by Al Lacy
“I have however long it takes.”
Adam’s voice broke several times while he told his father the whole story, from the night he hit Nancy Mason with the buggy until the shattering moment when he told Rachel she was married to the man who had run her mother down.
“Pastor and Mrs. Gann are trying to help us. They’re with Rachel right now. But something happened a few minutes ago that shook me to my bones, and I had to come see you.” Tears welled up in Adam’s eyes. “Dad, you came to me admitting how wrong you had been to desert your family. You asked me to forgive you, but I refused. When Pastor Gann was talking to Rachel about forgiving me, he showed her verses from the Bible about Christians showing mercy to those who have wronged them. And he had her read the place where Jesus said, ‘Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.’ Suddenly it struck me. Jesus said it is those who show mercy who receive mercy. I saw it clearly right then, Dad.” Adam choked up, then went on. “You admitted how wrong you’d been and you asked my forgiveness. I was so full of bitterness toward you that I refused.”
Patch kept his eyes on Adam’s face, waiting for his next words.
“I was terribly wrong not to forgive you. I … I couldn’t wait another minute to come over here and ask you to forgive me.”
Suddenly father and son were in each other’s arms.
“Then you forgive me too, son?”
“Yes, Dad. I forgive you … and I love you.”
When the emotions finally subsided, Adam said, “I’ve got to get back to Rachel. Would … would you go with me? She really thinks a lot of you. I know it will mean a lot to her when she finds out you are her father-in-law.”
“Rachel,” Pastor Gann said, “Adam told me he has already asked the Lord to forgive him. Doesn’t the Lord say He forgives us when we acknowledge our sins and the wrongs we have done?”
“Yes, He does.”
“Since God has forgiven Adam, by God’s grace you can forgive him too.” Rachel thumbed a tear from her eye. “Adam has grieved over that unfortunate accident for a long time. And he has grieved over his failure to go to you and your father when he learned he had struck your mother with his buggy. He has had to live with this guilt ever since. But who of us hasn’t done something wrong? Who of us hasn’t done something that has hurt another? Something for which we are very sorry and would change if we could?”
Rachel looked into Pastor Gann’s eyes, letting his words sink in.
“When we confess our sins to the Lord in honest repentance,” Gann said, “He is quick to forgive us. First John 1:9 says, ‘If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.’ The psalmist says, ‘Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven.’ The Lord has shown you mercy by forgiving all your sins, Rachel. Twenty-six times in Psalm 136 we are told that God’s mercy endures forever. He is to be praised for that.”
Rachel nodded.
“Then what about Rachel’s mercy toward the man she loves? ‘Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.’ ”
Rachel sat quietly, with Barbara’s arm around her, thinking on the Word of God as her heart embraced its truths. Suddenly she uttered a tiny sigh and bowed her head. The Ganns saw her stiff body relax and her lips begin to move in silent prayer, and they also prayed for the heartbroken girl earnestly asking her heavenly Father for guidance and help.
After several minutes, Rachel raised her bowed head and a small, tentative smile formed on her lips. Just then, they heard the front door open and close.
“Adam’s back,” Barbara whispered.
Moments later, Adam came into the room with Patch Smith on his heels. Adam looked at his wife, almost afraid to believe his eyes for the change he saw on her face. His throat swelled a bit as he said, “Rachel, I want to introduce you to someone very important to me. I want you to meet my dad. Yes, you heard me right. Patch Smith, whose real name is Gordon Burke, is my father.”
The Ganns listened on as Adam told Rachel how his father had deserted his family in the days just after the Civil War, and that he had not seen his father until he came to North Platte almost a year ago, not knowing his father lived here. He went on to tell about the hatred and bitterness he had carried toward his father all these years, and that when he figured out who Patch Smith was, the bitterness was as strong as it had ever been.
“Rachel, when Dad asked me for mercy and forgiveness months ago, I said to him, ‘If you can resurrect my mother and bring her back to me, I’ll forgive you … but not until you do that.’ You said virtually the same thing to me when I asked for your forgiveness. I suddenly realized that here I was refusing to have mercy on Dad and to forgive him when he asked for it … even as I asked for the same from you. That’s why I left abruptly. I had to tell Dad he was forgiven.” Adam moved close to Rachel, dropped to one knee, and said with tears in his eyes, “Sweetheart, I am now asking for your mercy and forgiveness.”
Rachel’s lips quivered. Her eyes were swimming in tears. A tiny sob escaped her lips as she bent over, threw her arms around Adam’s neck, and said, “Yes, I forgive you! Oh, Adam, please forgive me for being so unkind to you and for breaking your heart. I’m the one who needs mercy and forgiveness.”
After some time, the weeping eased and Rachel kissed Adam’s cheek, then stood and walked over to Gordon, who was looking at her with affectionate eyes. Rachel embraced him and kissed his cheek. Suddenly father and son were hugging, with Rachel squeezed in between them.
“There’s mercy flowing all over this place!” Pastor Gann said. “ ‘Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.’ Did you know that one of the meanings of blessed is to make happy?”
Adam laughed for joy and said, “Well, Pastor, I’ve never been happier in my life!”