Luke stepped up beside Sara and slipped his arm around her shoulder. Emily hugged him, too. Then everyone else quickly gathered around, offering their heartfelt congratulations.
Everyone except Lillian, who stalked off, shaking her head. But no one seemed to notice.
EMILY FELT A SPECIAL EXCITEMENT IN CHURCH ON NEW YEAR’S DAY. She had expected to be too tired to get up for the service, but somehow it hadn’t been much trouble at all to make it there on time. The weather was cold and dry, the sky clear and cloudless. A clean slate for the year ahead, she thought, glancing up as they walked toward the church’s front doors.
The sanctuary was full, which was unusual for a service right on New Year’s Day. She glanced around. It looked as if many of the displaced families from Wood’s Hollow were there, filling the pews to capacity. She wondered if the congregation would attract new members now, after the work they’d done helping the fire victims. It was a good feeling to see new faces and feel the church growing, like a living thing.
Reverend Ben had a certain bounce in his step as he walked up front to address the congregation. “First, I want to wish everyone a happy and blessed New Year. Our congregation enters the New Year as witnesses—and participants—in a miracle. There are simply too many of you to mention by name who came here on Christmas night and have continued to come here this past week, to help our neighbors who were forced from their homes by the fire in Wood’s Hollow.
“The crisis was devastating and there is so much work still to be done, so much aid we can continue to give. But I, for one, stand in awe of the effort I’ve seen from all of you. Surely, our church has been touched by God’s grace, and out of the rubble and ashes of that fallen building, we have risen here with new purpose and new life.”
He paused, gazing around the congregation. Emily heard his voice go thick and strained with emotion, and for a moment, she thought Reverend Ben was about to cry.
“I have a confession to make to all of you. For the past few weeks, I’ve been feeling discouraged, even disappointed in the level of spiritual energy in our church. I blamed myself mostly, for not being able to lead and inspire all of you.
“The irony is that when the real moment to act came, you had no need of me. I was miles away, oblivious. You saw the problem and sprang into action. You shared whatever you could—more than you could, in some cases—food, clothing, money, even the roofs over your heads. This is the Christian spirit in action. This is what it means to live out the lessons of the Scriptures. This is God’s spirit and love working through us.”
He paused, taking a deep breath.
“I am humbled by what you have all accomplished, and I’m grateful. I was in a place of darkness and confusion, and your acts of compassion led me back to the light, or rather, to see the light that is always around us and part of our eternal spirit. I stand in awe of your miracle. I am proud to be your minister, to continue to learn from you, to serve you, and to serve with you.
“Let us come together now to worship and to ask God’s help and blessing so that we may continue this New Year to do the good work we have only just begun.”
The sanctuary was absolutely silent.
Emily didn’t dare take a breath. Reverend Ben stood a moment before them, his head bowed. Then he slipped a white hanky from his pocket, quickly dabbed his eyes under his glasses, and slipped them in place again.
Suddenly the organ sounded and the chorus began the choral introit. Everyone slowly came to their feet and began to sing. Emily stood up with Jane balanced on her hip while Dan held up the hymnal for them. She felt her own eyes growing misty for a moment and blinked the tears away. She agreed with Reverend Ben. The congregation’s work for the people of Wood’s Hollow had been a miracle, a strange and wonderful coming together of so many hands and hearts united by one purpose. There was no question in her mind that the work itself had been its own reward. Still, she couldn’t help but feel that God was smiling down on them.
She was suddenly reminded of a quote from the New Testament: “Be not forgetful to entertain strangers; for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.”
Angels, indeed. She looked down at Jane, who gazed back at her with the kind of wise and knowing expression that babies seemed to have at times. Perhaps there were more angels around than she had ever realized.
The rest of the service seemed to pass quickly, with a light, joyful feeling. A feeling of unity, Emily thought.
At the end of the service, they walked to the back of the sanctuary where Reverend Ben stood greeting the congregants.
“Happy New Year,” he said to them.
Emily smiled and wished him the same. “We have some good news. We’ve decided to apply to adopt Jane.”
Ben’s eyes widened with surprise and he beamed at her. “That is good news! Well, well . . . I’m very happy for you, Emily . . . for all of you,” he added, his gaze taking in Dan and Jane as well. “How long will the process take?”
“Several months,” Dan answered. “We’re just starting to file the necessary papers this week. Then we’ll be going before a judge to finalize everything and make it legal.”
“It’s a little nerve wracking,” Emily admitted. “I wish it could be settled more quickly, but Jane’s social worker said she thinks everything will go smoothly.”
Ben nodded. “I think it will, too. I just have a feeling.” He glanced down at Jane. “I’ll keep you in my thoughts . . . and in my prayers.”
“Thank you, Reverend.” Emily squeezed his hand as they said good-bye. After all these years, Reverend Ben was perhaps the only one who knew just how much adopting Jane meant to her.
Lillian was not having her usual family gathering this Sunday. She had announced last night that she was too tired to have them all over, and also that the conversation would be too boring, since they had all been together for New Year’s Eve.
Emily and Dan were both relieved. They had enjoyed entertaining but were now looking forward to a quiet afternoon—just the two of them and Jane—to celebrate their good news privately.
“So where to?” Dan said as he started up the car.
Emily clipped Jane into her car seat and then got in the car next to Dan. “Oh, I don’t know. I thought we’d just go home and relax.”
“We can relax later. I think we ought to do something special. We have a lot to celebrate—adopting Jane, Sara and Luke’s engagement, our first anniversary. You know I’m not much of a praying guy, but we do have a lot to be thankful for, Emily. We really do.” He glanced at her.
She reached over and took his hand. “Yes, we do,” she said quietly.
“You know, when I was listening to Reverend Ben today, I had to say to myself, ‘Hey, I’ve had a few miracles in my life lately, too.’ There’s you, Emily. You made me feel happy again just to be alive.” He gazed at her with a loving look that touched her heart. “And now there’s our little girl.” He glanced back at Jane, cozy in her car seat. “Definitely a miracle. She’s made me feel young again, the way only a baby can.”
“Me, too,” Emily agreed happily.
“I can’t believe we’ve only been married one year. It seems as if so much has happened.” He shook his head. “I’m almost afraid to wonder what the next twelve months will bring.”
Emily laughed, then leaned over and kissed him. “Me, too,” she agreed again. “But that’s the adventure.”
The Christmas Angel Page 26