Where My Heart Belongs by Tracie Peterson

Author:Tracie Peterson [Peterson, Tracie]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: Baker Publishing Group
Published: 0100-12-31T22:00:00+00:00

Sunny sat beside her father’s bed and watched his chest as he drew slow, shallow breaths. How could anyone be so very sick and not yet die?

He opened his eyes and attempted to smile. “Sorry. I didn’t . . . know you were here.”

“That’s all right. I just wanted to be near you. I spent so much time so far away, I didn’t want to pass up a chance to share your company.”

“What time . . . is it?”

“Past midnight.”

“Why are you up?” He seemed a little more coherent— as if the time had suddenly startled him into clarity.

“I couldn’t sleep. Sometimes I have trouble with that,” she admitted. “Memories, you know.”

He reached out to hold her hand. Sunny cherished the moment. “Past . . . can’t hurt you, unless you let it.”

“I don’t believe that, Dad. I know God forgives, but I can’t forget. The hideous things I’ve done—that were done to me—they haunt me. It’s like Satan uses them against me.”

“Of course he does.”

“So how can you say that they can’t hurt me?” She felt so vulnerable, almost like being a child again. Weak and scared. Why did this have to happen to her? Kathy always seemed so strong.

“Satan’s a liar,” Dad began slowly. “Bible says so. John . . . chapter eight—can’t remember the verse—it says that lies are Satan’s native tongue. He brings up the past . . . to make you afraid . . . hoping you’ll feel guilty.” Dad rested for a moment and squeezed her hand ever so slightly. “He doesn’t have any power over you, Sunshine. He can’t touch you, because you belong to God.”

“But there are still problems in my life. Things I have to go and face. I’d like to say that everything got perfect when I got right with God, but it didn’t.”

Dad nodded. “I know, babe. Lotta folks think it ought to. It doesn’t change what’s happened. There are still consequences. But it does change the future—how you deal with those consequences.”

“I’m afraid, Daddy. I’m so afraid of everything. I don’t want to be, but I’m just not strong like you.”

“I’m not strong. Not strong at all,” Dad whispered, grimacing in pain. “But He is, and that’s enough.”

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