Bring Me Flowers (Garden of Love 5)
Page 31
Jon descended the front steps and the congregation was dismissed from their seats. Kathleen tried to get to Jon, but so many people were streaming toward the front to get a flower and taking a moment to greet her and tell her they would be praying for them, that she had to weave her way through the crowd. When she finally reached him, many others were hugging him and then when they saw her, they hugged her too.
They ended up standing there for quite some time as more and more people came to thank Jon for his words and tell them they would be praying for them. Kathleen was overwhelmed by the outpouring of love.
Kristin and Kendra Swan were among them. They both hugged her tightly and made her cry as they shed tears of their own. Then Pastor and Mrs. Swan took their turns.
Kathleen thanked Pastor Swan for his message. “I think I’d like the CD of that one.”
“I’d been preparing that sermon all week, Kathleen,” he said. “I didn’t know why until Jon called me yesterday. But God knew.”
She nodded and smiled, feeling too emotional to speak.
“You should know all this was Jon’s idea. I had nothing to do with it except to give him the opportunity to share his heart with you and the people of this church.”
Kathleen thanked the pastor again and looked around as the crowd began to dwindle. Almost everyone held a flower in their hands, some two or three. A few individuals were scattered across the stage, holding a tulip in their hand with their head bowed in prayer. She noticed a middle-aged couple standing off to the side, holding each other and crying.
“God, You are so awesome,” she whispered. “Thank you for bringing my husband back to me. Only You could. And You did.”
She turned back to Jon and suddenly realized they were alone for the moment. He walked toward her, and she stepped into his arms. Neither of them said anything. Holding each other seemed to say more than words ever could.
When Jon released her, he reached into his pocket and pulled out a ring. Her ring.
“Where did you find that?’ she asked with a smile.
“In the bottom of your jewelry box where Manda told me to look.”
Suddenly remembering her daughters, Kathleen realized she hadn’t seen them. They were used to her coming for them rather than seeking her out on their own. Jon must have read her thoughts.
“I asked Kristin to go get them,” he said. “She’s keeping them occupied to give me the chance to ask you something.”
He held the ring in his open palm just as he had done the night of their senior class party. “Kathleen Jessica Thomas, will you do me the honor of taking me as your husband again?”
She smiled. “Yes, Jon. I will.”
He slipped the ring onto her trembling finger and grasped her hands in his. Pastor and Nina Swan were waiting nearby and stepped forward to witness Jon’s words.
“I, Jonathan Thomas, take you, Katie, to be my wife. To have and to hold from this day forward. To love, honor, and cherish. In good times and in bad. Forever, Katie. I promise.”
“I’m sorry I let what my father said get to me. I forgive you, Jon, and I never stopped loving you. I take you to be my husband again, and I’m trusting God to keep us together for the rest of our lives.”
“I’m trusting Him too,” he said.
“Mommy! Daddy!” she heard Jamie squeal.
They turned to see their daughters running down the aisle toward them.
“Sorry,” Kristin said. “I couldn’t hold them off any longer.”
“That’s okay,” Jon replied. “I think it’s time for us to go home. Shall we, Mrs. Thomas?”
“Absolutely,” she said.
“Are you coming to our house today, Daddy?”
Jon lifted his youngest into his arms and took Amanda’s hand. Shifting his eyes back to hers, he said some of the sweetest words she had ever heard.
“Yes, I’m coming home.”
Because of the LORD’S great love,
we are not consumed,
for his compassions never fail.
They are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness.
I say to myself, ‘The LORD is my portion;
therefore I will wait for him.’
Lamentations 3:22-24
I’d love to hear how God has used
these stories to touch your heart.
Write me at:
living_loved@yahoo.com