Thunderous laughter roared from the pastor. David couldn’t believe his eyes or his ears.
“You’re overreacting,” the pastor said between laughs. He actually wiped tears from his eyes.
David could feel the anger swelling inside of him or was it just embarrassment. He had confided in this man of God to no avail.
“You’ve just got the marriage jitters son,” the pastor said matter-of-factly. “It’s common to have second thoughts about the person you plan to spend the rest of your life with,” he teased.
“Absolutely not!” David said in a very serious tone.
“Oh, the dream may be different, but that’s all it is son. Just jitters. I tell you what,” he said putting his arm around David’s shoulder as he walked him to the door. “Just relax and take it slowly for a while. Your parents’ separation is also weighing heavily on this situation. You’ll see, everything will be back to normal in little or no time at all. You’ll thank me for keeping you from making any rash decisions. You’ll see.”
“Let me ask you this,” said the pastor. “Do you know any of these people that you saw at Satan’s meeting?”
“Well no,” answered David.
“Precisely!” said the pastor. “It’s because they’re not real,” he said trying to convince the determined young man.
“But I saw faces!” said David, trying not to get too emotional.
“Oh, the mind has a way of constructing unreal images, especially when we’re under stress,” the pastor continued. “So be encouraged, young man. Everything will work out just fine.”
With those words, he shut his office door and left David on the outside. David stood there stunned. “What is happening to me?” he thought. I’m tormented at home, and my own pastor thinks this is just pre-marital jitters. There was one thing that he knew. He knew he had to warn people, and with or without the help of the church leaders, he would accomplish this mission. He had other dreams he wanted to share, but now he knew that was impossible.
“God help me,” he said, softly resisting the temptation to cry as he walked out of the church. “I don’t know where to turn.”
CHAPTER TWO
The dining hall was one noisy place for a Saturday afternoon. Everyone seemed to want to talk at once, while they drank tea and ate peanut butter cookies.
“Ladies, ladies,” said Sister Marie as she gently tapped a glass with her spoon to get their attention. “First of all ladies, let me just say that I appreciate your coming here to share with each other this afternoon. Let’s take our seats so we can get started. What we want to do is to just talk about our strengths and maybe we can help each other. Now just because I’m the pastor’s wife, is no reason for you to think I can’t relate to your problems. We’re here to help each other and hopefully get answers from the Lord. After all, that’s the purpose of the women’s council group. Let’s see, last week we talked about women supporting women,” she said while looking over an agenda. “Today the subject is marriage. Let’s start with the person married the least amount of time.”
“Well, I guess that’s me,” said Sister Pearl; a smartly dressed business woman of twenty four.
“Tell everyone how long you’ve been married,” said Sister Marie.
“Well, come next week,” said Sister Pearl, “I’ll have been married three hundred and sixty five thousand years.” Laughter roared through the room. Everyone was broken up by the sudden humor of the newlywed who was approaching her first wedding anniversary.
“Sister Pearl, would you like to explain yourself?” asked Sister Marie looking puzzled.
“Sure,” she answered as if she didn’t know what the problem was. “The Bible says one day is as a thousand years and a thousand years is as one day. Next week completes my day of marriage,” she said. “I didn’t misquote the Bible, did I?” she asked, trying to keep a straight face. Everyone thought it was hilarious. Everyone except Sister Marie.
“We’ll have to come back to you,” said Sister Marie in a very serious tone. “Sister Marcie, you’re a seasoned woman. What kind of advice can you offer these ladies?”
“Never go to bed angry ladies,” said Sister Marcie.
“Now that’s some sound advice,” said Sister Marie, nodding her head approvingly.
“Find a way to cope with your anger. Re-channel it,” continued Sister Marcie.
“What do you mean by that?” asked Sister Val who was normally too shy to ask questions.
“Well, I keep a list, a mental list that is, of who or what my husband reminds me of when I’m angry with him,” said Sister Marcie. “For example, movie titles. When I’m angry, I add to the list. So far, these are the movies that remind me of him: The Jerk, All Dogs Go to Heaven, The World, the Flesh and the Devil, Rosemary’s Baby, Lady & the Tramp, Sleeping With the Enemy, Beauty and the...”
“Sister MARCIE!” yelled Sister Marie, just in time to cut off the list. The whole room was again broken up with laughter. Sister Megan actually bit her tongue trying to eat a cookie and laugh at the same time.
“Ladies - what’s going on here?” asked Sister Marie as she got up quickly. “This doesn’t sound like a group of ladies where Christ is the center of the home. It’s one more example of how the enemy has invaded the church.” The mood in the room went from light-hearted to somber in a matter of seconds. “But let me tell you this, it’s not the will of God for you to be husband-bashers or abused women. And I’m not talking about physical abuse,” she said as she began to walk around the room. “Ladies, I feel your pain,” she said softly as the mood in the room caused many of the ladies to hold their heads down. She hugged Sister Marcie and said, “I know sometimes we hide behind laughter and smiles because we don’t want people to see our hurt or our shame. We didn’t call this meeting to embarrass anyone. I hand-picked you ladies today. I know you didn’t know that. You thought all the ladies received invitations. Well, the Lord placed each of you on my heart and only you ladies know why.”
Sister Pearl looked up at the First Lady. She now saw her in a different light. She saw Sister Marie Taylor as a lady of compassion.
“Can I say something Sister Marie?” asked Sister Pearl. “Sure honey,” said Sister Marie; “but no more jokes.”
“Well, that’s just it,” said Sister Pearl. “I know most of you know my husband, and you see a really great side of him. And, and I mean most of the time, he’s really a nice guy,” she stammered. “But, three days before our wedding, he called and said he needed to see me about an important issue that he couldn’t discuss on the phone. Well when I met him that evening, he brought pre-nuptial papers with him. For some women, it wouldn’t have been a big deal. For me it was devastating. I realized I was marrying someone who didn’t completely trust me. I didn’t know what to do. It seems his attorney buddies back at his office, advised him that this was a necessary step for his financial peace of mind.”
“But he has never been married before, and he doesn’t have children, does he?” asked Sister Val.
“No, it was our first marriage and neither of us had children,” she said wiping a tear. “Well, the wedding was three days away. I gave him my best argument, but he said if I loved him I could see that this wasn’t a big deal. I felt like I was between a rock and a hard place. I didn’t want the embarrassment of canceling a wedding over something of this nature, so I signed it. It really hasn’t been a big deal. Yet every time we have an argument, no matter how small, in the back of my mind, I always remember that pre-nuptial agreement and wonder how long before he will threaten me with it. I feel he has a bargaining chip to get things his way. And what do I have? I have nothing,” she said in a pitiful manner.
Sister Marie moved toward Sister Pearl and gave her a big hug.
“I’d like to say something too,” said Sister Marcie, in a rather low voice. “I was told that the honeymoon would last for at least a year, but we found ourselves fighting after three weeks.” We would argue over anything. Finally I would just let him hav
e his way. So far, our marriage has lasted six years. The funny thing about it is that I think he’s happy. After all, he gets his way in just about everything. All the reasons, that I got married seemed to go down the proverbial toilet. I wanted someone who would stand up for me and be a true companion, yet my husband craves all the attention. Perhaps, it’s because he is an only child. I just don’t know anymore.” Tears rolled down her eyes.
“Ladies, I’ve even found myself praying to God that one day I would wake up and find out that I had been in a coma for the last few years. I just wanted to start over and wipe the slate clean. But I know that I can’t go backward, so I hide, many times behind humor,” she said looking over the room at her good friend Val.
“Well, since confession is good for the soul,” said Sister Val, “I might as well confess that my marriage wasn’t made in heaven either. We seemed to start off ok, but then I noticed that many of our friends seemed to know things that were going on in our house. I don’t mean what we had for dinner, but they’d know about our arguments, they’d know when and where we made up. They’d know what we discussed in bed. It got to a point that nothing was sacred. He seemed to always deny telling his friends things about us. But I don’t talk to anyone about private matters. If I’m not important enough to be sacred in his life, what is?” she said to the group.
“You’re right Sister Val,” said Sister Marie. “We’ve believed every Cinderella story we’ve seen, then when something happens to us, we go into shock. It’s hard to admit we’ve made a mistake in marrying the wrong person,” she said.
“I didn’t really plan to speak up,” said Faye Edwards, probably the most attractive woman of her age group among them. “Please don’t fall into the trap, where I fell. I had a decent husband, he wasn’t perfect, but who is? He was a hard worker and a good father, but somehow we drifted apart. Nothing I did was good enough anymore. I’m not sure how I became that way, but I gradually was someone that he hated and I didn’t care anymore. He opted out. Now we’re both two lonely people. I keep telling myself that I’m better off, but am I? I feel it was my fault because I didn’t seek God during the trouble. Instead, I read magazines and listened to talk shows. One thing I am sure of, I’m going on with my life.”
“Yes,” agreed Sister Marie. “We are all going on in Jesus’ name. I feel the spirit of Disappointment in the room. Can we pray, right now and cast this demon out?”
The women all seemed to agree as they gathered close together.
“Ladies, let’s join hands,” said Sister Marie. The entire group began to pray.
CHAPTER THREE
The smells of hell and the shrieking sounds are enough to give you a double migraine and put your teeth on edge, David thought. Apparently, a meeting is going on, he assumed.
“Look Discouragement, I sent you to do a job, but you botched it up,” Satan said to the demon.
“I can’t help it if the plan backfired. Some spirit-filled woman sensed I was there and cast me out,” he said expecting sympathy.
“I don’t want any excuses,” said Satan in a threatening way.
“Don’t let it happen again. If you can’t ruin a simple ladies fellowship, I can’t depend on you to ruin relationships and marriages. Now get your act together and get out,” he shouted in a horribly deep voice.
“Mr. Edwards, Mr. Edwards, Mr. Edwards,” yelled the division secretary. David jumped up from his desk and almost stood at attention. “Yes, Miss Walker?” he answered. “Oh, I’ve been calling your phone, but you didn’t answer. So when I knocked and you didn’t answer, I wanted to make sure you were ok.”
“Yes, I’m fine,” he said rubbing his eyes.” “I must have dozed off for a minute,” he said.
“Well your next client is here,” said Miss Walker. “Should I show her in?”
“Sure,” he said. “Just give me a moment to review her file.”
What’s going on with me? David thought. One minute, I’m having clients and the next minute I’ve gone to hell and back.
“I think this is going to be a long day,” he said. He grabbed his schedule and focused on his afternoon appointments.
A quick peruse of the file reminded him that his next client was new to counseling. There wasn’t much there on the form each person was required to fill out before consultation. But there was one thing there that left him stunned. Her name was Darlene Smith.
There were two knocks at the door and a young lady entered. She was quite attractive and didn’t appear to be more than twenty five. Her warm smile added an aura of confidence in the way she carried herself. She appeared friendly, yet reserved. The truth, if it were to be told from her face, was hidden in her eyes. Somehow for a person of her distinction, they should have been gleaming. Instead they were dull and showed signs of past hurt.
“Good afternoon,” she said as she shut the door behind her.
“David Edwards,” he said extending his hand for a shake and gesturing for her to be seated. ”How are you today Ms. Smith?”
“Well, I think physically I’m fine,” she said. “But please, call me Darlene,” she insisted.
“But I like the name Smith,” David said. “It’s such an unusual name.”
She threw her head back with a delightful laugh. “Thanks for making my nervousness go away,” she said.
“How long has it been since you’ve laughed?” he asked, sensing the Spirit of Disillusionment.
“Too long,” she said staring at the furnishings of the office.
“Well, I hope we can change that for you. Can you tell me a little bit about yourself?” he asked, while reaching for his notepad and pen.
“Well,” she said looking up as if the answers would come from the ceiling, “I’m twenty four. I completed college two years ago with a degree in liberal arts. I work for a publishing company downtown and I like to swim and shop.”
“Wow,” said David. “That certainly was concise. Almost as if you had rehearsed it.”
Darlene turned her eyes toward the window and said nothing.
“Who recommended you come to see us for a consultation?” he asked.
“My job,” she said.
“Do you know why they did that?” he asked, once he had gotten her attention again.
“They said I showed signs of depression,” she answered.
“I see,” David said. “Tell me, have you had a weight loss within the last few months?”
“Yes,” Darlene answered. “I lost about twelve pounds. But I really wanted to lose weight,” she said, trying to sound convincing.
David made a few notes on his paper before asking more questions. “Do you attend church?” he asked.
“Yes, I love attending church. I’m very faithful to my local assembly and I’m quite involved in church activities!” she said with the most enthusiasm she had mustered since walking into the office.
Staring directly into her eyes, he went on with his next question. “Darlene, are you happy?”
She lowered her head and reached for her purse. She had barely retrieved two white tissues from the compact holder before the tears began to flow.
After sobbing uncontrollably for a good three minutes, she opened up to David. She talked about her marriage, her 14 month old child and her suspicions of another woman. David just sat there and listened. He could not tell her that he had seen her situation in a vision. She might not believe him. He wasn’t quite sure of the next step.
“Well, I think my 30 minutes are up,” Darlene said. “I’ve got to get back to work. I really do feel better. Somehow I believe confiding in you has helped me. This is very unusual, cause I never talk to strangers about myself,” she admitted.
“Believe me, everything you’ve shared will be kept in the strictest confidence,” he said.
She got up to leave and he walked her to the door.
“Everything is going to be alright,” he said. She shook his hand, smiled and walked away.
After closing the door behind him, Davi
d let out a deep sigh of relief. A small piece of the puzzle had come together. But what was next?
CHAPTER FOUR
The phone was ringing off the hook when he arrived at his apartment. He let the machine answer it. It was Rose.
“Hi David, please call me when you get in. I need to know if you’re going to Shady Tree Nursing Center to visit Aunt Tillie with me. The last time we went together you promised her you’d come back this month. Please call me and let me know. Thanks. ....Goodbye.”
There was a slight hesitation before she said goodbye.
He wasn’t quite sure what he should do. He didn’t want Rose to get any ideas that the marriage was back on, but he didn’t want to hurt sweet Aunt Tillie. Although she wasn’t his real aunt or Rose’s for that matter, he seemed very close to her and a promise was a promise.
Aunt Tillie had been very kind to him when his parents broke up. She’d call him and console him as if he were her own child. When in fact, she had no children of her own. After she fell and broke her hip, there was no choice except for her to go into the nursing home so she could be looked after properly. She considered the move temporary. Although she was 78 years old, her mind was really quite sharp. She was always considered a prayerful woman by the entire congregation.
He picked up the phone and dialed Rose’s number. “Hi, I got your message about Aunt Tillie. If you can be ready in two hours, I’ll pick you up.”
“Sorry, David,” she said. “I can’t go, but please don’t let that stop you. My father just asked me to type some information for him that he needs right away.”
Eating the Fruit of Lies Page 2