“I’m here to tell you today that weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning. If you know it, then give God some praise.”
People got up and started cheering, giving God praise, and then took their seats.
“Have you ever felt like crying? There are times in every life when each of us feels like crying. Crying is universal. Everyone cries. Babies cry and adults cry. No matter what sex, race, or nationality we happen to be, we cry. Usually our tears represent the condition of our spirits at the time. When our spirits are full, one way or the other, we cry.”
Willie lifted his hand, saying, “Amen, preacher! We all cry sometime. Thank you, Jesus.” Sara looked at Willie. Reaching over, she rubbed his back.
“Yes, Lord, we all have to cry sometime,” she said as she looked back at Pastor Wheeler.
“Sometimes we cry when we are sad. Death, sickness, failure, and disappointment are powerful emotions that control our spirits and move us to cry.” Walking away from his podium, he looked out in the congregation. “David wept over the sickness of his son. Jesus wept at the tomb of Lazarus. It is not unusual for us to weep in times of trouble or despair. It is a way of emptying our souls.” Looking back at the guest choir, he said, “Can I get an ‘amen’?”
“Amen, Pastor.”
Swinging his arms around in the air, Pastor Wheeler did a two-step back to his podium. People were up shouting right along with him.
“Sometimes we cry when we are happy. We cry at weddings, reunions, graduations, and special ceremonies marking academic achievements. If we watch a movie that has a happy and sentimental ending, the tears flow like a river. They are tears of joy.” The church was rocking, and there was an anointing on Pastor Wheeler that had the church on fire.
Looking at the audience, he said, “A month ago God performed a miracle in the life of one of our members, and I cried tears of joy.” He smiled at his family and said, “Can I get an ‘amen’?” Then the church shouted it right back at him. It was as if they were playing baseball. He threw it out, and they hit it out the park every time.
Cynthia stood up, and before she knew it, the spirit of the Lord hit her in the top of the head and moved down to the soles of her feet. She began dancing in the Spirit right then and there. Smiling, Tina stood, watching her.
“Praise Cynthia, ’nobody knows like you know.”
Cynthia wasn’t the only one. There were others around the sanctuary that understood what their pastor was saying, and they gave God some praise for it.
“They’re tears of joy. These are moments when we are so happy we cannot contain ourselves.” Pastor Wheeler twirled around so fast in the pulpit and then gave God a Holy Ghost squall.
“But there is a day coming when God himself will be with us, and John said it like this.” Looking at Destiny, Adam said, “And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.” He saw the look in Destiny’s eyes and knew she understood. Even with the death of Stanley, she understood what he was saying.
Adam went on to preach that sermon like none he’d ever preached before. The congregation was blessed by the word that came out of their pastor’s mouth through the aid of the Holy Ghost. Finally, as he closed his message, he walked down the steps from the pulpit and stood in front of the audience.
“Church, when David penned this psalm, he was looking back over his life and saw the merciful hand of God that helped him endure his own weaknesses and personal trials. He thanked God for being with him during his weeping and lamentations.”
Walking to the right of the congregation, Adam looked at his members and saw their tears. He knew that as a church, they’d endured a lot. They had stood beside him even in his most difficult times, and he had stood by them during their trials.
Continuing to talk, Adam said, “David’s reflection upon his life is the same as that of any believer. We too have shared the same three experiences that David shared in his lifetime. God’s anger is a terrible thing. Generally, we bring down the wrath of God upon ourselves by some deviant act or another.”
Throwing up his hand, he said, “I’ve been there. Have you?”
“Yes, sir, Pastor, we’ve been there,” Edward Mason said as he gave God praise for delivering him.
Adam walked over to the other side of the church. “Then there’s God’s favor. It’s the ultimate blessing for any believer to receive the favor of God. When a person is a favorite, he receives special treatment, access, and considerations that may not be required.”
Turning to walk up the aisle, Adam stopped beside Destiny’s wheel chair. Looking at her for only a few seconds, he said, “When we realize that we have been favored, that’s when we can truly say, ‘He didn’t have to do it, but he did. He didn’t have to bless me, but he did! He didn’t have to heal me, but he did! He didn’t have to save me, but he did!’ While others revel in the fact that they have been blessed, those who have learned this truth are able to say, ‘I’m more than blessed. I’m enjoying the favor of the Lord!’”
Everyone seated in that section and in the sanctuary began to rejoice at the awesomeness of God.
“Yes, Lord, you’ve been good!” was being shouted throughout the congregation. The members were on their feet.
Tina shouted, “Yes, sir, you’ve been good to me!” as she held her son in her arms. Cynthia reached for the baby as Tina began turning around, and with each spin, she said louder, “Yes, sir, you’ve been good to me.” Richard stood to watch over his wife, but tears were in his eyes as he looked at their daughter, who was watching her mother, and their son in Cynthia’s arm. God had been good to them. He was worth all of the praise she was giving him.
“Then there are times in our experience when we’ve had to weep. The very first thing we do when we get into this world is cry. But shedding a sentimental tear at a wedding or at the happy ending of a movie is not the same as weeping. The Hebrew word for weeping in this text means continuous like steady dripping.” Using his hands, Adam illustrated a continuous motion, making sure that the congregation understood what he was saying.
“I want everyone in this sanctuary to know that in God, there are no wasted tears. Hallelujah!” He jumped up and down at the excitement of that statement.
He wasn’t the only one. The organist began to back him up, and folks all over the sanctuary were on their feet, giving high fives and praising God.
“I’ve found out in my own life, just as many of you have, that the darkest nights are followed by the brightest days! A great and heavy burden is followed by a multitude of blessings!” Pastor Wheeler was really feeling the Spirit now. His voice had begun to rise and fall as the organ and drummer kept beat.
“The sorrow of today is followed by pleasant times of tomorrow! The weakness of the moment can be the blessing of the hour!” The organ roared in unison with his voice.
“The difficulty of the day can prove to be the blessing for the week! I’ve found that no matter what comes my way, the Lord is able to make a way out of no way! He’s able to lift up a bowed-down head. He’s able to dry a tear-stained eye!”
No one was in their seat. The whole congregation watched as he continued to preach his heart out.
“So Destiny, go ahead and cry right now because, in Jesus, there are no wasted tears.”
Destiny heard those words with her heart, and before she knew it, she was rolling her wheel chair forward and backward in the aisle. She had seen people in wheelchairs praise God before but this was a first for her. She praised God like she’d lost her mind. Her eyes were closed, but the tears were flowing. It was over now. Everything from her past was not in vain because in God there were no wasted tears.
“Your tears are just temporary relief. Your tears are just a release of the pain, sorrow, and grief. Your tears are expressions that can’t be controlled. A little crying is all right, but after a while, you won’t have to cry any more
. Don’t you worry. God’s going to wipe every tear away. Because, in him, there’s never wasted tears, just a transportation to a new day. Weeping may endure for a night, but joy will come in the morning!” Pastor Wheeler was using his high and melodic falsetto voice.
People stood all over the sanctuary with their arms lifted in the air. Some were praising, and some were crying, but all of them knew that God was in this worship service.
“It’s time to give it to Jesus. No wasted tears this morning. Let’s give Jesus our all.”
A couple stood in the back of the church, followed by several more people all over the church. Pastor Wheeler surveyed the audience; looking for one more if it was God’s will. After getting peace, he asked all of those who stood to come to the altar. There were twenty-seven people at the altar, all wanting to give their lives to Christ. Pastor Wheeler asked for the assistance of the ministerial staff. Then he went to each one, hugging and speaking to them personally.
After walking back into the pulpit, Pastor Wheeler said, “I know you all thought that Shekinah Glory was our main guest today, but there is one other guest here to worship with us in song. I had the opportunity to take a wonderful woman to his concert recently while in Tacoma.”
Adam looked at Destiny. Then he looked up in the balcony of the church. “I’d like for you all to welcome Mr. Smokie Norful to Greater Community.”
Smokie moved through the sanctuary and walked into the pulpit. After giving Pastor Wheeler a hug, he looked out at the people in the congregation, who were standing on their feet, waiting for him to sing.
“Oh my God, I love Smokie.” Destiny leaned over to tell Tina. “I can’t believe he’s here.”
Tina turned to her, smiling.
Smokie waited, and as the musicians were getting ready, he said, “I got a call from Pastor Wheeler about two weeks ago. He asked me to come because he wanted to surprise a very special woman this morning.” He laughed before continuing. “This was the first time I’d been asked to sing a specific song, but after talking to your pastor, I understand why.” Looking out into the audience, he asked, “Destiny, will you please roll your chair down here?”
“Girl, you better roll up there,” Destiny heard Tina say as both of her sisters stood. The congregation watched as Destiny moved down the aisle. “Stay right there,” he stated as the band began to play. “This is from Pastor Wheeler to you. Many of you may not know this song, but it’s by an old R & B legend, Willie Hutch.”
People must have known it because Destiny could hear them whispering all around her. “Pastor is doing this thing right,” was one comment she heard in the audience.
Sitting there, Destiny looked at Adam. She had no idea what this was about, but she was obedient and sat where she was as the choir began to sing, “I, oh, I choose you, baby. I choose you baby.” Then Smokie joined in singing, “And I’ll tell you why. You were there when no one else would be in my corner, Destiny, and it’s you that I’ve learned to love and place no one above. Oh, how can I ever thank you, except take you home and make you my lovin’ wife so we can always be together? Oh ain’t that nice.”
She watched Pastor Wheeler walked down from the pulpit and slowly walk toward her. With each step, she thought of all the things that made him special. People were cheering, and some were even crying as Smokie and Shekinah Glory continued to serenade them. “Oh, I choose you, baby. Destiny, no longer do I have to shop around anymore. No, no, no, no. I’ve found that once-in-a-lifetime girl who I’ve been searching for. My baby, you’re all right. How can I convince you, girl, that you’re truly out of sight.”
Adam kneeled down, drawing a crying Destiny into his arms. He held her, telling her how much he loved her. Pulling back, he got up and took over the last part of the song. “Destiny, you’re the kind of woman that any man would be proud to know, the kind of woman that’ll have a man bragging anywhere he goes. Oh, I choose you, baby, ‘cuz you’re sugar. Oh, you’re spice, woman, love, you’re everything nice. Oh, my goodness, oh, I feel real bright. Oh, I choose you, baby.” He continued to hold her hand. Adam pulled back, looking at Destiny as she cried. His eyes were filled with love as he reached out to touch her cheek, an offer of comfort and love.
“You better work that song, Pastor!” was yelled from somewhere in the sanctuary, followed by several, “Yes, Lord!” After the band played the last keys of the song, Pastor Wheeler dropped back down on one knee.
Someone yelled, “Lord, have mercy!”
He looked up at the woman who was the other half of him. She was surprised that his hands felt damp and a film of perspiration began to form on his upper lip.
The feelings that overtook Destiny were indescribable. Happiness was bubbling up on the inside of her. Through her tears, she smiled as he knelt down in front of her. Then he cleared his throat before looking around one time and setting his eyes back on his Destiny.
“I wanted to do this in a romantic, sweep-you-off-your-feet kind of way. I hope this”—Adam waved his hand around, indicating everything he’d done during the service—“was romantic enough, because if it isn’t I could—”
Nodding her head, Destiny was trying to tell him it had been more than enough, but the words wouldn’t come. Tears kept rolling from her eyes.
Laughing, he said, “I guess that’s a yes.”
Destiny placed a hand on his cheek, rubbing her thumb up and down his face.
“I’ve loved you since I met you on the plane. I love you more every day, more than I can ever tell you. My life was empty and incomplete before you came along. Only God could have found you for me because only he knew what I needed. Destiny, I don’t know what I did to deserve you, but I thank God that you love me. You mean everything to me, and I want to spend the rest of my life causing you to love me more. I love you, Destiny.”
The greeters had passed out so much tissue that they didn’t have enough for all of the tears flowing in the sanctuary. One of the sisters on the front row yelled out, “Lord, he’s messing us up this morning! I can’t take it. God, send me one just like my pastor.”
Adam continued, “When you’re not around, I miss you. When I can’t see your smile, it seems like the sun doesn’t shine as bright. Because you’re”—he took a deep breath—“you’re the best thing that’s ever happened to me. So, Destiny Harper, will you marry me?”
Destiny continued to look down at him, her hair falling around her face. Adam wiped a tear that fell from her eyes. She knew the answer to the question right away, but she couldn’t believe that this was happening and Adam was asking what she’d hoped he would someday. That someday was today. She shook her head in disbelief that this day had been so glorious and now the man she loved was asking to marry her.
“Say yes, Destiny. Say yes.” Everyone started chanting, “Say yes.” Looking over at her family, Destiny saw everyone she loved chanting along with everyone else. She smiled from ear to ear as happy tears rolled down her face, she remembered the sermon from earlier in the service, “no wasted tears.” Reaching for her hand, she watched him as he leaned down to kiss her hard on the mouth, pouring all their emotions into the kiss. As they broke apart, she was able to speak.
“Yes!” she said, resting her forehead against his. Adam pulled a black velvet box from his pocket.
Adam glanced over to his right. Following his eyes, she looked to see her sisters. Each of them was giving her the thumbs-up with a smile. Adam placed the three-carat, canary diamond on her finger and sealed it with a kiss. The organist began playing the first cords of “My Name Is Victory” as the choir joined in, giving God praise for this special moment. Folks all over the audience were praising God for blessing their pastor with a wife.
Adam broke into a smile as he hugged Destiny. “I love you.”
Destiny laughed as she threw her arms around Adam’s neck and hugged him, forgetting about everything but the two of them in this moment.
Praising God right along with the choir, Adam grabbed Destiny’s hand, looked at
her, and said, “You’ve just made me very happy, Destiny.” Pulling back, he gazed at her with misty eyes and smiled.
Destiny pulled his face down to her and said, “You’ve just made me very happy, Adam. I loved you when we first met. I never thought I’d find someone who’d love me for me. No one knows me better, and no one makes me feel the way you do. You see past my past, and you make me feel so special. I know you’re always going to be there for me, and when it all goes wrong, you’ll be there to make it right. I want to wake up in your arms every morning, go to bed with you at night, and do everything in between with you every day for the rest of our lives.”
Marvin sat in the driver’s seat, knowing he needed to put the key in the ignition and drive away from the church. He didn’t. Couldn’t. His hands were trembling too much. He let out a slow breath, adrenalin, anticipation, and anger racing through him in equal measures. He’d just seen his sons. They had to be his; they looked just like him and they were with Cynthia.
Marvin forced himself to relax, forced the memories back, memories of their teenage romance, and that unforgettable night. Why hadn’t she told him about them? Well things would be different now, Marvin promised himself. Nothing and no one would keep him from his sons…and certainly not Cynthia.
Epilogue
Three Years Later
“Destiny, push, baby, push!”
The sweat was pouring down from her forehead. The pain was almost unbearable. Her hands squeezed the railings of the bed so hard that they had lost some of their coloring.
“C’mon, Mrs. Wheeler, just a little bit more. Keep your eyes on your focal point.”
The nurses were all excited that the world-renowned pastor, author, screenwriter and producer of the movie No Wasted Tears was in their hospital. The hospital administration had been put on alert earlier today that Mrs. Destiny Wheeler would be a patient. The movie had done better in theaters than any of the critics expected. The first week out, the movie grossed over forty million dollars. Now, nine months later, they were in California for the Golden Globe Awards. But their little bundle of joy was trying to make an early appearance.
No Wasted Tears Page 27