As the years have gone by and the girls have grown, Emma’s bitterness regarding her lack of education and career opportunities has steadily increased. It’s not as if Jack hasn’t encouraged her to complete her schooling and find work that interests her—that she finds “fulfilling” is how the young people phrase it.
I want to see them attempt marriage counseling again, but Emma has a stubborn streak which often turns to anger. Reverend, I can’t bear to see my granddaughters suffer because their parents divorce or see my family torn apart. Is there anyone you could suggest to help mend this situation without my coming across as meddling? I would especially appreciate your prayers.
God bless you and your fine work.
Sincerely,
Mrs. Ruth Perkins
Ray propped his elbows on his desk, re-reading the letter. Mrs. Perkins was clearly worried her family was collapsing, and he understood her fear of being perceived as nosy. These domestic situations were never just about the couple but the entire family, and he wondered if Mrs. Perkins’s daughter might be more receptive to family counseling than marriage counseling.
He positioned the letter next to the computer, contemplating the blank screen. While he admired Mrs. Perkins’s penmanship, Ray would never be able to answer all the incoming prayer requests personally if he used that approach.
Dear Mrs. Perkins,
Thank you for your letter. It is always a pleasure to hear from our viewers, especially those who have been with us from the beginning.
You mentioned your daughter, Emma, being a bit stubborn when approached regarding further counseling, and I can certainly understand your frustration at what you may perceive as her unwillingness to continue. Some people view having to get counseling as failure, and nothing could be further from the truth. It takes courage to try and fix something that is broken. It takes courage to accept that you need support, and perhaps that’s where Emma’s hesitancy is coming from.
With that in mind, I am enclosing information regarding Dr. Jane Moore, whose family counseling work is in the St. Louis area. Dr. Moore’s therapy focuses on helping the entire family anticipate triggers that are cause for disharmony. I can’t guarantee success or even that Emma will agree to it. Perhaps, she would be more open to family counseling than therapy focusing on their marriage.
I would also recommend that a person besides you (Emma’s husband, Jack, for example) be the one to suggest the family meet with Dr. Moore. This approach should also help concentrate counseling on the entire family.
I will keep your family in my prayers, and please write me again on your family’s progress.
In the love of Jesus Christ,
Rev. Ray Williams
The printer hummed, and he retrieved the page for his signature. He made a notation he’d responded to Ruth Perkins on this date. He was glad she had trusted in him and very much hoped she’d stay in touch.
DECEMBER 9, 2002 ST. CHARLES, MISSOURI RUTH PERKINS’S HOME
Ruth’s mail came every morning by 11:15; and she liked to complete her daily walk by then so she might greet the postal carrier, Mr. Wilson (nicknamed “Fuzz”), who’d had this route since Emma was a child. At precisely 11:10, the front bell rang.
“Good morning, Fuzz,” Ruth said. “Any mail of interest today, besides bills?”
“Morning, Ruth.” Fuzz handed her a stack of catalogues, flyers, and envelopes. “No bills at all, which makes it an extra good day,” he said. “There’s a letter from a Reverend Williams that looks to be interesting.”
Ruth shuffled the mail to bring the reverend’s letter to the top. “Only a mail carrier with your experience would recognize this as very important.” Not bothering with a letter opener, she tore the envelope by the corner, unfolded the letter, and gave it a cursory look.
“Good news, I hope,” Fuzz said.
“Wonderful. I consulted the reverend for advice on Emma and Jack’s marital difficulties, and he’s provided a therapist for them to contact for family counseling. It’s a small step, but one I think worth taking. If Emma has her way, the marriage will wither and die. Jack, on the other hand, has expressed interest in seeing another marriage counselor.”
“I’ll say a prayer for them at Mass.”
Ruth Perkins was beaming, full of newfound energy. “I’m much obliged, Fuzz. I’ll take all the prayers I can get.”
Ruth phoned Jack at his office and asked him to stop by on his way home. The doorbell chimed at five thirty, and she opened it to find her son-in-law looking quite dapper in a camel overcoat.
“My, but you cut a sharp figure,” she said. “Let me take your coat.”
“Thanks, Mom,” Jack said, giving her a peck on the cheek.
Guiding Jack into her cozy living room, Ruth settled into a Queen Anne chair. “I won’t keep you long. I know Emma likes dinner at six o’clock, but I want to run something by you.”
Clad in a suit and tie, Jack took a seat on the couch across from her. “Nothing’s wrong, I hope?”
“Not quite.” Ruth cleared her throat, gathering up her courage. “I hope you won’t think me a meddling mother-in-law, but since you and I have had numerous conversations about you and Emma going to marriage counseling again, I contacted someone who provided the name of a therapist who does family counseling.”
Jack moved to the edge of the sofa cushion. “That’s great. Is it a referral?”
“Yes. Please don’t tell Emma, but I got it from Reverend Ray, the preacher on television she absolutely hates.” Ruth reached for the therapist’s card and handed it to Jack. “This is a therapist specializing in family counseling.” Jack listened as Ruth explained what Rev. Ray had suggested. When she finished reading him the letter, Ruth said, “I think part of Emma’s pigheadedness comes from my suggesting she do something. She didn’t care for the therapist you were working with, so that gave her an excuse to stop going. If you suggest making another attempt, I think she’d be more apt to listen.”
Jack brushed the card against the open palm of his hand. “I think you’re right. I like the idea of the entire family involved in counseling. Our issues go deeper than our marriage. I’ll coordinate schedules and make the appointment. It’s a start at least.”
Ruth clapped her hands together. “I was hoping you wouldn’t be upset with me, Jack. But it isn’t fair to you, the girls, and even Emma to hide problems amongst the dust. I know you still love one another, and it breaks my heart to see so much tension and conflict in your relationship.”
“Mine, too.” Jack stood up. “I appreciate your help, Mom. And I promise, your secret is safe with me.”
25
MONDAY, DECEMBER 23, 2002 ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI THE ROAD TO CALVARY SET
Ray stood before the choir, having completed rehearsal for the Christmas Eve service. “You were all marvelous, simply marvelous,” he said, enthusiastically, as he admired the choir members dressed in Christmas red robes. He nodded toward the seamstress, whose sewing magic had produced numerous robes and vestments. “Mildred, you have outdone yourself.”
The choir members broke into appreciative applause. “My pleasure.” Mildred Watson beamed at Ray. “It’s a labor of love.”
“I have a special announcement.” Ray smiled at the group, their faces attentive with expectation. “KNSL will be filming our Christmas Eve service. Buck will provide the instructions.” Ray waved his long arm toward his friend, who he swore was blushing at all the attention.
Buck blinked rapidly. “Hello, everyone. All choir members, altar servers, and anyone else on stage needs to be here by four o’clock. The film crew from KNSL is bringing equipment. Everyone needs to be dressed by then, so the TV station’s technicians can get the lights set up. Anyone have questions?” He looked over the assembled group.
Ryan raised his hand. “I don’t know about the rest of you, but since it’s Christmas Eve, I’d like to run through the service again, particularly the music.”
Ray looked over at the excited faces. “I’m no
t opposed to rehearsing again, if you all are available.”
To his amazement, voices responded in unison, “Yes!”
Once rehearsal was completed, Ray corralled Buck for a private conversation.
“I want to review this one last time. Immediately following the prayer of deliverance, and while they’re still filming, I’ll tell the congregation I have a special message. I’ll step off the stage and ask Susannah for her hand.”
Buck had tried not to show his hesitancy when Ray informed him of his plans to ask Susannah to marry him on live TV. He refrained from asking Ray about his haste to marry a woman both he and Jeff had mounting doubts about. Buck figured their concerns would fall on deaf ears. However, he was startled by Ray’s decision that the KNSL staff wouldn’t know about the proposal until it happened.
Buck held up an arm. “Can I ask you something?” He had an inkling of what was motivating his friend to take such a permanent step so soon.
“Sure.”
“Why now, at Christmas?” Buck asked, giving Ray a cheerful grin.
Ray hesitated, looking around the room to be certain they were alone. “The message of the Gospel, and you are familiar with this, is that the birth of Jesus Christ brought light into a world consumed by darkness. Susannah is not a Christ figure; however, she has brought a shining light into my life, and I wish to share it with her. I love her with all my being.”
“Well, Ray, I do see the positive effect she has on you,” he said, not altogether truthfully. Buck took a deep breath; it wasn’t often that he challenged Ray, but if he wasn’t going to present his concerns, he at least felt he needed to make a decisive point about the broadcast itself. “You’re sure KNSL won’t think you’re using the broadcast for personal gain?”
“The proposal will be its own entity, after the service is complete. If they balk after the fact, I will take full responsibility with KNSL. You have my word.”
Contemplating Ray’s words for a moment, Buck looked Ray square in the eye. “You’re the boss. Maybe this kind of personal moment shared with viewers is exactly what we need.”
26
DECEMBER 24, 2002 ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI THE ROAD TO CALVARY SET
Ray and Susannah greeted members of the congregation as they filed in, and he was pleasantly surprised to see Sally Sullivan, the young woman who had helped select Susannah’s engagement ring. An older woman with her was using a walker, and Ray surmised she must be Aunt Julia.
Stepping forward to greet them, he gave a charismatic smile and extended his hand. “Miss Sally Sullivan, how wonderful to see you! And this lovely lady must be Aunt Julia.”
Genuinely surprised, the elderly woman balanced herself on her walker as she shook Ray’s hand. “Why, it’s a pleasure to meet you, Reverend! And to call me by name on a first visit—I feel right at home.”
Sally almost blew Ray’s carefully kept secret. “Well, the reverend and I, we—” Glancing at Susannah’s unadorned ring finger, she caught herself. “We know each other from my writing a request to pray for your health, Aunt Julia,” she fibbed.
Susannah was at Ray’s shoulder in an instant, her gaze coolly sizing Sally up. She stiffly extended her hand. “That’s funny, Ray wouldn’t recognize you on sight; prayer requests aren’t usually handled in person.”
The meeting was verging on the disastrous. Ray remembered Sally telling him her aunt was recovering from a major heart attack and surgery and asking him to pray for her. “Julia was recovering from a life-or-death situation, and I felt it appropriate to meet with her niece in person. We discussed visiting at the hospital but met at the mall where Sally works instead. We had coffee at Starbucks in the Galleria Mall.”
“Yes, we did,” Sally added, still grasping Susannah’s tightening hand. “I very much appreciate the reverend taking time from his busy schedule to meet with me. And as you can see, my aunt Julia is on the mend.”
“Oh, for heaven’s sake, it was just a little heart attack,” the old woman said, waving her hand dismissively.
Sally rolled her eyes. “A heart attack that almost killed you.”
Susannah finally released her grip, and the young woman said to her aunt, “We need to find a seat. We’re looking forward to the service, Reverend.”
Seeming to realize her suspicions were unfounded, Susannah smiled warmly at the women. “I’m so glad you’re better, Julia. And welcome to The Road to Calvary.”
Ray breathed a sigh of relief and checked his jacket pocket, making sure he hadn’t forgotten the ring.
Ray searched through the crowd, seeing many additional faces. He felt a surging pride at the show’s growing membership and improving the aesthetics of the set. The stage was covered in red and white poinsettias donated by parishioners. Christmas candles burned, and a solitary gold star glowed above the stage.
The live broadcast was flawless. Ray felt slight tremors in his hands, realizing he was more anxious than he expected.
“We have seen God shining His presence in His gift to us of His only son. This infant will change the world, ministering to people through divine miracles and healing. Every one of us has the opportunity to experience God’s miracles if we open ourselves to His divine plan and love.”
Ray paused, casting an eye over the attentive faces. “But before we go forth to celebrate the miracle of Christ’s birth, I have a declaration I wish to share with all of you. Many of you know that I’ve been a widower many years, having lost my wife to cancer. When I started The Road to Calvary back in 1997, I did my best to serve God and you, my congregation, unconcerned about my own needs. Until recently, I thought perhaps my being alone was God’s will, part of His perfect plan for me. Then I realized He had another plan.”
He paused again, surveying his audience, curious faces waiting for their pastor to continue. “That plan was the realization I could accomplish more with a partner.”
The reverend left the stage, walked to the front row where Susannah was seated, and stood before her. Dressed in a red sheath, her auburn hair framing her face, Ray thought for a brief moment he spied the aura radiating from her being. “After an existence of being alone, I’ve met someone who has changed my life.” Ray stretched his long arm toward Susannah, his smile that of a man deeply content. “Susannah, would you please join me?”
Susannah rose, accepting Ray’s beckoning hand and facing him. He sensed the cameras were still rolling. “Susannah Baker, you have enriched my life beyond my greatest dreams. And I am asking you, here, before God and these Christian witnesses, if you will join me in the covenant of Christian marriage and partnership?”
Her fingers slipped from his grasp, covering her mouth in stunned silence, joyful tears glistening against her cheeks. He used his free hand to retrieve the black velvet box from his coat pocket, displaying the solitaire diamond ring. The expectant crowd gasped in excitement, anxiously waiting for Susannah’s response. Regaining her composure, she proclaimed loud enough for all present to hear, “Yes, Ray, I would be honored to join you in the bond of Christian marriage.”
Ray passed the microphone off to Ryan and taking her slender left hand, slipped the sparkling solitaire on her finger. Susannah inhaled at the beauty of the ring as tears streamed down her flushed cheeks. On their feet now, audience members clapped and cheered. From the back of the back of the congregation a voice shouted, “Kiss her, Reverend!”
Ray smiled at Susannah, and they kissed tenderly. Ryan returned the microphone to the beaming Rev. Ray, who tried unsuccessfully to quiet the audience. “Thank you, thank you.” The crowd gave the couple a standing ovation.
At last, the audience settled down, and Ray spoke into the microphone, “My brothers and sisters, on this blessed day of Christmas Eve, let us go forth to love one another and celebrate the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.”
The KNSL crew was still filming as the crowd circled around them, with congratulations and shouts of “Merry Christmas!” For far too long, Ray had sacrificed any type of relationshi
p, always maintaining that his duty as a pastor serving his congregation was his primary calling. Yet, as he stood here, surrounded by worshippers ecstatic with the news of his impending marriage, he realized that Susannah was the perfect helpmate, and that, as partners, they could accomplish far greater good than he could alone.
A heavy woman grasped Ray’s forearm to shake it. “Thank you, Reverend Ray, for helping heal the rift in my family. Jesus brought my children back together. My kids were skeptical at first; but when I told them you called me by name and knew about our problems, they became convinced. After many years of being angry with one another, we’re going to celebrate Christmas as a family.”
Ray smiled. “If we truly believe, the Lord is there for us, Thelma.”
Still clutching his arm, Thelma clasped Susannah by the wrist. “And congratulations to the both of you! This is wonderful news.”
Ruth would be attending Christmas Eve services later with Emma, Jack, and the girls, but she was delighted The Road to Calvary was carrying a live broadcast. It had been a lovely service; but the moment the Reverend Ray presented Susannah Baker with the glittering diamond solitaire, Ruth had found herself reaching for tissues to dry cascading tears. The romance of the reverend asking the woman he loved to marry him after being so long alone had gotten to her, but so had memories of her own happy marriage. And, now, perhaps her daughter and son-in-law were on their way to mending their troubled union.
Clutching a tissue, Ruth dialed 1-800-HE-SAVES, which scrolled at the bottom of the TV. Next to it also scrolled the tag line: The Road to Calvary—Your Salvation Station.
“Merry Christmas, and thank you for calling The Road to Calvary. How may I help you?” a man’s voice asked Ruth over the phone.
“Excuse me, the Reverend Ray’s proposal to Miss Baker brought tears to my eyes,” Ruth sniffled. “What a beautiful service. I want to make a Christmas donation in the amount of five thousand dollars.”
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