She didn’t think it was appropriate for her niece to see her undressed or for her to undress just now in front of her. Joy’s becoming a woman, she might as well enjoy her childhood while she can. Sunny wasn’t sure if Roya would approve of this, them bathing together. Joy was like the daughter she never had. Sunny had a split-second to reflect on her life, wondering if she was ever going to get married and have a family of her own as she saw Joy hop in the tub while the water was still running.
At thirty-eight, many women had taunted her with pessimistic words like ‘Girl, your motherhood clock is ticking.’ ‘You shouldn’t have your first child in your late thirties since most kids are diagnosed with disabilities and disorders.’ ‘Once you turn forty, there are studies that claim you’ll have complications for both of you as the mother and child will worsen by this age.’ But she knew that God had it all in His mighty hands and in His plan. She stopped the water, undressed, and sat in, at the other end, closed her eyes and relaxed in the warm water. Her head flew up as soap bubbles splashed in her face. Joy had playfully swayed her arms in the water towards Sunny.
“I’m so sorry Auntie,” She said innocently and in a sincere apologetic tone.
“Wow. That’s cool. It has a nice ring to it. Auntie Sunny,” Sunny gazed at Joy, as her eyes became glossy.
“Huh. I called you Auntie before? What, you want me to call you Auntie instead of Sunny, right?” She tilted her head to the side, nearly rubbing her shoulder.
“You can call me both. Auntie Sunny. Sounds good, let’s play!” Sunny picked up a glob of suds and blew it at Joy sitting in front of her.
Suddenly, Roya stepped into the bathroom. “What are you two doing?” she shouted, startling both of them. They spilled some bath water as they jumped at her voice.
Sunny looked at Roya’s bloodshot eyes. “Bubble fight. Do you want to join us?” Sunny responded sarcastically as she blew soap suds in Roya’s direction.
Roya waved her hands angrily, “Stop it. Stop it right now.”
“I wasn’t sure if you’d approve, but I’ve been watching your children on and off for over three years. She took off her clothes to hop in the tub while I was filling it,” Sunny countered as she scooted away from Joy in the tub. Joy covered her upper body with the soap suds, as Sunny attempted to grab a towel hanging on her right side for Joy to get out.
“No. It’s okay. I’m glad that you got all the suitcases and luggage into the bedrooms already. I have no clue where the boys will sleep during their summer break.”
“You must mean during their winter break, Sis,” Sunny chimed.
“Girl, you’re right,” Roya shooed.
“I’ll sleep with you, Roya, when they come home on break.”
“I guess that’ll work.” Roya agreed.
“Joy can have the other room next to us since she sometimes has nightmares. The boys can share the room down the hallway. We’ll be fine. Don’t worry about a thing, Roya.”
“Thanks, Sunny.”
“I got your back. I’ll get out, clean out the tub and make a fresh bath for you to relax in,” Joy ran into the bedroom with a flush pink towel around her petite body.
“Joy needs to be careful and slow down. She should know her feet are slippery when wet,” Sunny yelled.
“I know Auntie!”
Roya responded, “No, I’d rather go lay down. I’m exhausted after that eight-hour plane ride. I can feel the jet lag,”
Roya dragged her feet as she slowly walked towards Joy and the bed.
“Joy and I made all three beds. Fresh linens,” Sunny smiled as she acted out the enjoyment of smelling a freshly covered pillowcase.
The next morning, Sunny sang a tune from a song she heard on the plane by Damita while listening on her Ipod, “Gotta keep holding on…holding on…gotta keep holding on…yes I will…keep holding on” She hummed the words,…listen now…hold your head up high, don’t let your spirit die, though sometimes you cry…you got to realize, you have to let your feelings flow…there is someone that loves you…you got to know…oh yes you do…” She flowed the chorus keep holding on…holding on…don’t you give up now…don’t let this world you are living in get you down, but if you endure, someday you’re going to wear a crown…just lift your hands right now, and receive God’s love right now. You gotta keep holding on,” and repeated these words until the song drowned out.
Sunny suddenly realized her voice likely traveled from the bathroom to the bedroom. She tiptoed into the bedroom, and saw Roya in a deep sleep. She heard her light snores and smiled. Sunny let her harmonious voice echo gently through the home, knowing Roya was getting some well-needed rest.
Sunny slipped into her radiant yellow sundress from one of the suitcases. She went to Joy’s room and noticed the light was on. She whispered, “Shh. We don’t want to wake up your mommy.”
“Right,” Joy put her finger to her mouth.
Checking again on Roya before heading to the kitchen to prepare breakfast, she was startled to see Roya was not in the bed. She checked the bathroom. She raced to the office and saw her sleeping soundly in the office boardroom. She breathed a sigh of relief.
The phone rang. She dashed to it to keep it from awakening Roya. “Hello” she whispered. She saw Joy come up to the boardroom door, and she held a finger to her lips as she pointed at Joy’s sleeping mother. Joy nodded.
She heard, “Good, this is Sunny.”
“Yes, it’s me. Mom?”
“How’s Roya doing?”
“Not too good, Mom. I had to give her a sedative.”
“So, now is not a good time to come? Should we come by now or wait a day or two?” Jewel asked.
“Mom she’s resting now. She appears a little emotional right now. Maybe tomorrow would be better.”
“Okay, Sunny.”
“I’ll cook something to eat and see how she feels in a couple of hours.”
“I’m glad you are there, Sunny.”
“Joy and I can come by to see you since we slept on the plane ride. Do you have plans?”
“No not really. Lance left the house. But you’re welcome to come by for a visit, but that’s a little drive for you guys. Do you think it’s safe to leave Roya alone right now?” Jewel sounded worried.
“You’re right Mom. I’ll remain here.” Sunny responded.
“Okay, I’ll call back to check on Roya later.”
CHAPTER 4
Revelatory Dreams
Jewel Battle
As soon as Jewel hung up the phone, she dropped to her knees to pray on her daughter’s behalf. She was believing for a breakthrough. The words flowed from her lips. Her eyes became watery.
“Healing is here. I believe Jesus, you will do it for my Roya. Yes, yes, yes,” She cried. giving praise to Jesus in advance.
“You promise us in your word that you wouldn’t leave us. You wouldn’t forsake us. I need you to heal her heart. Remove any suicidal thoughts from her mind right now, Jesus.” She let her tears for her daughter flow.
Lance stepped into the living room. “Jewel, what’s going on?”
She wondered if he heard her praying, or only saw her on her knees. It didn’t matter. She knew that in His Word that if two or more agreed, God was in the midst. She needed a prayer partner. He was available. She waved him to come closer.
“Come here. Get on your knees and pray with me.”
Lance dropped to his knees next to her. “Who are we praying for?”
“Roya. My eldest daughter.”
“Ah, yes, the one who left the sanctuary and made a scene in service,” Lance interjected.
“Her heart is breaking,” Jewel responded, “Please don’t hold it against her.”
“I can’t imagine her pain. Didn’t that guy say she’d lost her husband and small children?”
Jewel’s eyes watered. A lone tear ran down her cheek. Her lips quivered, unable to say a word. She gave a nod. “My beautiful grandbabies.”
“I didn’t mean anything
by it,” Lance offered.
Jewel reached for his hand and clasped it in hers. “Let’s just pray.”
“What do you want me to pray for?”
Does he need to ask? Jewel thought in disbelief. She composed herself. “Lance, we have a woman suffering from a loss. She lost half of her family at the hands of the Task Force.”
“Is this a military force?” Lance inquired as his eyes widened.
Jewel gave him a curt nod.
“Is there anything we can do aside from pray?” Lance quizzed. “Can’t we go to the police? Higher superiors? Seek legal action?”
“What, like a lawsuit against the Special Ops, who possibly takes commands from some private operation affiliated with the government?” Jewel fired.
“I didn’t consider that,” Lance shrugged. “I just don’t think any government entity should have such power in America without legal precautions.”
“I don’t disagree,” Jewel lowered her head. “I just feel like we’ll be crushed and destroyed like the Philistines did the Hebrews. It took a Nazarite to finally come to terms of his calling as a Judge. He killed many in the process.”
“Are you talking about Samson, the man who once had physical strength but relied on God’s strength at the end?” Lance’s eyes glistened.
Jewel glared into Lance’s brown eyes and nodded saying, “Mm. Hm.” She cupped his chin in her hand. “You may be younger than me by at least twelve years, but I thank God for your brilliance and wisdom. I need you to use that in our prayer to Jesus to help relieve my daughter from her grief, and possibly depression.”
“Jewel, you’re my good thing and I’m blessed I met you at the gas station. I offered to pay for your gas when your credit card wasn’t working. You’ve shared so much with me in this short time, and taking me to meet Pastor Isaiah and his understudy, what was his name?”
“You’re silly now,” she giggled. “He’s not an understudy. This is not acting, and he’s the backup! He’s a Minister. Joshua. He was a close friend to this family, especially to Roya’s husband, Solomon.”
“I see. Solomon is the one who died in the hands of the Task Force, hung up on display on some busy highway for all to see, and video hasn’t been taken down on most of the social networks.” He paused. “Was he a good son-in-law?”
“What makes you ask such a thing?” Jewel blushed.
“Just asked. I’m still learning about you and your family.” Lance said, shyly.
“Yes. He’s my only son-in-law. He was the best, better yet, he was a great provider, husband, and father to boot. He helped so many. He even took my other daughter, Sunny, into their home when I deserted her for years.”
“You deserted your daughter, Sunny?” His eyes became wider. His mouth hung low.
“Close your mouth, Lance,” Jewel said and tapped his chin.
He obeyed.
“Look there’s a lot you have to learn about me, but we have lost our focus, here. We need to pray,” Jewel huffed.
“You’re right,” Lance agreed. “Do you want to start?”
“Sure,” Jewel closed her eyes and held his hand again.
“Dear Jesus, we come to you humbly, and on our knees, and ask for your grace in this hour. I am praying on my eldest daughter’s behalf. Doctors are ready to put her on Zoloft for depression. I know, Lord Jesus, you can send the comforter and give her peace beyond understanding. I trust you will help Roya with her outbursts even though she doesn’t mean what she is saying. She’s hurting and in the process of breaking her earthly ties with her deceased loved ones. I pray you will tame her tongue.
“Thank you, Jesus, for sending Sunny, her sister, the child I deserted for over eighteen years. I’m blessed she found us and she has been nothing but a diamond for us. She has helped Roya so much and now she’s with her to be a blessing to her and her family. Please Lord Jesus, help me to be that light in her life as well. In Jesus’ name,” Jewel waited as Lance added his prayer.
“Jesus, I stand and agree with everything Jewel has said. Your word tells us in Hebrews eleven that without faith, we cannot please you. We also know that we just need the faith of a mustard seed, and will see these obstacles that appear as mountains will be moved. I am a believer that Roya will be healed, for your stripes, we will be healed. She will not need those meds, and she’ll be healed as we deliver this prayer to you. In Jesus’ name, we pray, Amen.”
“Amen,” Jewel responded.
Jewel opened her eyes, released her grip from Lance’s hand, and she rose from her knees. Lance hurried to a standing position and offered his hand to help her up. As he reached for her hand, Jewel felt an electrical current shoot through her body. Her eyes didn’t blink. In her vision, she saw through Roya’s eyes. She extended her arms forward, and wiggled her fingers, trying to touch what she was visualizing.
Lance stepped backwards. He froze in place as the room shook. “Jewel. Are you okay?” Lance’s voice trembled. When she didn’t respond, he watched silently.
Her eyes focused on an amusement park. She stood in a very long line—with many people ahead of her, at least hundreds, maybe even thousands. She curved her mouth to speak. She heard no words. She then saw a water ride that split into two tubes as she slid down one large one at the peak of the slide. Were her eyes deceiving her? She started in an extremely long line, to be at the peak of the water slide, and was pushed downward to see a split in the slide. Which one will she choose or will fate choose it for her? She slid down one slide, on her right side, and saw it led to the raging waters. The experience repeated once more, and this time, she slid down the left side, leading to a grassy area near the end of a tunnel. She turned her head to see a morphed scorpion-like spider crawling near to meet her. She rose her legs and curved her body to come out sideways instead of on her back and butt, barely missing the strange creature. She rushed out of the tube once her feet landed on the grass below. A staff stuck through the middle of the scorpion-like-spider with a sharp blade at the end, as if its owner was picking up the trash on the amusement park grounds.
Jewel screamed. She placed her hands over her mouth, and her forehead glistened with sweat. Her knees weakened as she wobbled forward. Lance raced to her rescue and jumped in front of her to catch her in his arms as she fell.
Moments later, the Holy Spirit spoke to her mind, and she uttered them aloud, “Don’t allow fear to block your path. Roya has allowed her past to become her present. You’ve prayed for Roya—to move this mountain, from her view. This is her stumbling block that is hard to knock from her view right now—Solomon forewarned her before his death. Her sons will minister to many, as you saw, in the crowds. They’ll reach thousands, not just coming in droves in person, but will be viral over the Internet. This opportunity is coming soon.
“The amusement park is symbolizing the amusement from the pleasures and things of the world, reaching the plateau of your fleshly desires, and Lance is that pleasure you’ve sought after.”
Lance walked her over to the couch. His face showed his concern as she spoke. He sat her down, and sat next to her. She continued, her voice becoming louder and firm, “Jewel, you have prayed with compassion on your daughter’s behalf. Renew your mind and heart. You’ve suffered many years, after the loss of Lazarus, and his secret affairs, and you’ve accepted his children as your own. This is your first relationship after this loss. Now Roya has lost her husband, Solomon, and you can help comfort her by expressing your loss. You’ve covered your pain and buried it for so many years. She needs you.”
Lance shook Jewel lightly. “Snap out of it. What’s going on?”
Jewel’s eyes still didn’t blink. She spoke, “You’ll also suffer from financial burdens due to the change of the times. In this time, listen to Me,” Jewel paused.
Lance said, “Jewel. You’re going to another level.”
Jewel agreed, “I know. Jesus showed me through Roya’s eyes her dream.”
“An open vision,” Lance added. His eyes glistened.
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Jewel clarified the dream with the help of the Holy Spirit, “There was one large tube that split into two more tubes—showing you three. Of these three tubes, the larger one is the influences of people, the other two splitting is either you will go by your own will, or follow My will.”
Lance’s mouth formed an O, “Wow.”
Jewel continued, “Jewel, you first went through the central part, meaning that I’m the “center of your life.” However, midway in the vision you see a left or right tube. You ended in front of a scorpion, which indicates “fear.” You’re to focus on Me to clear this obstacle, to get over the dreadful past, and push fear out of the way to press forward towards the mark.”
“Amazing,” Lance blurted.
“There’ll be some chosen in this day, like Sunny, who will push you forward. She’ll counsel you through the pressures, tests, and trials that appear heavy, but trust Me.”
Lance wrapped his arm around Jewel’s shoulders. “Wow, God! This is what you saw standing there a moment ago and the Holy Spirit just told you what it all meant. I’m blown away!”
“Lance, I am so tired…just tired. Tired of being tired,” Jewel exhaled deeply.
“This is what you saw?” Lance asked.
“Yes, through Roya’s eyes, as if my soul was in her body, seeing through her eyes…I was wide awake, weird huh, after our prayer to help her?” Jewel said.
“So, from what I take…you were at an amusement park, riding down some tube-like slide, hmm. Like at a water park, or water park ride?” Lance inquired.
“That’s about right,” Jewel said, wiping the sweat from her brow and forehead with the back of her hand.
“Later, you saw the creature sliding down or crawling behind you in the tube,” Lance asked.
“That’s right,” Jewel wondered how he’d figured that out.
Jewel saw a glow shower Lance. He spoke boldly, “You’re to let the past be past, leave any obstacle behind, and keep the enemy behind you. Let go and let God.”
“True.”
“Lastly, the slide through the water is “slippery situations” you’ve undergone already, especially your daughter, Roya, whom we prayed for. You persevered through the right tube. Right tube shows that you’re on the right path.”
Marked Souls Page 9