get Daddy.” She wiggled out of my arms as I looked around.

  “Who’s Daddy?” I asked.

  “You’ll see,” the little girl called and ran towards a wide tree that I hadn’t noticed before. As the girl neared it, an arm shot out and grabbed her hand. The tinkle of laughter carried on the wind and I held my breath, waiting for the face to appear from behind the tree.

  Before the face became visible, an incessant beeping filled the air. As I turned to find the noise, the dream world shattered and my eyes opened to my bedroom. I pounded the bed in frustration. If only I’d had a few more minutes.

  I found Brent’s apartment without too much trouble and stood outside his door, paper in hand. I ran my empty palm down my jeans and stared at the door. Would he even remember me?

  “You have to knock,” Lexi said, nudging my elbow.

  I smiled at Lexi, who had agreed to come after I told her the whole situation. I was pretty sure it was because Lexi felt guilty, but I was still thankful for the moral support in case the situation took an undesirable turn. I took a deep breath, calming the acid churning in my stomach, “I know.” Bringing my hand up to the door, I knocked and waited, hoping that he wouldn’t be home, but a lock clicked and the door swung open.

  Brent stood in the doorway, clad in a pair of cut-off shorts and a white tank top, commonly referred to as a wife-beater, though I had never liked the name.

  He looked from me to Lexi and smiled. “Well hey there, pretty ladies.” Leaning against the doorframe, he tucked his hands in his cargo shorts’ pockets. “Long time, no see.”

  I chewed the inside of my lip, swallowing the disgust building in my mouth. “Hi Brent; you’re probably wondering what we’re doing here.”

  “You back for seconds?” he winked at me.

  I cringed and closed my eyes. What did I ever see in this guy? “Um, no. I’m here because I’m pregnant, and I thought you should know. I’m pretty sure you’re the father due to the timing.”

  His swagger sobered up; he stood straighter and took a step back. “What?”

  “Don’t worry, I’m not asking for anything. You don’t even have to be in the child’s life, but I thought the proper thing to do was to tell you.”

  His face mottled with color as his nostrils flared. “I don’t want anything to do with a baby.”

  “I’m not asking for anything from you,” I sighed and rolled my eyes, “I just thought you might want to know.”

  He held out his hands as if warding off evil. “You do what you want, but don’t come asking me for any child support.”

  My temper flared, and I sucked in my lips to keep it in check. “I won’t, but I was hoping you could sign this.” I thrust out the paper I had been holding in my hand.

  “What is this?” he narrowed his eyes as he scanned it.

  “It’s the termination of your parental rights. It keeps you from having to pay child support, but also says you can’t come back later and try to take the baby.”

  “Fine, whatever.” He signed the paper in the appropriate spot, shoved it back at me, and slammed the door in our faces.

  “Well that went well,” Lexi smirked.

  I grimaced, shaking my head, “Come on; let’s get out of here.”

  Chapter 13

  JD adjusted his dark blue tie in the bathroom mirror. He smoothed his hair back and patted his suit coat one more time. This ten o’clock meeting could open up an entirely new chapter in his life; one he had been thinking about and working on for a few years now. He took a deep breath and exited the bathroom.

  The board room doors were closed when he arrived, which gave time for the kernel of unease in his stomach to grow. He knew most of the board members, but that didn’t mean they would go for his idea. “Lord, send me the words and help them to see,” JD whispered as he pulled the door open.

  A large dark wooden table and thirteen black leather chairs were the only pieces of furniture in the almost entirely beige room. The members of the board occupied twelve of the chairs, and JD took a breath as twenty-four eyes regarded him. He sat in the remaining empty chair at the near end of the table and cleared his throat, “Welcome members of the board; I know this is a special session, but it’s been weighing on my heart, and I feel like now is the time to move forward.”

  The members nodded telling JD to continue. “As you know, when my father built this company, one of his stipulations for success was that we always try to help those who are in need. As I watch the news each night, I feel like our country is in greater need now than ever before in a lot of areas, but the one that has been on my heart lately is crisis pregnancies. I’m not sure if my father ever told you my story, but I was adopted, and I’ve been feeling a need to set up a crisis pregnancy center that will specialize in adoption along with helping pregnant women find resources they need.”

  A few eyebrows went up at this news, but the other faces remained stoic. They were waiting for the details.

  “My biological mother was too young when she became pregnant with me, and without my father’s help, I don’t think I’d be here today. He shared God’s love with her and helped her find the resources she needed to carry me to term and put me up for adoption.”

  One of the women sniffed and dabbed her eyes.

  “I sense that God is calling me to be that same voice for other women, and that is why I am asking for the board to help me fund a pregnancy counseling center in Texas, which I hope will be the first of many to come.”

  Fred, the longest standing member, leaned forward. With his white hair and bushy beard, he had often reminded JD of Santa Claus. “Why Texas?”

  JD folded his hands on the table top. “Well, as you know, our culture is pretty divided on this issue, and not all places would be welcoming of a center like ours. Texas tends to be one of the more conservative states in that regard, and I’m hopeful that the community there will be more receptive. I am thinking we could set up our first center in Mesquite, which is outside of the Dallas Metroplex. I believe that location will attract many women, but it’s still far enough outside the city limits that I hope the more liberal communities of the metroplex will leave it alone.”

  “I assume you have some specific property in mind?” Terry, another long-term board member, asked as he stroked his dark brown beard.

  JD nodded, “Yes, I have checked out a few possibilities online and narrowed it down to three, but I’d like to fly out and inspect them in person. I have contacted a local realtor there, and he’s offered to line up showings.”

  “And who will be managing this clinic?” Paul, the youngest board member, inq
uired. Paul was only a few years older than JD and head of the finance committee so JD knew that he was thinking about the dollar signs.

  JD drew his shoulders back and let out a deep breath knowing this could be the make or break point. If they didn’t feel the company could run without him, they might say no, but he had to chance it as he really felt God calling him to set up the center personally. “I will, at least to begin with. God’s plan on that part isn’t as clear yet, though I have no doubt He will reveal it in time. You all can manage the company while I’m away. You’ve done a great job so far. So... what do you think?”

  “Why don’t you step outside and give us a minute?” Fred asked.

  JD’s throat dried up. He had known the decision would require a vote, but he had thought he would be there for it. Nodding, he turned and stepped into the hall. The door swung shut behind him and he leaned his head back against the wall. “I’ve done my part, Lord. The rest is up to you,” he whispered. A feeling of peace covered his head and slowly trickled down the rest of his body.

  A moment later, the door opened and Fred motioned him back inside the room. All eyes were trained on him once again as Fred clapped a hand on his shoulder, much like his father used to when he was growing up.

  “Well, I think I speak for everyone,” Fred began, “when I say that your father would be very proud of you, and that we are happy to extend the money you will need for this project.” Fred was the first to extend a hand for JD to shake, but the rest of the board members stood and joined the line, voicing their congratulations as well. The final kernel of unease fizzled out, and JD sent a silent prayer of thanks heavenward.

  When he returned to his apartment that afternoon, the realization of the decision finally hit him. He looked around at everything he was going to have to pack. He had no idea how long it would take to get a center up and running, so he was planning on putting most of his items in storage and moving to Texas at least temporarily. Of course he had a few things he had to wrap up here first, including finishing out his current lease, which bought him a couple of months.

  He hated the thought of losing his rent-controlled apartment, but he was no longer sure New York was where he was supposed to be. Even before he had met Callie, he had been feeling restless, like he was being called elsewhere, but after meeting her, the feeling had intensified. When she had mentioned she lived in Texas, the place where he had often thought of opening his first center, he had thought maybe it was a sign that they were meant for each other, but then her fiancé had re-entered the picture and shattered that dream.

  He picked up the picture of the two of them he had placed on his bookshelf and perused her face again. Though he knew it was a long shot, he had realized long ago never to assume something was too big for God, and as she kept popping into his mind he had to assume that their paths would meet again.

  **

  As I dressed for work the following Monday, I was still smiling and felt lighter than I had in a long time. The meeting with Brent had gone about as good as could be expected, but I had the paper signed now, so he couldn’t come back and try to take the child. That in itself gave me a measure of peace, but I’d also gotten the chance to share my story with Lexi over lunch. While Lexi hadn’t been convinced she needed Jesus, she had agreed to try church with me the next day.

  At church, I’d been able to thank Sandra for playing such a pivotal role in my life, and I’d been able to introduce Lexi to her. I didn’t know why, but I had this feeling that people who met Sandra eventually accepted Jesus. She just had this air about her. Sandra, ever the enigmatic one, had smiled and given the credit to God, but I knew my decision had given her heart some joy.

  My life was not turning out the way I had planned, but I was pretty content with where it was going so far. The only regret I had was JD. I couldn’t change the past, but I now believed that prayer could change lives and so every morning and every evening I prayed for God to send JD back into my life.

  I spared a look in the hall mirror on my way out the door and smiled at the change I saw even in myself.

  “Well, what happened to you?” Tina asked as I approached the desk.

  My smile deepened at the thought that my transformation was so evident. “Follow me into my office, and I’ll tell you.” Tina’s brow rose, her curiosity piqued.

  With the door shut, I spilled the story of my trip, my breakup, and my pregnancy, ending with my acceptance of Jesus into my heart.

  “Oh Callie, I’m so excited for you. I’ve been praying for you since I started working here,” Tina wiped tears from her eyes.

  My eyes widened. “You have?”

  “Of course,” Tina nodded, “I want you to be in Heaven with me when I get there. I had an all-night prayer vigil with the Lord the night I suspected your pregnancy. I was concerned you were so focused on your career that you would choose an abortion.”

  I blinked as Tina’s words sank in, “I can’t believe how close I came to doing just that, and I can’t believe how many people were praying for me when I didn’t even know what was happening. I hope I too can become a prayer warrior like you and the others who have been praying for me.”

  “I think God has big things in store for you, Callie,” Tina smiled. “Now tell me more about this handsome man you met there.”

  I sighed. “I wish I could, but I never even got his last name. I messed that up so badly.”

  “Don’t worry about it. I thought I had messed things up when I first met Gary, my husband. I told him I wasn’t interested and tried to date his best friend. He ended up moving across the country, but eventually he came back and God brought us back together. I think if you are patient, you’ll find that God can do anything. Just remember to pray about it and be open to God’s prompting.”

  I nodded and hugged the assistant who was quickly becoming a friend. Next on my list was Lexi. Though she had gone to church, I could tell she still wasn’t ready. I’d call her today and see if she wanted to do lunch again. With that settled, I sat down and faced the pile of work on my desk.

  Chapter 14

  Three Months Later

  The taxi dropped JD off in front of the bed and breakfast he had researched online. The pictures had not done justice to the quaint Victorian house. The steps creaked a little under his footsteps, but the porch was clean and homey. Two wooden rocking chairs sat in front of the large window.

  He pushed open the cream-colored door and stepped into the homey front entrance. A small brown desk filled the area just to the left of the carpeted stairs. The older woman manning the desk looked up as the door closed behind him. Her dark hair had some strands of grey, but she was still a beautiful woman.

  “Welcome to the Parson House,” she said. “Do you have a reservation?”

  “Yes, under the name of Peterson.”

  She tapped a few keys in her computer and then flashed a smile at him. His breath caught in his throat. Her smile reminded him of Callie’s the day they had taken pictures at the falls. Of course lately nearly every woman he saw reminded him of Callie in some way or another.

  “Yes, room 202. I hope you’ll enjoy your stay. Do you need help taking anything to your room?”

  He shook his head, both in answer and in an effort to clear the image of Callie from it. She smiled again and handed him a key.

  “Up the stairs and first room on your right. The bathroom is just across the hall.”

  Thanking her, he grabbed his bag and stepped up the stairway. The room was decorated in browns and golds, giving it a masculine feel. A single queen-sized bed filled most of the room, but a small dresser hugged one wall, and a squat nightstand sat next to the bed. It wasn’t much, but it only had to be home for a few days until he found an apartment.

  He unzipped his bag and pulled out his Bible. The realtor was showing him three buildings tomorrow and he wanted to be sure his mind was clear and focused on his purpose.

  **

  “Mom, are you ready? I’m hungry.” I patted the
belly that was just starting to protrude past my pants. Luckily, I was still able to work out, though modified, so I hadn’t gained too much weight.

  “Why don’t we just eat here?” my mother said, gesturing to the small dining room to the left.

  I rolled my eyes. “Mom, you eat here nearly every night. Let’s go out somewhere tonight.”

  She shot a glance upstairs before sighing and gathering her purse. “Okay, I was just hoping the handsome new check-in might be at dinner. I think you’d like him.”

  “Mom, I don’t have time for a man right now and really, who’s going to want a pregnant one? He’d have to put up with all my cravings and mood swings and get nothing in return.” That wasn’t entirely true. I did want a man, but only one specific man and I had no idea how to find him.

  “A good Christian man would understand,” my mother insisted.

  “And I’ll find one, but right now I’m a little swamped with work and preparing for a kid.”

  Though my words were confident, as we stepped into the evening air, I did wonder when God would provide the perfect man. I had been praying for months, and while I wasn’t getting discouraged exactly, I was beginning to wonder how much longer I would have to wait. I knew it was a long shot that I’d ever see JD again, but surely there had to be more men like him that God could send.

  JD had scoped out three buildings and settled on a small office building in the middle of town. It seemed to have everything doctors would need; it was centrally located; and it was affordable.

  JD surveyed the rooms one more time and nodded. “I’d like to pray about it, but I’m pretty sure this is the one I’m going to want. Can you draw up an offer for me Scott?”

  “Of course, but do you think God cares about which property you buy?”

  “God cares about everything I do, and if I decide this without him, the business may not succeed.”