HICB Ch. 8 wc828

HICB Ch.8 wc828

Jayda sighed as she gathered her personal belongings from her hospital stay and placed them in the bag the nurse provided. She forced herself to relax, but the problems on her mind refused to disappear. The bills, the added responsibility of caring for herself and an infant, Brad’s hostility and abuse, and her growing attraction and dependency on Mark: all contributed to her anxiety.

Her nurse had offered something medical to help with her anxiety, but that would only add to her bill, and it wouldn’t help long-term, which is what she needed. She prayed for a quick save, but didn’t really believe there could be anything like that coming for her.

Her mind drifted back to her hero in cowboy boots. Was Mark her savior? Was she pushing him away when he was what God had sent to save her? How could she know for sure? Jayda prayed again for wisdom and reassurance. A thought came to her. Just follow your heart.

“Really, God? Is it that simple? How can it be so simple?” Jayda smiled, remembering how Mark looked at her, his tender touch, his desire to help almost drove him to her.

Is he the one, Lord? The thought came again, just follow your heart.

“Ok, Jesus, I’m letting go of these problems and giving them to you. Please let Mark be the answer to my prayers. I think I’m falling in love with him, and Lord, I do think he feels something for me, too. He hasn’t said he loves me yet, but I can see it in his eyes, his touch, and the way he looks at Mark Lee. I think we could be so happy as a family together.”

Jayda looked upward and smiled. “You know all I’ve ever wanted was for someone to love me, and now to love Mark Lee as well. I don’t need diamonds and pearls. I don’t desire fancy vacations or a fancy home. I’m just a simple country girl, who wants to cook and clean and maybe sell my costume jewelry to friends locally. I want a man to help me pay some of the bills. I’ll work hard to help him. But please, dear Lord, let Mark be the one!”

Just follow your heart.

“Thank you, Lord. I will.”

Jayda peeked in at Mark Lee, sleeping peacefully in his bassinet, making little sucking movements with his mouth, his fat little cheeks slightly flushed. His long eyelashes brushed his cheeks. Tiny fists stretched upward toward the ceiling, and he yawned, his tongue sticking out briefly before his mouth closed and he returned to his nursing-like movements.

Jayda’s heart melted as she watched her son. Her heart expanded even more than it did when she first saw him.  How could someone love another human being so much? And she was ready to invite another human into her heart.

Please God, she begged.

Follow your heart.

Jayda turned the light down until it was just a nightlight and settled down to sleep. Thy will be done, Lord.

Jayda, go to sleep. I’ve got it covered.

Jayda smiled as she drifted off into sleep, to dream of the three of them living together as husband and wife and son. What a beautiful dream.

 

 

Mark awoke with the sunrise, yawned, stretched, and arose to meet the day. He took time to fry up some bacon and eggs and toast with grape jelly. He read his mail as he ate at his breakfast table, then headed toward the barn to do chores.

His animals greeted him eagerly, as they always did, and he raised his face toward Heaven.

“Thank you Jesus for this beautiful warm day. The sun is smiling down at me, and I can imagine it is you, Oh Lord, smiling and telling me this will be a great day. I feel that too. I’m bringing Jayda back home to her farm. Lord, I pray that you will protect her and help her with her problems. I want to help, but she resists my assistance at times. How can I make her feel love for me? How can I gain her trust? I would make her mine if she would take me---in an instant, Lord. How can I help her best?”

Just follow your heart.

“What? Who said that?” Mark turned around to see no one standing there. The voice he had heard sounded like someone talking to him there in his barnyard.

Follow  your heart.

Mark spun around again. What on earth is going on? Suddenly, it occurred to him  Could this be God speaking to him? He looked up, and the sun smiled down on him. He crossed himself, and said, “Thy will be done, Lord.”

He grinned as he finished his chores, then returned to the house to take a shower and change. He was bringing his sweetheart home today with little Mark Lee. It was going to be an awesome day!