Got to Be Love

by Vanessa Miller

  SUNDAY MORNING WAS live at Christ Life. The praise and worship team brought the fire as they sang I Give Myself Away by William McDowell, then they broke out with Every Praise by Hezekiah Walker, Gina lost it. God had been good to her. He had pulled her out of the depths of despair. She had been in the process of losing everything, then along came this account and she was able to regain her footing. No, she wasn’t completely out of debt. And she hadn’t received the first bill for her father’s surgery yet, so she was crossing her fingers and praying for a miracle on that bill. But God had made a way for her thus far and Gina believed He would see her all the way through.

  Lifting her hands, Gina gave all the praise to her God. She loved her God, and He loved her. If He never did another thing for her, Gina wanted Him to know that she was grateful for what He’d already done. “Thank You, Jesus! Thank You, Jesus! She bowed down and as tears cascaded down her face, she kept praising. Kept her hands lifted, singing ‘Every Praise’.

  When praise and worship finished, Pastor Yvonne stood behind the pulpit to bring the message, Gina was transfixed as she listened to every word from her pastor. She read from Matthew, chapter 7:

  Judge not, that ye be not judged. For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.

  And why behold thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but consider not the beam that is in thine own eye? Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye?

  Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye.

  Pastor Yvonne closed the Bible and looked out at the congregation. “This isn’t going to be a fun message today. This is more of a take-your-medicine kind of message. And your medicine is the Word of God.

  “Listen to me, Saints, too many of us spend too much time minding other people’s business. And why are we in other people’s business, because we don’t like the way life has turned out for us, so we get in another man or woman’s business, so we can judge them and make ourselves feel better. Because at least we don’t act like so-and-so.”

  Moving from behind the pulpit to the side of it. She put a hand on the top of the pulpit while looking out at the congregation. “But the word of God tells us to ‘judge not, lest we be judge’. Do you know why you don’t want to be judged... because none of us are innocent. All have sinned, and your sin is not considered a small sin while the next person's sin is some huge, big deal. No, sin is sin and if it wasn’t for the blood that covers our sins, we would all have a lot to answer for.”

  That hit home for Gina. She hadn’t lived a perfect life, but she was sure judging David and the way he once lived his life. The man had changed and she hadn’t given him credit for that. She had to admit it, she was judgmental. And the really awful thing about that was that she couldn’t stand judgmental Christians.

  “Wouldn't we be better off praying for the imperfections we see in others, rather than turning our superior noses up at them? I’m serious, Saints, I have never understood how we can claim to love our brothers and sisters in Christ on one hand, but then deny them the love of God with the other hand. Don’t you know that the same God who loves and forgives you daily, wants to be that kind of God to other people in need of mercy as well?”

  The message was powerful. Gina couldn’t get it off her mind and had even considered going down to the altar prayer when Toya and Jarrod rushed over to her. They had been seated in the front pew, while she was in the fourth pew from the front, so she hadn’t been able to speak to them during service. “Don’t you two look well-rested and like you’ve been getting in some sun while the rest of us mid-westerner froze our butts off.”

  “Don’t even trip,” Jarrod told her. “Because we know you spent some time in Dallas while we were gone. And Dallas isn’t cold like the mid-west in the winter.”

  “Who is telling my business? Just let me know so I can set them straight?” Gina teased, Jarrod.

  “I’m not trying to get anyone in trouble, but David does have a big mouth. But actually, he only told me because you told him to invite some of his friends to The Grind for that grand finale episode.”

  “That’s right, you do have a sandwich named after you, and a compelling story for the reason you have that honor. So, I’m glad he invited you.” Gina turned to Toya, “Will you be coming to New York with Jarrod?”

  “Girl, you know I’m not going to miss an opportunity to dine at a New York restaurant. I can’t wait.”

  Gina was giddy at the news. “I’m so excited. I’ll have my best friend with me while I complete an assignment that is guaranteed to get me more clients.”

  “And you know if I can do anything to help while we’re there, just let me know,” Toya told her.

  “Oh, I was already thinking of ways to put you to work. I wish you were a photographer, then I could send you to Ann Arbor to shoot some video and snap a few photos of David tomorrow.”

  “Since I’m a lawyer instead of a photographer, I won’t be able to do it. I have been gone from my practice for two weeks, I’ve got to get back on my grind.”

  “I understand,” Gina said. “I’m just being a baby about facing David again. But it’s my job, and I’m going to see it through to the finish.”

  “Has David done something to upset you,” Jarrod asked while his hand rested on Toya’s lower back.

  Gina quickly shook her head. “If anything, he should be upset with me. I really needed today’s message, because I’ve been so judgmental toward David. I haven’t given him a chance. I wasn’t even paying attention to all the ways he kept displaying that he is now a new creation in Christ, but I kept hitting him over the head with his past.”

  “So why don’t you just apologize and let that be that,” Toya suggested.

  Gina nodded. “You’re right. I just need to get the courage to admit how wrong I’ve been.”

  “I’m surprised by this,” Jarrod told her. “With the way you defended David on the video that’s gone viral, I would have sworn that the two of you were getting along real good if you know what I mean?” Jarrod’s voice deepened and his eyebrows went up and down as he said, ‘if you know what I mean’.

  Toya poked her husband in the side. “How dare you suggest that my friend has been getting it on with David.”

  “Your comment just proves that I’m not the only one whose been misjudging David. Because he is not in these streets chasing after women.” It wasn’t her place to tell anyone that David had decided to be celibate until he found his wife. That was his own personal business. But she wasn’t going to let Jarrod or anyone else think David was still some kind of playa-playa.

  “I know that,” Jarrod told her. “But the two of you looked like there was something special between you. Like each of you would go to bat for the other.”

  Gina didn’t respond to that.

  Then Jarrod asked, “Hey, that reminds me. Will Bill be in New York also?”

  “Bill, who?”

  “Bill Hoffman from the Buffalo Bills. I saw him on that video, I have his jersey, so if he’s going to be in New York, I’ll bring it with me to get it signed.”

  “I’ll check with David and let you know.”

  15

  “YOU REALLY CAN’T BE serious with this call, right now,” David had just left church and he had been feeling good because his pastor brought the house down preaching like the rapture was upon us. David was thankful that he was a part of a fire and brimstone ministry, because the way he had lived his life before Christ had him feeling like everything goes and whatever felt good, was alright with him. But Pastor North reminded his congregation that the day of judgment was coming. And although no man could judge you, we all would one day have to give an account for what we did on earth to the almighty God.

  He only wished that Michelle had been in the congregation at church today, then
maybe she would have heard something that could stop her from being such a wacko.

  “You know you can give me that money, David. You’re rich. Two million is nothing to you.”

  “Can you please text all of this to me so I can have proof to show the police that you are trying to extort me.” David was so through dealing with this mess.

  “You want me to leave you alone, right? You never want to see me again, I get it. But if you want me out of your hair, you’re going to have to pay up. I’m not going anywhere without that money.” She started screaming, “Do you hear me, David. I don’t care what I have to do to get it. I’m getting it!”

  “Why did they let you out of jail?”

  “Why would they keep me for hitting some man who’s been abusing me for months?”

  “I know you didn’t tell the police some mess like that, Michelle? I did nothing but try to treat you with respect, and now you’re harassing me. So, let me tell you how this is going to play out. I’m going to the police station and filing a police report on you for extortion and I’m also filing for a restraining order.”

  “No! Wait! Don’t go to the police, David,” she was pleading with him. “I need that money. Do you think I’d be doing this to you if I didn’t need the money? People like you donate money all the time and don’t think twice about it. Why can’t you help me out?”

  “Help you out! Is this a joke?”

  “I’m not joking, David. I’m in town and I can come to your restaurant to get the money.”

  “Don’t you dare come anywhere near my place of business.”

  Michelle was insistent. “If I don’t get that money, something really bad is going to happen. If you cared anything about me at all, then help me out.”

  “Get off my phone. And don’t come within three hundred feet of me.” He hung up the phone and drove straight to the police station. He hadn’t done the restraining order when he was in Dallas because he just didn’t want to deal with all the men laughing at him for being this tough ex-football player, who was now claiming that a woman was beating on him. But enough was enough. Michelle had to be stopped and maybe a restraining order would convince her to stay away from him.

  He was still shaking his head as he pulled up to the police station. He couldn’t believe the woman had the audacity to ask him to help her out all while threatening him with this ‘something bad is going to happen if I don’t get the money’ business.

  He walked into the station and immediately wanted to turn around and walk out the door. The woman standing behind the intake desk was the best friend of the girl he dated in college. The relationship didn’t end well, and it had all been David’s fault. She looked up from her desk and immediately frowned. “What can I do for you?”

  “I need to file a restraining order.”

  She all but rolled her eyes as she asked, “Who are you filing this order against?”

  “Her name is Michelle Dayton.”

  The officer grabbed a note pad and pen, she bent her head, but her shoulders were shaking from laughter.

  “Excuse me? I don’t get what’s so funny.”

  “I-I’m s-sorry.” She could barely catch her breath from laughing. As she managed to compose herself, she turned her head toward the back of the station and yelled, “Can I get someone for a domestic?” She then stood up and leaned over her desk as she quietly told David, “I knew you’d get what was coming to you one day. I’m just glad I was here to see it.”

  “You know what, Brenda, I’m not the same guy you knew in college. I’ve changed and I’d really like to apologize to Serita for the way I treated her. Can you give her that message?”

  An officer walked up to them. “I’ll take him,” he told Brenda.

  She snarled, after giving David a disgusted look, “You can have him.” As David walked past her, she said, “And you can tell her yourself. She’s at Forest Hill Cemetery after letting another man put his hands on her.”

  “HEY DADDY-O, HOW YA’ be?” Gina decided to stop in and check on her dad before heading to Ann Arbor to do the video and photoshoot with David. She was amazed to see that her father was sitting up watching television and he was no longer using the oxygen tank.

  “I feel like a new man, baby-girl. That’s how I be.”

  She sat down on the sofa next to her father’s chair. “I’m so glad you are feeling better. Mom told me, but I had no idea that you were off the oxygen tank.”

  “That didn’t happen until yesterday. My home health nurse contacted the doctor and he said I could try it for a while without the oxygen. Your mom checks my oxygen levels a few times a day and I’m staying steady.” He gave her the thumbs up.

  Receiving this news from her dad made her sacrifice worth it all. She had started packing up her apartment and would be moving into her old room when she came back from New York. Gina hadn’t lived at home since she left for college. But she could do this if it meant paying off her dad’s hospital bills so that they could stay in the home they loved.

  “So, I hear you’re moving back home for a bit,” her father said.

  “Yep, I’m packing now.”

  “Well, you just remember that we have an eleven o’clock curfew around here. “He shook a finger at her as if she was a disobedient child.

  Laughing at him, she said, “I’m going to need at least a mid-night curfew, Dad. Let’s compromise. I mean, I am thirty-five.”

  “We had this same conversation when you were sixteen, and what was my answer?”

  “You said that ‘ain’t nothing open that late but liquor stores and legs’. But guess what, Dad... Walmart is now open that late and a few fast-food restaurants as well.”

  “Okay, you got me there.” He smiled at his daughter. “No curfew this time.”

  Gina leaned over and hugged her father. “Thanks, Dad.”

  “No baby-girl, I need to thank you. If I’d listened when my mother begged me to stop smoking, I wouldn’t be in this predicament and your mom wouldn’t have to worry that we might have to sell the house to cover my hospital bills. I appreciate that you are willing to help your old man out like this.”

  “I must have been raised right, huh?”

  Before her father could answer that, her mother came running into the room, shouting, “You won’t believe this! I promise you won’t believe this!” Audrey was so excited she started jumping around the room.

  “Woman, will you spill it already? What has happened to get you this excited,” her husband asked.

  She bent down and kissed him. While still leaning over with hands on both armrests of his chair, she told him, “Even though I’m excited, I want you to remain calm. You are not allowed to jump out of your seat. You have to remain seated, okay?”

  “Okay, I promise.”

  Audrey straightened back up, she looked from Gina and then back at her husband. Taking a deep breath to calm herself, she told them. “On Friday, we received the final bill for your surgery. I didn’t tell you about it because it looked like they overcharged us a couple thousand. I planned to call them this morning to complain.”

  “Why didn’t you tell me if there was a problem with the bill, Audrey. I don’t like you hiding things like that from me.” George shook his head.

  “How much was the bill, Mom?” Gina was getting nervous. If the hospital was going to overcharge, it would take her longer to pay off the bill, which meant that she would be living with her parents longer than she expected.

  “The bill was twenty-five thousand after Medicare paid their share.” Both Gina and George groaned.

  “But, as of this morning, we owe zero on the bill... nothing, nada. It’s been paid and we are debt-free again.” Audrey did a quick dance. “My God is an awesome God!”

  Gina jumped out of her seat. “What!? Are you saying the bill has been paid or the hospital made a clerical error?” The distinction was important because if the hospital made an error, they would soon fix it and they would still owe all of that money.

&nb
sp; “No mistake, hon. The clerk I spoke with told me that someone called their office this morning and paid the bill.” Audrey was grinning from ear to ear.

  “Who would do that?” George wanted to know.

  “Who cares,” Audrey told him. “It was an anonymous payment, but the clerk said it happens every now and then. People normally pay other people’s bills at the end of the year so they can claim it on their taxes. She said it rarely happens at the beginning of the year, but I don’t care. I’m looking at this as a gift from God.” Audrey plopped down in her chair, looking a thousand pounds lighter.

  “You’ve been really worried about that bill, haven’t you, Mom?”

  “I hated the idea of selling the house, but I also hated the thought of taking your money to pay our bills when I know you’re struggling yourself.”

  “I’m not struggling, Mom. Things are fine.” Gina didn’t want her parents worrying about her.

  Her mom wasn’t letting her get away with that statement. “If things are so fine, why do you have a ‘For Sale’ sign on your car? Why are you moving back in with us?’

  “I admit that I wouldn’t be able to afford to pay my bills and the hospital bill, so I just decided to do a reset. But I’m okay, Mom. I really am.”

  “Now you are,” her dad said. “Now that you don’t have to worry about paying off your parent’s debts.” Tears welled up in George’s eyes.

  “I wonder who paid off the bill?” Audrey said with eyes full of joy.

  Wiping the tears from his eyes as George said, “Y’all know that I’ve always paid my own way. I worked three jobs and your mom worked two, so we could put you through college. And you finished with no debt. I’m proud of that. But after we retired and I got sick, money just wasn’t as easy to come by. It hurt my heart that you had to give up everything to help us. But to tell you the truth, I knew we needed the help.”