The Winter Baby by Rhonda McKnight

Author:Rhonda McKnight
Language: eng
Format: azw3, epub
Tags: pregnant, African American Christian fiction, Christmas romance, Winter story, Black Christian fiction, Christmas story, Restoration series
Publisher: Elevated Press
Published: 2019-11-26T05:00:00+00:00

Chapter Fifteen

Pastor Jack

“The last thing I want God’s children to be worried about at Christmas is losing their church.”

Nan put a piece of pie in front of him. “You’re assuming they’re worrying. Maybe they’re praying.”

Pastor Jack looked at her. “Maybe you’re right.

“You forget what you taught them.” Nan sat. She picked up a fork and sliced into her piece.

“The oil tank is empty. On the twenty-sixth, they’re turning off the electric.”

“And there’s nothing you can do about any of that tonight, so eat your pie.” Nan insisted. “Today has enough trouble.”

“How is it that you have more faith than I do?”

She put a forkful in her mouth, chewed and swallowed before saying, “I’m not taking ownership of what God has to handle. You have not taken a salary in three years, not a penny. You’ve put our money into that building time and time again. I’m not complaining about any of that. You know I love the church too, but the battle is not yours. It’s the Lord’s. Those are his people. Step out of the way and let Him show us who He is. Let God be God.”

Jack released a long sigh. “Don’t worry, huh?”

“Trust God no matter what. Wait and see what he does.”

He ate a few bites before saying, “I asked God for a miracle.”

Nan’s chest rose and fell heavily. “I know how hard that was for you.”

Two beautiful faces flittered through Jack’s mind and his heart ached. His first wife and daughter had died from the injuries they’d sustained in a car accident nearly thirty years ago. He’d had a good life with Nan, raised a set of twin sons in this house with her, but still the pain was hard to forget. When the doctors gave up on his family, he’d prayed and asked God for a miracle. Save them. If not both, one. He begged God to leave him with someone. But God had not given him either and he’d never asked for a miracle again. Until now. It seemed so silly to finally pray for one and it wasn’t even for a person, it was for a building. But it was a building he and his community loved.

Nan spoke, but he hadn’t heard her. His thoughts were not in the present. “What was that?”

“A miracle. There’s no point in asking for one if you don’t believe you can receive it.”

This woman could read his mind. He took her hand. “Maybe you can believe for us.”

A smile entered her eyes. “I certainly do.” She stood and came back to the table with two mugs of hot cider.

Pastor Jack looked at the muted television. “Have you seen this story about Stephen Pierce’s wife?”

Nan squinted at the television. “Who is Stephen Pierce?”

“He’s a football player. Plays for the Giants. He grew up in Pine.”

“Oh yes, the one who does the toy drive at Bethel Shelter.”

Jack took a sip from his mug. “His wife is Pastor Johnson’s daughter. She’s missing in this weather.”

Nan frowned. She stood, reached for the remote, and turned up the volume.

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