Rain Dance (30 page)

“We’re celebrating.”

“What?” I asked pulling out a chair.

“Prepare yourself,” my friend said. “God has been up to some big things.”

Stacie

I answered the ringing phone.

“Can you come over to Stevie’s?” Eve asked.

“Sure. Are you all right?”

“Can’t a mother want to be with both her kids?”

Yeah,
but usually not mine.

I wasn’t used to Eve mothering or needing me. I had no idea what to expect—just that she wanted me to come.

God, is it the cancer?

I packed up Jonathan and we went. Outside Peggy’s house sat Mom’s Lexus and Dad’s Catera. A chill ran up my spine, and I hurried toward the house.

“Can I take Jonathan while you visit with your family?” Peggy offered.

“Sure. Are they all right?”

“Everyone looks and sounds fine. They’re in the living room.”

She smiled and looked a little sly. At the very least, knowing.

I walked into the other room and found mother and Stevie holding hands and singing some chorus about God’s love, which was too weird to be believed.

“Hi?” I heard the question in my voice.

“Stacie,” my brother hurried over to me. “Sit here.”

I sat by my dad on the couch. He looked as confused as I felt. It was good to be on the same level as one other human being in this house.

Stevie looked at Mom. “Tell them.” Pushing his glasses up his nose, he wiggled and tried not to smile.

I compared my square-built brother to our slender mother. So different and yet something similar shone out of their eyes.

“Today I came to visit Stevie and we talked. He told me about Jesus and quoted a familiar verse.”

Stevie interrupted and said, “For God so loved the world, He gave His only Son and whosoever believes in Him will be saved. John 3:16. Mr. Daniels taught it to me.” He smiled, satisfied that he’d gotten the whole thing out, including the reference.

“His joy in Jesus was contagious and I caught it,” my mother said.

“She kneeled by my bed,”

“Kneeled?” Dad asked.

“Yes. Stevie thought that would be best. And then I asked Jesus into my heart.”

“I made sure she was on the rug so she didn’t get a sliver,” my brother comforted our dad.

Stevie hugged Mom, then pointed at Dad and said, “You’re next.”

Looking stunned, Dad walked quietly into the other room. The three of us joined hands and Stevie said, “Let’s pray.”

His prayer was short and to the point. He said, “Thank You, Jesus. Amen.”

We looked up and there Dad stood, holding his grandson.

“We weren’t praying behind your back Stephen,” Mom said.

“I know what you were doing,” Dad replied, smiling. “Jonathan, I think we’re outnumbered.”

Peggy called us to have some coffee, and when we entered the dining room I knew. “Mom. This furniture is Grandma’s, isn’t it? And Stevie’s bed upstairs came from their house too. That’s why I feel so at home in these two rooms.”

“Stevie’s bed, dresser, and nightstand were once my own. And your Aunt Jen made his quilt.”

“You knelt beside your own bed and asked Jesus into your heart?”

“The same bed my parents knelt beside every night and prayed for me.”

“You’re the benefactor—the one who paid for this house.”

She just smiled and shrugged.

“Eve?” Dad asked.

“Our son needed a home.”

Dad stood amazed. He handed the baby to me and silently took his wife in his arms.

“This is a God thing,” I exclaimed as my sweet brother planted a kiss on Jonathan’s cheek.

“I’m beginning to believe it always was,” my mother whispered.

Chapter
28

Jonica

It seemed impossible that I was hanging white baptismal gowns and putting folded towels in the dressing rooms. I could hear Stacie and Mike praying quietly just outside the door to the women’s room. I stepped over to the sinks and washed my hands so the rushing water would provide them with a little extra privacy.

After a moment Stacie bounded through the door. “ ‘This is the day the Lord has made! I will rejoice and be glad in it.’ That’s the verse on my calendar today. It’s perfect isn’t it?”

Instead of the strength I wanted to feel, I burst into tears.

“Joni! You’re not going to blubber today are you?”

I nodded.

“This is a day to celebrate.”

“Yes. And I am.” I was glad I hadn’t bothered putting on mascara.

“You’ll be out there front and center, right?”

“Of course.”

“Then everything will be fine.”

Mike knocked on the door. “Hey, you two, it’s almost time for the service to begin.”

Stacie opened the door and pulled me through with her. Our group filled up our normal pew—right in front of Della and Bernice. The pastor began with the announcements.

“As you can see from the order of service, we are having a baptism and a baby dedication today,” he concluded. “We normally schedule these services for separate times, but this is a special occasion. The parents who are dedicating themselves to raising their son in a Christian home are also the ones being baptized. We have the unique opportunity to witness and celebrate both faith commitments today.”

After prayer, we celebrated with praise songs and heard a sermon on living our lives with the faith of little children. God used the man-child beside me as a living testimony of this scripture. His incredible faith and unwavering prayers had led us to this day.

“Now we invite Mike and Stacie to identify themselves with our Lord Jesus Christ in believer’s baptism,” the pastor said as he stepped into the baptismal tank.

Mike came first, declaring to the congregation his intent to lead his family in the ways of the Lord. He asked us to pray for wisdom as he sought to do this with all diligence and gentleness.

He came out of the water, and the microphone picked up his voice as he prayed, “Lord, I am Your servant. May You always be well-pleased with me.”

Next Mike helped Stacie down the steps into the water. My friend’s face shone with peace. She stood before the congregation and shared her testimony.

“With a pre-planned agenda that only considered my dreams, I made an appointment with my doctor for a referral for an abortion. I met a woman in the waiting room who could not have children. I blatantly announced my intent, knowing deep inside me that it hurt her. Nothing mattered except my single-minded determination to succeed.

“I didn’t know that legally terminating the life of my unborn baby would hurl me into a pit of loss and devastation. God did. He put Jonica Johnson in the waiting room on that day because He knew I’d need her. And Jonica did what she does best. She loved me when I was full of hate. She withheld judgment when I rained it down on her. She never preached, although I provoked her. I let her share Jesus with me to get it over with, but He was just getting started.

“As our friendship grew, she asked me to consider how I would have defended Jesus at His trial. After studying all the evidence, I knew He was innocent and I knew He was telling the truth. Belief took the place of unbelief.

“When I got pregnant again, this time on purpose, she rejoiced, although I knew inside she wept for the child she’d never have. Jonica wiped my brow in the delivery room when my son was born and forgave me for what I thought was surely unforgivable. And then she loved me some more. She’s the reason I’m here today.”

Eve reached around Stevie and rubbed my shoulder with her fingers. Silent tears of joy ran down our faces. Two hankies floated from behind us and we accepted them gratefully.

My friend finished testifying and came out the water splashing water all over as she raised her arms heavenward. My soul shouted a silent praise.

Thank You God for Your amazing grace!

After Stacie and Mike had dressed and returned to the sanctuary, it was time for them to dedicate themselves to raise their son in a Christian home. Standing before the congregation, the pastor invited Mike and Stacie to come forward with Jonathan.

Stevie sat between Eve and me, leaning forward, his hands clasped together, a wide smile beaming from his face. As a congregation and now as Jonathan’s family members, we all agreed to pray and live in such a way before Jonathan that he would see Christ in us.

Stacie

If anyone had told me I’d one day be in a church for any reason other than a wedding or funeral, I’d have said that was impossible.

Mike walked into the baptismal tank calmly. He looked at his parents and nodded. His simple act spoke volumes to their faithful hearts. I remembered them accepting me as his choice with hesitance. They weren’t sure I was the one God had for their son. Looking back, I can see why. Yet they’d offered their mercy when we told them about the babe in heaven.

As Mike came out of the water, his quiet prayer branded itself on my heart. Then he reached for my hand. I stepped into the warm water and he put my hand into our pastor’s. It only took a moment as I looked into the eyes of my parents, my brother, Mike’s parents, Jonica, and Ben. Dad held our son, who slept in peace, snuggled in the arms of love.

Please, Lord, lead Daddy to Your peace one day.

I wanted the congregation to know how God had used a wounded woman to lead a lost one to Himself. And that He won me through her love.

I noticed some eyebrows go up at the mention of my abortion. A flesh-and-blood person put a face on the issue and made them uncomfortable. It was easier to handle if it stayed political. I saw two women look down, tears overflowing and wondered if they were like me—abortion survivors.

Use me in this church and anywhere there are
women suffering this way, Lord.

When I came up out of the water, the organ began playing and the congregation stood, applauding. They sang the most wonderful song I’d ever heard. I’ll never forget the words.

Amazing grace how sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me!

After we changed and returned to the sanctuary, I watched Mike hold our son during the dedication, and it hit me how important this was. A celebration? Yes. But the depth of his commitment moved me.

My bubbling confidence settled into quietness, I stood still before my God, in front of a congregation I never thought I’d agree with.

Yet here I was – a believer among believers.

Chapter
29

Jonica

I headed out for a late afternoon walk.

As I fidgeted on the curb across the street from the park, waiting for the light to turn green, a cloud passed overhead. It was so small that within a moment I stood in the sunshine again.

I watched the little sky puff float away until it hung above the trees at the center of the park, where it released its wet load in a quick, intense downpour. Within seconds it closed back up, and a gentle wind moved it on.

I pondered the verse where the writer says that God releases the wind from His storehouses. When I looked up to thank Him for sending the breeze that rustled the leaves, I saw the evidence of God’s promise. A rainbow shimmered briefly in the heavens for before disappearing from my view.

I crossed the street praising God for always keeping His word—even when I can’t see the radiant bands of color for the storm or when I’m too caught up in life to notice.

As I walked along the winding pathway into the center of the park, I saw ahead of me a mid-sized puddle shimmering in the sunlight. Not even thinking to restrain myself in a public place, I sprinted toward it and jumped into its center. A loud laugh rushed past my vocal cords as the ripples from my rain dance splashed over my shoes.

I stood in a holy place, surrounded by trees and birdsong, in the middle of the only puddle left by the little cloud. Alone, or so I thought, I thanked God out loud for His constant goodness to me. And I thanked Him for the sweet song of victory He placed in my soul.

Then I heard someone say my name.

Stacie

Mike came home early that afternoon. I was full of pent-up energy, and he suggested I take a short run while he played with Jonathan.

I was in the center of the park when a small gray cloud rolled in overhead, then burst all over me. I stopped in amazement. All around me the sun shone, except for where I stood. The drops were warm and comforting as if they came to me from the Father Himself—a special delivery. And in the time it took to think it, I knew they did.

I stood dazzled by the shimmer of the raindrops. I raised my face into the crystal liquid, lifted my arms, and opened my hands as if to catch yet more of the clean water sent from heaven.

“Thank You, Father, for Your forgiveness. It is fully mine.”

I took ownership of what He’d already given me. I twirled in His presence and danced in His rain.

As the words left my mouth, the rain stopped. I opened my eyes and caught a glimpse of a fleeting rainbow. God’s promise to Noah extended to me.

I looked down at the pavement. Everything was dry except the circle around me where the water now swirled over the tops of my shoes. I stepped out of the puddle and walked to a nearby bench under a giant old oak tree. It looked like the perfect place to contemplate the joy of my salvation and the vastness of God’s forgiveness.

As the blessing of the moment started to sink in, someone raced toward me down the pathway on the other side of my puddle. I watched as Jonica jumped into the water’s center, sending sprinkles dancing through the air and onto the dry pavement.

I got up and approached my friend, whispering her name. She turned toward me, and her face lit with delight.

Together we stood in the circle of fresh water sent by God—for us.

Epilogue

Truth and Consequences

By Sonya Bard, freelance journalist for the Associated Press