Page 66 of Sean
Matthew didn’t hesitate.He got to his knees and pulled Sean close.Sean’s tears were bitter at first, but his bitterness turned to rejoicing as he stepped back into the presence of this Heavenly Father.
Chapter 18
Sean woke up on ChristmasEve in his own bed in a quiet apartment.Mom and Dad had kept Jace during Sean’s hasty trip to Arizona.They’d have him all day, giving Sean some time to finish unpacking before he joined his family for the traditional night-before-Christmas festivities.Finger foods and gifts were on the agenda for later.It was one of his favorite celebrations of the year.
He glanced at the clock before turning his back on the shining numerals.It didn’t bother him that it was ten a.m.He’d arrived home at one in the morning.He’d been too wound up to sleep, the events of the day replaying over and over in his heart and mind.
Sean closed his eyes and reached out with everything inside himself.“Good morning, Father.”His words were a whisper, barely heard above the slithering voice inside his head that told him he was wasting his time.Satan wasn’t letting any grass grow under his feet when it came to trying to convince Sean that he’d taken one step too far away from the grace that, once again, hummed inside his heart with a tangible presence.
Good morning, son.What are we doing today?
The immediate response threatened to bring tears to Sean’s eyes.He felt like a combination of Ebenezer Scrooge and the Grinch on Christmas morning.His heart set free and his attitude adjusted.He couldn’t wait to share his transformation with his family.
He’d known before getting on the plane in Oklahoma City that Matthew wouldn’t let him out of his office without a sermon.He hadn’t known that his sermon would hit the mark so quickly.Sean didn’t possess the words to tell Matthew or God how grateful he was for harsh truths and second chances.
Sean took a couple of deep breaths before responding to his Father’s question.“I was sort of hoping You’d tell me.”
Why don’t we work through that together?
That sounded like a plan he could put into action for the rest of his life.
Ten minutes later, he sat at his kitchen table and, in an imitation of his mother, enjoyed his morning coffee along with his first morning of devotion in a year.He opened his Bible randomly, not disappointed to find the book of Proverbs at his fingertips.Chapter nine was at the top of the first page, and he read while he sipped from this mug.When he hit verse nine, he couldn’t help but stop and smile.
“A man’s heart deviseth his ways, but the Lord directeth his steps.”
And wasn’t that the truth.He’d come from Ohio without a real plan and more bitterness than one man should carry.He’d met Monica, and she’d wiggled her way into his life.Her need had driven Sean back to Matthew’s door.That trip had changed the trajectory of his future.
Sean thought back over all those steps and decided that he couldn’t be happier with the outcome.
He had a new job to start in a couple of weeks, but that washisplan.He was excited to see where the Lord wanted him to go from here.
Once his Bible time was finished, he reached for his phone.Monica had called him a couple of times yesterday, and he’d allowed each call to roll to voicemail, not wanting to tell her about his trip, and not wanting to lie to her.
He pressed her contact.
“Hello?”She sounded chipper this morning.
