Been There Prayed That (9781622860845) (10 page)

“I only let you do everything because I didn't seem to have a choice in the matter,” Unique said in her own defense. “I mean, from day one you made out the agenda for our meeting, you had all of the ideas and suggestions, so you did all the talking. It was like you were in your own little world, in your element. I just thought you liked taking charge and being in charge. Heck, I figured I was doing you a favor by letting you. I mean, not once did you ever ask me for my input in anything. You already had the blue print engraved in stone, Moses.” Unique knew darn well she could have kept that last slick comment to herself.

Lorain was silent as she took in Unique's words.

“Is that true, Sister Lorain?” Pastor looked to Lorain for some sort of confirmation.

“Well, I guess, I, uh,” Lorain stammered, not realizing before now how on point Unique was. If Lorain was going to be honest with herself, then she had to admit that she had, in fact, taken control. Not once had she even asked Unique for her opinion regarding anything. She had just laid down the law so to speak. But by the same token, Lorain didn't want to carry the burden alone. “But I still don't see why you couldn't have just taken the initiative to even offer some assistance.” Lorain directed her words to Unique. “And you have to admit, I did call you up this past Saturday and ask for your help.” Lorain felt a little vindicated in the fact that after her mother stood her up and after stuffing ten bags, she decided to call Unique up and ask for her help.

“You called me at the last minute, and I had other plans,” Unique reasoned.

“Oh, let me guess, another marathon of the series
The Game
was airing on
BET
, and you couldn't tear yourself away from it long enough to do a little bit of work for the Lord,” Lorain snapped, the alignment on her attitude apparently still a little off balance.

“Actually, if I may interrupt,” Pastor said, “This past Saturday I had Sister Unique volunteering to read to the children at Reynoldsburg Public Library.” Looking at Unique, the preacher asked, “How did it go anyway?”

Unique's eyes lit up. “Oh, Pastor, me and my children had a blessed time. Thank you for recommending that I participate in the New Day Let's Read Ministry. Not only did I feel good about giving my time, but by accompanying me, my children are learning how to give their time as well. Doing the Lord's work is one thing, but being able to do it with my children is just something special.”

Unique's entire face was now lit up. Lorain noticed it did that every time Unique interacted with or spoke of her children.

“I'm glad to hear that, Sister Unique,” Pastor stated. “I know it's hard sometimes for these mothers with young children to give of their time, so I figured this would be perfect for you and your children. So should I let Brother Hammond know that he can count on you to be a part of the Let's Read Ministry in the future?”

“I'd love that.” Unique smiled. Her grin then faded as she looked over at Lorain. “That's if the duties don't interfere with those of the Single's Ministry. Because 'spite what Sister Lorain thinks, I do want to be a part of it. I just didn't want to step on her toes and make it seem like I was trying to take over or anything. But I do want to be used.” Sadness seemed to cover Unique's face. “People think I'm not capable of anything just because I didn't go to college, and I have all these babies. I admit that sometimes I myself start to agree with them, so I just fall back and go with the flow. But I have some pretty good ideas about things that I'd like to say the Lord put in my spirit.”

Now this was a side of the woman Lorain had never seen. Lorain felt sad for Unique. She would have never guessed that with such a bold personality, Unique had any doubts about herself and her abilities. Lorain could really relate to that, for over the years she had felt that the only thing she was good for was a roll in the hay. There were plenty of times when she had felt that her worth was underestimated. Like when she'd get passed up for promotions on the job because her supervisors thought there wasn't any more to her than a big butt and a smile like she had no substance. People wouldn't even give her a chance. Now, thinking back on her own past, she realized that she'd treated Unique the same way people had treated her, not giving her a chance.

Lorain felt even more horrible because as part of her defense, she had wanted to use the fact that Unique had declined to come help her do the work on Saturday. She had just assumed Unique preferred to sit around and watch television all day instead, but all along, she had been out doing kingdom work.

“Oh, you do have plenty of good ideas,” Pastor assured Unique. “Sister Helen told me how you suggested she teach the kids in children's church how to learn the books of the Bible the same way you taught yours, by having them rap them. She said that almost all of the children already know the books of the Old Testament.”

“Praise God.” Unique clapped as both she and Pastor gave out a few shouts unto the Lord.

“Anyway,” Pastor said after calming down, “it seems as though you two really don't have an issue with the duties of the Single's Ministry, you just had a few misconceptions is all. Do you both agree?” Both women nodded. “So how about we touch and agree on better communication between the leaders of not just your ministry, but all the ministries at New Day. Amen?”

“Amen,” the women agreed.

“Good. Now, Sister Unique, how about you close us out in prayer?” Pastor stood and signaled for the women to stand as well so that they could all join hands.

“Heads bowed, eyes closed, and minds cleared,” Unique instructed after they had all stood and joined hands. “Heavenly Father, we come humbly to your throne of grace on this blessed day that you have made. Father, we are rejoicing. Father, we are glad in this day for we have entered these very gates with thanksgiving in our hearts.”

Lorain had to open her eyes and look at Unique to make sure she wasn't reading from a piece of paper. Her words flowed like a melody that was reaching the very ears of God. She was clear and precise, and even quoted scriptures during her prayer, feeding back to God His very Word. Lorain was shocked. She had no idea that Unique knew how to go to the throne. She was moved and touched by Unique's powerful prayer to guide and instruct not only their ministry, but New Day as a whole.

By the time Unique concluded the prayer, one of the New Day ministers had begun Bible Study without them. The prayer ended up being a half hour long, even though it felt like mere seconds. All three were in the Spirit, shouting, dancing, crying, and giving praise. Unique had taken them to another level with her words. Lorain couldn't deny it. Walking out of Pastor's office, Unique was not the same person she'd seen her as upon entering it. More importantly though, Lorain wasn't the same person either. Just think, the words of her so-called nemeses were what had changed her.

Lorain's mind was clear, and her heart was light. She'd seen the errors of her ways as the Holy Spirit dropped the story of Mary and Martha into her spirit. Had she been Martha, doing all the labor, and then running to complain to Jesus how Mary hadn't helped her with it when all along she should have been over with Mary at Jesus' feet?

It had been Lorain's prayer that a change take place. It turned out, all while she was praying for God to change Unique so that she could deal with her, Unique wasn't the one who needed changing. Lorain was grateful for God working on her, but little did she know, God wasn't done with her just yet. He needed to make a lot more changes in her. Her heart needed to be prepared like never before in order to receive the blessing He was about to bestow on her. But Satan was gearing up to do everything in his power to block it.

“Is there something going on between you and Pastor Frey that I should know about?”

There. She'd said it. She'd asked the million dollar question.

“Tuh! Shouldn't I be the one asking you that same question?”

Mother Doreen couldn't believe that the question she'd been wanting to ask ever since she arrived in Kentucky had been asked. She knew that it was only a matter of time before the words sauntered around in thin air before evaporating away while an answer was thought upon. Only thing is, she thought that she would have been the one asking the question first and that her sister would have been the one answering. Instead, she found herself on the opposite end. It was almost laughable. Even to the point where Mother Doreen thought her sister might be trying to use reverse psychology, asking her the question before she could get around to being asked the question herself, beating Mother Doreen to the punch so to speak.

“Oh, don't you dare try to answer a question with a question,” Bethany snapped, letting out a frustrated chuckle. “That's the oldest trick in the book.”

“Oh, child, please.” Mother Doreen shooed her hand at Bethany and continued snapping the fresh green beans in the kitchen sink like she'd been doing prior to Bethany interrupting her.

“Don't ‘child, please' me. As if you haven't noticed over the years, I'm all grown up now, Reen. I'm not a child, which means I don't need you here just to be some type of watch dog over me the way you did with Ester, Clarice, and me when we were younger.” Bethany then mumbled under her breath, “I can see why our two sisters went to college as far away as they could and never came back. They didn't want you hovering over their every move. God bless their sweet, sweet souls.”

“Excuse me? What was that?” Mother Doreen asked, not able to make out her sister's words.

“Look, Reen, now I agreed to you coming here when I thought you were genuinely here because you cared about my health and wanted to see after me,” Bethany said, ignoring Mother Doreen's request for her to repeat the words she'd mumbled under her breath. “But now I'm not so sure that was a wise decision.”

Mother Doreen paused before snapping a green bean in half. “How dare you question my motives? You know how much I care about you. I've already lost two siblings to disease. Do you think I want to lose you too, Beth?”

Flaring her hands in the air she sat down. “Oh don't call me Beth. You know Uriah calls me that.” She said it with such disdain. Like the word Beth was tainted.

“And just what in the world is so wrong with that? Any other woman would be glad to be given a pet name by her husband.”

“Yeah, well, I'm not any other woman.”

The door was wide open, so Mother Doreen walked through it. “Okay, perhaps you are not any other woman, but tell me this, sis, is Pastor Frey the other man?”

“There you go insinuating things again.” Bethany looked down, fiddling with her wedding ring.

“Well, I wouldn't have to insinuate anything if you'd just speak the truth and shame the devil.”

There was a few seconds of silence. Mother Doreen looked at her baby sister and could tell that there was a mental tug-o-war going on in her head. She decided to come at Bethany with a more civil tongue. After all, the Word of God had already told her that she'd accomplish more with a sweeter tone than that of a bitter one. Snapping the ends off a green bean, she placed it in the bowl next to the sink, dried her hands on the apron she was wearing, and then walked over and sat down next to Bethany.

“Look, sis,” Mother Doreen said, placing her hand gently atop Bethany's. “You may think I'm old, and you may think I'm a fool. But I'm a wise old fool.” Mother Doreen let out a peace making chuckle, then folded her hands in front of her. “I know what I see, sis, even with my eyes closed.” Bethany didn't speak, but noticing the moisture forming in her eyes, Mother Doreen knew if she kept walking around the wall, it would eventually crumble. “I guess what I don't understand is why. I mean, I don't know exactly what has gone on between you and Wallace, but I can see what's going on now and what it could lead to. Besides, God done blessed you with such a good man that—”

“Wallace?” Bethany cut Mother Doreen off. “You called him Wallace.” She rose to her feet slowly as she glared at Mother Doreen accusingly. With hands on hips she spat, “Since when do congregation members call their pastors by their first names? That's a sign of disrespect.”

Mother Doreen found herself chewing on the very same words she'd posed to Bethany not too long ago. She was at a loss for words, not knowing when she'd found it appropriate, when she'd gotten to a point with Pastor Frey where she now referred to him by his first name, outside of church. Perhaps it was at their brunch meeting earlier that day when he'd told her, “Please feel free to call me Wallace in these settings.” Mother Doreen had asked him just what setting he was referring to. “This type of setting,” he'd responded, “when it's just you and me on a more personal level. Because for some reason, when we meet, it just don't feel like church business.”

Mother Doreen blushed at that recollection of how much she'd blushed when he'd actually said the words. But she couldn't get caught up in the snare of the devil, which is what a wee bitty part of her thought Pastor Frey might be trying to do, avert her attention, distract her from her true mission in Kentucky. Only thing was, in all honesty, the man didn't seem to have a manipulating bone in his body. He seemed so sincere in every way.

“And besides,” Bethany continued, “what good is it for a woman to have a husband who gives her pet names if he ain't gonna be around to pet, if you know what I mean. Even if something was going on between Wall . . . Pastor Frey and me, could anyone blame me? It's been three months since Uriah has even touched me.”

“Well, what did you want the man to do for God's sake, get freaky in the intensive care unit? Girl, you been in the hospital more than you've been out.”

“Now don't you go making excuses for him too,” Bethany said. She implied that either Uriah himself or someone she'd confided in about her and her husband's lack of intimacy had defended Uriah as well. “I've been out of the hospital a good while now. The only thing is, he's never home. And when he does drop in for a spell, the man is too tired to . . . pet.” She flopped back down in her chair exasperated.

“I know it must be rough for both you and Uriah.” Mother Doreen once again tried to speak in a gentle tone while placing her hand atop her sister's. “But turning to another man for comfort is just not the godly thing to—”

Bethany snatched her hand from up under Mother Doreen's. “Don't you dare sit there and try to judge or convict me of anything. Just because your Willie chased after every skirt in the Midwest, and you were dumb enough to go chasing behind him doesn't mean I—”

Mother Doreen slammed her fist on the table and stood. “Don't you ever let my Willie's name—” she looked up. “God rest my Willie's soul.” She drew an invisible cross across her heart with her index finger, and then continued, “Come out of your mouth in that fashion again. You hear me?”

Bethany jumped in, and the women began to talk over one another, pointing, accusing, and offending.

“Mom, Auntie. Please stop it! Hudson and I can hear you guys all the way from the study in the basement,” Sadie informed the two women as she stood in the doorway of the basement.

Both Mother Doreen and Bethany looked embarrassed to see the young girl's presence. They each secretly wondered how long she'd been standing there. And if they'd been so loud that the child deemed it necessary to come upstairs and order the two to quiet down, then exactly how much had been heard?

Sadie looked from her mother to her aunt, then headed back down to the basement, closing the door behind her. She left both women feeling naked and exposed.

Mother Doreen cleared her throat, then walked back over to the sink to finish up the green beans. She said a silent prayer to God as she snapped away, repenting for her previous actions. She was grieving because she knew she had grieved God with her actions. He'd trusted her enough to send her there on assignment, and she couldn't keep it together long enough to minister to anyone. She felt like a complete failure by having to ask God to forgive her and to give her one more chance. Trusting God's Word and knowing that He'd forgiven her instantaneously, Mother Doreen knew she now had to seek forgiveness from her sister as well. Forgiving her sister for anything she said that Mother Doreen's flesh might have wanted to hold against her.

“Bethany?” Mother Doreen turned from the sink to see her sister hunched over, holding her stomach. “You all right?”

Bethany nodded her head, but it wasn't convincing. This was the second time this week Mother Doreen had witnessed her sister having stomach issues. She started to beat herself up all over again, wondering if she'd worried her sister sick with all this business about Pastor Frey. She felt that she might be doing more harm than good, and she didn't want God to think that He couldn't use her.

“We're calling your doctor first thing in the morning,” Mother Doreen told her sister as she walked over to her. “But first, we're going to get you to bed so you can rest. You've probably just been working yourself up. I promised God that I would see to it that you walked in your healing, and no matter what, that's exactly what I'm going to do.”

Bethany, willingly and appreciatively, allowed her sister to lead her to her bedroom. Mother Doreen helped Bethany get comfortable in the king size bed she mostly slept in alone.

“God, please have your way in this house,” Mother Doreen found herself praying as she tucked her sister in bed. “We surrender our ways for your ways, Lord. Please, God, have your way.”

Exhausted, Bethany closed her eyes and seemed to fall off to sleep before Mother Doreen could even exit the bedroom. Mother Doreen smiled at her resting sister, convinced that God was already at work making things better. Little did she know though, things would get a lot worse before they would get any better.