Page 18 of Counting His heartbeats

Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

Tears slide from the corners of my eyes, and my body shakes from the release of another outpouring of heaviness I'm feeling. The small voice whispers the scripture I have heard many times while growing up, causing my chest to tighten. The urge to get up, get ready, and go to church hits me suddenly, causing me to rise up in bed with my back resting against the headboard.

"How can I go to church? I don't have one?—"

Ring. Ring. Ring.

My eyes shift to the ringing phone resting in the holder on my nightstand, and my brows furrow. My teeth sink into my bottom lip while the phone continues ringing before stopping, allowing me to release the air gathering in my lungs. The moment is short-lived when the phone starts ringing again, causing me to pick it up and answer hesitantly.

"H-h-hello."

"Good morning, Nae Boogie. Rise and shine because this is the day the Lord has made. We will rejoice and be glad in it," Zion cheerfully voices.

"Good morning, Zion."

"Aye, I want you to come with me to church today. My boy invited me to check out his church because he knows I'm looking for a new place of worship."

My heart rate increased because Zion's call was eerie with me just analyzing this topic. Wrinkles dance across my forehead, and I look up to my ceiling, my lips twisting slightly.

"Are you still there, Zurmani?" Zion asks.

Zion calling me by my full name has me frowning because he never calls me anything but Nae Boogie unless things are serious.

"I'm here. Why do you need me to come if your friend invited you?"

"Back up. Besides, I'm not the only one who needs to return to church for spiritual covering. You and I need to have some sure foundation, sis. I've been watching the FB live services. This pastor is the truth. If God leads me, I'll be joining today, and I would love to have you in the building when I do," Zion says, bringing an instant smile to my lips.

Zion is serious about his walk with God, and I love it because he gives me a reason to seek God more for myself. Neither of usfelt a connection to our parents' church, so branching out on our own was inevitable. However, I haven't been active in finding another church to plant my feet with, so I love that Zion has continued to be diligent in his efforts.

"Okay. I'll come. Are you gonna pick me up?"

"Yep. Then the three of us will go out to dinner. I want you to meet my boy, anyway. He could be a good look for you."

My smile falls because being set up with one of Zion's friends doesn't sound like something I'm interested in. I would rather a man pursue me without influence, although knowing the friend is a God-fearing man isn't the worst I could do.

Tuh, you already got a man who appears to believe in God, so...

The thought instantly invades my thoughts, causing Jawaan's image to surface, and my heart rate increases for a different reason.

"I'll be there at ten-fifty so we can make the eleven-thirty service because I'm not about to push you to get ready in time for the one that starts at nine," Zion informs.

"Whew, thank you. I'll need time to tame my hair, find something to wear, shower, and do all the other things necessary to be the pretty diva I am."

"Oh trust, I know how slow you are, Nae Boogie. I'll see you soon."

Laughing, I return the phone to its previous spot and throw the covers off my body, making no attempt to leave my bed.

"I see you took the decision from me, huh? Touché, God."

"Good morning, everyone. Today's scripture will be coming from Matthew 11:30, which reads: For my yoke is easy, and myburden is light. This morning, I want you all to meditate on the burdens that you need God to make light. Amen. At this time, the praise and worship team will come to minister. Join in with them by clapping your hands and singing along," the woman wearing a yellow dress and matching hat says while smiling before handing the microphone to a man beside her.

My mind swirls while trying to process what God is trying to say to me after heaving the final verse from the scripture He had whispered to me this morning.

"Praise the Lord, church. I said praise the Lord, church," the man holding the microphone boisterously says before the organist begins playing.

My eyes leave the front of the church, shifting to Zion when he stands clapping and the praise team starts singing. Zion is smiling and seemingly in his element, causing a light feeling to spread through me. After leaving Zion, my eyes roam around the church, noting various people either standing or clapping with the people singing. My head nods when a woman's voice echoes around the room, causing me to return to the front.

"Ohh, Jesus. Call him in the morning. Call him in the noonday. Call him in the midnight hour. Jesus. Jesus," the woman sings with authority, causing me to stand and clap along.

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