Forever Soul Ties

by Vanessa Davis Griggs

“What do you mean ‘she wasn’t’?”

  “I mean she forgot! Denise forgot to go by the school and pick Jacquetta up.” I instantly heard the change of tone in his voice. “As usual, she had more important things to do. So she forgot that she’d told our daughter she’d pick her up. She’d told Jacquetta to be outside waiting for her no later than two.”

  “Wait a minute,” I said. “Why would a teacher let her be out there by herself? I don’t get that part. Even if—”

  “The teacher told the police that Jacquetta said her mother was waiting outside. She thought Denise was out there already. Now Jacquetta’s missing, and no one knows where she is. Phoenix Arissa believes Jacquetta likely tried to walk home. The police have searched the road from the school to our house. There’s no sign of her. Nothing. Somebody probably saw her and snatched her up—”

  “Stop that!” I said. “Do you hear me? I want you to stop that right now! You of all people know that death and life is in the power of the tongue. Don’t you dare say another negative word on this matter, do you hear me?”

  “You’re right, you’re right.” He made a growling sound. “But I’m almost out of my mind at this point. Do you have any idea the thoughts that are running through my mind right now? Do you?”

  “I have a pretty good idea. I want you to listen to me. I’m going to be praying like you won’t believe. But you have got to set your thoughts on God and what He is doing right now and don’t let your mind wander over there where the devil would like for you to go.”

  “You’re right. You’re right. Well, I’m going to get off this phone. But I just had to call you. I needed you to know what was going on. And I needed you to be praying with us. But I’m going to tell you: if some sicko has hurt or done anything to my little girl—”

  “Ethan, don’t go there,” I said calmly, putting a stop to even allowing him to finish speaking that thought. “I just told you: you can’t think in that direction. You need to use every ounce of your energy on God, His Word, and in Him showing His power through this situation. I believe that God has angels protecting her right now. God will deliver your daughter back to you and your family safe and sound. I believe that. But you must stay focused on God’s Word right now. You must be diligent in His Word. You know what the Bible says about a double-minded man.”

  “I know. That’s James 1:8, ‘A double-minded man is unstable in all his ways.’ I know the scriptures. But when it comes to something like this, there’s a difference in what you know in your head and what’s going on in your heart. I’m not going to lie to you: I’m scared right now.”

  “Ethan, God has not given you—”

  “ ‘The spirit of fear,’ ” he said, finishing the scripture from Second Timothy 1:7. “I know, I know. I’m just being real with you now. That’s why I called you. I knew you would keep my head on straight. I’m okay. Really, I’m okay. Thanks for reminding me that I have got to walk the talk. This is merely a test in a testimony. In the end, God will make a message out of this mess.” He sighed. I could tell he was truly pressing now. “Well, I’m hanging up now.”

  “Okay. And you know I’m praying. I know God is going to bring your baby back home safely and unharmed to you. I know that in my heart, and I’m confessing it with my mouth. I thank God that it’s done right now, in the name of Jesus! I thank You, God, that it’s done! I thank You, God, for peace right now in this situation, Thank You for a peace that surpasses all understanding. I thank You for being a keeper of your Word. I thank You, God, for the promises of Psalm 91:3 and 4. ‘Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence. He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust. . . .’ ”

  “Thank You, Lord!” Ethan said. “Thank You for Your promise of Psalm 91:7. I pray that scripture over Jacquetta right now, in Jesus’ name! ‘A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee.’ I thank You, Lord. Protect my child, right now. Protect Your child, right now. Bring our daughter safely home to us. Thank You, Lord. Thank You, Lord.”

  “These blessings we ask and we thank You for in advance, in Jesus’ precious name, amen,” I said, finishing the prayer.

  “Thank you,” Ethan said. “Thank you so very, very much.” I could hear the tears in his voice as his voice cracked.

  “If you can, will you keep me posted? And know that I’ll be waiting to hear the glorious praise report of her speedy and safe return.”

  “Yeah,” he said. “Yeah.”

  “Let me give you my home number,” I said. “Just in case you need to call me there.”

  “Are you sure it’s okay?”

  “Yeah. I want to know the minute your daughter comes home.”

  “Yeah,” he said, and I heard the smile and a slight uplift in his voice. “I’m sure it will be soon, too.”

  “Now that’s what I’m talking about,” I said. “Faith will move mountains. You just have to believe, then act like it’s already so.”

  I gave him my home phone number and hung up. Going back into my office, I closed the door and prayed.

  Chapter 21

  In the day that thou stoodest on the other side, in the day that the strangers carried away captive his forces, and foreigners entered into his gates, and cast lots upon Jerusalem, even thou wast as one of them.

  —Obadiah 1:11

  After I got home, I continued to pray for Ethan’s daughter’s safe return. I could only imagine what he must be feeling. I wouldn’t allow him to go there because I knew how important the words we speak can be. While at home, I was reminded of Daniel and how he had fasted and prayed for twenty-one days, expecting God to answer his prayer. On the surface, it looked like God wasn’t listening or didn’t care. After all, days then weeks had passed without any sign that God was doing anything.

  But Daniel didn’t let that stop him. He kept on praying, kept on believing, kept on speaking as though God was doing it. I went and got my Bible off the table in the den so I could read and encourage myself with God’s Word. I turned to the book of Daniel, chapter 10, verses 10–13, and began reading the words out loud.

  “And, behold, a hand touched me, which set me upon my knees and upon the palms of my hands. And he said unto me, O Daniel, a man greatly beloved, understand the words that I speak unto thee, and stand upright: for unto thee am I now sent. And when he had spoken this word unto me, I stood trembling. Then said he unto me, Fear not, Daniel: for from the first day that thou didst set thine heart to understand, and to chasten thyself before thy God, thy words were heard. . . .”

  I stopped to reflect. From the first day that thou didst set thine heart to understand, and to chasten thyself before thy God, thy words were heard. Thy words were heard. Wow . . . what an awesome God we serve.

  I continued to read. “. . . thy words were heard, and I am come for thy words. But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me one and twenty days: but, lo, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me; and I remained there with the kings of Persia.”

  I closed the Bible. And just as I did, my phone began to ring. I looked at the caller ID and, seeing that it was Ethan, I quickly answered it, trying to hide any anxiousness I might have had.

  “She’s home!” he said as soon as I said hello. And I was thankful he hadn’t prolonged letting me know with the normal answering etiquettes.

  “Praise God!” I said.

  “God is worthy to be praised! Yes, He is! Jacquetta is all right! She’s all right. She’s all right! A father of one of her little classmates happened to be driving down the road and saw her walking. He stopped, found out who she was, picked her up, and ended up taking her home with him.”

  “What?”

  “I know, I know. And I definitely plan to have a talk with her about that. Since they were little, we’ve stressed to our children to be careful of strangers. I guess we need to take that talk a little farther to beyond strangers, especially since strangers are
n’t the only enemy.”

  “So why didn’t he bring her home? Why didn’t he call and let anybody know where she was? Wait a minute, he didn’t—”

  “No, he didn’t do anything. It turns out, he’s a really good guy. He took her to his house and told Jacquetta to call and let someone know where she was. Of course, she got with her little school friend, they got to playing . . . and I’m sure you, better than anyone, know how the rest goes.”

  “Oh, yeah. I know all too well.”

  “There was an Amber Alert out on her. Somehow, thank God, there was a tip that came in of someone seeing a red Mercedes picking up a young girl that fit Jacquetta’s description. I don’t know completely how everything came about, but they went to this man’s house and . . . there was my daughter, safe and sound.”

  “But you would think he would have called one of you himself. He should have known you can’t rely on children to do things like that, especially since he picked her up from the road the way he did.”

  “Well, I can assure you, should he ever do anything like that again, he himself will certainly be calling the next time,” Ethan chuckled. “I just don’t plan on there ever being a next time with my child.” He released a sigh. “Listen, I’m not going to be long. I just wanted to let you know that God has heard and answered our prayers. That my daughter is back home safe—hallelujah—and sound. And to tell you how much I appreciate you for helping me hold it together earlier. Because honestly: I was coming a bit unglued.”

  “Well, you picked up the pieces and pulled yourself back together rather well. That’s all that matters. And God did His thing and brought your little girl back to you. God showed up and showed out.”

  “Yes, He did! And I hope I haven’t put you in a bad spot by calling you at home like this,” he said.

  “No. It’s fine. Normally, I’m the one who answers this phone. Our girls have pretty much had their own line since they were old enough to talk on the phone. So my only daughter still at home never touches this one. But I wanted you to have the number. I knew your daughter was going to be all right, and I wanted to hear as soon as you knew something.” I half laughed from the joy of this blessed outcome. “I would have been a little upset had I been forced to wait until who knows when to learn of this glorious news.”

  “Yeah.”

  “But if you should happen to call here again in the future, you might want to make sure it’s me before you get going,” I said, half teasing, half serious.

  “I promise. This was a one-time thing. I just wanted to blurt the news out as quickly as I could. It sounded like it was you, but you’re right: next time, I’ll make sure it’s you before I proceed. Well, I’m going now. Bye. Oh! And thanks again!” He was so happy.

  After I hung up, it was only then that it hit me: he said next time.

  Chapter 22

  For we have not a high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.

  —Hebrews 4:15

  A week later, Ethan called me at the flower shop.

  “Are you busy right now?” Ethan said after he knew it was me.

  “No. In fact, I was just about to close up. Why? Do you need to order something?”

  “No. But I would like to see you. I was thinking if you were free for dinner, I know this really nice restaurant I’d like to take you to . . . you know, to thank you for being so supportive last week.”

  I shook my head even though he couldn’t see me. “Oh no. That’s not necessary at all. I’m just glad I could be of some help. Your daughter being safely back at home is enough thank-you for me.”

  “Oh, you were more than just some help. You got me back focused; reminded me that I was in spiritual warfare and that our weapons are not carnal but mighty through God. There were lots of folks with things to say on that day last week. Not many of them were slapping me back into a place of faith, not the way you did.”

  “Well,” I said, with a controlled sigh, “it was my pleasure to give whatever help I could. I’m just glad everything turned out the way that it did.”

  “You and me both,” Ethan said. “So let me take you to dinner as my way of saying thank you.”

  “As I just said, that’s really not necessary. That’s what friends are for, right?”

  “Yes, that’s what friends are for.” He paused a second. “All right. Since you won’t let me take you to dinner, may I at least stop by and bring you something?”

  “Oh, Ethan—”

  “You know: you’re the hardest person I’ve ever seen when it comes to graciously receiving blessings. You’re good at giving them; now when are you going to learn to accept? I hope you know that you’re blocking my blessings right now.”

  “Is that right?” But his words did sort of slap me around a little bit. I hadn’t thought about it, but he was absolutely right. I didn’t like people doing things for me.

  “So if you’re going to be at the shop a little longer, I’ll stop by and drop off what I have for you.”

  “E-than.” I slightly sang his name. “Really, you don’t owe me anything.” Although in truth, I was curious about what he had.

  “May I please come by?” He released a loud sigh. “Okay, let me try it this way. Will you still be at the shop twenty more minutes?”

  “I’ll be here,” I said, looking at the clock on the wall and seeing that even if I wasn’t going to be waiting on him, I’d still be around, if doing nothing more than putting things away.

  * * *

  Ethan arrived at my shop twenty minutes on the dot carrying a large brown bag in his hand. Although clothed quite casually, he was still dressed to the nines. As I locked the shop’s door back, I quickly brushed my hair down with my hand. I stood there in my silver flat shoes wearing a one-hundred-percent polyester, wash-and-wear, black with thin red stripes, sailor-looking pantsuit. My head looked like someone who’d finished a day of buffing hardwood floors, and not with an electric buffer, either, but with a rag and on my hands and knees, as my mama would say.

  Ethan stared at me, then let loose one of his signature grins. “Hi,” he said.

  “Hi.” I brushed the side of my hair again and prayed my hair looked better than the last time I’d seen it in the mirror.

  “You look fine,” he said, as though he knew exactly what I was thinking.

  I waved him off. “Oh, please. We both know better than that.”

  “Thank you for allowing me to come by so late. I’m sure you’re anxious to get home.” His deep baritone voice was smooth and so easy on the eardrums.

  “Well, I won’t very well stay in business long if I close my doors when people might be interested in coming in.”

  He stepped a little closer to me. “I wanted to properly thank you and to let you know how much I truly appreciate you.”

  “You’ve already thanked me. I’m serious. Saying it was more than enough.”

  He flashed me a sheepish grin. “Well, you’ll have to forgive me, but I wanted to do a little more. I’m disappointed that you wouldn’t allow me to take you to dinner. Nevertheless, this . . . is for you.” He held out the bag to me by its twisted rope handles.

  I glanced at the bag. “Ethan—”

  He presented the brown bag to me again. “Please take it.”

  So I took it and, with a rather cheesy grin and sugar in my voice, said, “Thank you.”

  “You can’t thank me until you’ve looked inside to see what it is. It could be something you don’t want to thank me for. With me, you never know.”

  “You want me to open it right now?”

  “That would be nice. I would like to know whether or not you like it.”

  I walked over to the table and set the bag on it. I peeked inside, almost afraid of what was in there.

  He laughed. “It’s not going to bite you. It’s not alive.”

  “Yeah, well . . . when it comes to you, one can never be sure.” I pulled out a nice-siz
ed, gold-colored box. “Oh my,” I said. “No, you didn’t? Is this a cake?”

  “I did . . . and it is. Is it okay?”

  I looked for a picture on the box; there wasn’t one. He pulled out a paper with a picture of the cake on it and handed it to me. “Is it really a chocolate mousse torte cake?” I said. “Wow, this looks like it will seriously do damage to somebody.”

  “Oh, it’s rich now, that’s for sure. I had one like it once. One of the higher-ups at the company had one at her Christmas party last year. As soon as I saw it, I immediately thought of you.”

  “Really now. You thought of me?” I looked at the picture of the cake again, then back at him. “And why, exactly, is that?”

  “Woman, please! The way you love chocolate. At least, you used to love it. Well, this is the platinum standard when it comes to chocolate.”

  “Platinum, huh? Okay, let’s see what’s all in here.” I found where it described the chocolate mousse torte and began to read it out loud. “ ‘Two chocolate layers filled with luscious chocolate whipped cream mousse.’ Ooh, my . . . sinful. ‘Covered with milk chocolate frosting and dark chocolate glaze . . . garnished with fudge rosettes and dark chocolate shaving topped off with a Belgian chocolate plaque.’ Wow, I think I just put on five pounds merely reading this. You’re really trying to tempt me, aren’t you? You really are.”

  “Oh, and that chocolate plaque that’s on top?” Ethan said.

  “Yeah?”

  “It says, ‘Thank you.’ At least, that’s what I told them I wanted when I ordered it.”

  “You really are trying to tempt me. Sinful indeed!” I teased. “So you ordered this? You mean to tell me you didn’t walk into a store and just pick it up off a shelf?”

  “Me, just walk into a store and merely pick up something for you? Oh no. I couldn’t just saunter into any old store and merely pick you up something. No, that would never do. For you—only the best, no matter how far away it must be shipped,” Ethan said with a fake, exaggerated British accent.