“Addie, time to get up for Sunday school
and church!”
“Kayleigh I don’t want to get up!”
“Adalyn Grace you better get up, daddy
almost has breakfast ready.”
Michael
could not help but laugh to himself. His
daughter was becoming a little mom. It
was good for her, but at the same time she was only eight, and she needed a
mother. He knew the Lord would work
things out for His will.
“Girls, breakfast is ready.” This was one thing he was thankful for, he
had learned to cook as a teenager.
“We’re coming daddy!” That almost brought tears to his eyes. Kayleigh sounded so much like her mother, his
beloved Julie.
“Kayleigh, my hair isn’t done yet!”
“Addis, I’ll finish it after
breakfast. Come on, it smells like
pancakes, your favorite!”
This made Addie
forget all about her hair. Kayleigh
watched as her sister ran down the hall and then down the stairs to
breakfast. Kayleigh took off after her,
but stopped at the family photograph like always and said,
“I will always love you mommy! I miss you so much! Daddy, Adalyn, and I are doing well! Have a good day walking around Heaven with
Jesus today!”
“Kayleigh sweetheart, are you coming?”
Yes daddy. I’m coming!”
As the Jones
family was sitting down to eat breakfast, Sarah Stephens and her ten-year old
son Connor were as well in their new home just three blocks away.
“Connor, hurry u and finish your
breakfast please so we can get ready for church.”
“Mommy, I don’t want to go to church this
morning!”
“Connor Matthew Stephens, that’s not like
you! You love going to Sunday School and
church!”
“I won’t know anyone at this church
though!”
“Oh Connor, I know this move has been
hard on you, but we both needed a fresh start.
It has been two years since your dad was killed trying to save that little
girl from the fire, and moving out here to live closer to your grandparents was
the best thing I could think of. You
will at least know your grandparents!”
This made Connor
laugh, and he finished his breakfast.
Sarah’s parents had been trying to get her to move closer to them ever
since her husband Matthew had died.
Matthew had been a firefighter and he had known there was danger in it,
but had never known that he would lose his life saving someone. Sarah finally decided after two years to
move. Her father had become pastor of
Bible Baptist Church the year before.
The church’s piano player had died in a car accident shortly after, and
they had been without a piano player and Sarah could play.
When the Jones
family arrived at church Kayleigh took Adalyn to her Sunday school class and
then went to her own. When she walked in
she saw that Miss Julie was not there yet, and that there was someone new. Now Kayleigh was known for being friendly so
she said hi to her friends Natalie, Amanda, and Jacob then walked over to the
new student.
“Hi, my name is
Kayleigh Jones and I’m eight. What is
your name?”
The young boy quietly looked up and
answered,
“Hi
Kayleigh my name is Connor Stephens and I’m ten. My mom and I just moved here.”
“Nice
to meet you Connor, do you mind if my friends and I sit with you?
“That’s
fine.”
“These
are my friends Natalie, Amanda, and Jacob.
Natalie and Jacob are twins and they’re nine, and Amanda is eight just
like me.”
The children were so busy talking that
they had not noticed Miss Julie come in.
“Good
morning class!”
“Good
morning Miss Julie”, the children answered.
“I
knew we were going to have someone new this morning, and I see you have already
introduced
“I
knew we were going to have someone new this morning, and I see you have already
introduced ourselves. Did Connor tell
you that Pastor Matthews is his grandpa?”
“No
he didn’t”, answered the children.
“Well,
now you know. His mom is also our new
piano layer, and will also be the kindergarten teacher this fall.”
The children and Miss Julie talked a
little bit longer, and then she gave the lesson for that day. When the first bell rang Miss Julie dismissed
the third through sixth graders to the morning service, and then took the first
and second graders down to join the four and five year olds for children’s
church.
Kayleigh,
Amanda, Natalie, Jacob, and Connor walked down the hall to the main
service. Michael was one of the ushers
and saw them coming.
“Well,
good morning everyone, how are we today?”
“We’re
good.”
“Amanda,
your parents are waiting for you, as are yours Natalie and Jacob.”
The children took off to find their
parents.
“Kayleigh,
we’re sitting in our normal spot. Who is
your new friend?”
“This
is Connor Stephens daddy. Pastor
Matthews is his grandpa. He and his mom
just moved here. His mom is the new
piano player.”
“Nice
to meet you Connor, I am Kayleigh’s dad.
You can call me Mr. Jones. We’re
very glad to have you here.”
“Thank
you Mr. Jones. It is nice to meet you
too.”
“Kayleigh
why don’t you go ahead and go sit down.”
“Yes
daddy. Bye Connor, I’ll talk to you
after church ok?”
“Ok,
Talk to you later Kayleigh.”
Connor went and found his grandma and sat
down. When Pastor Matthews did the
announcements he introduced his daughter and grandson. He also informed the church that a children’s
choir would be starting soon and also that his daughter would be starting piano
lessons at her house once she got settled in.
This made the children excited.
Right after church Kayleigh went to go get Adalyn and then went to find
Connor. Kayleigh introduced her sister
to Connor, and the three of them just sat there and talked. Sarah came up later and said,
“Connor
who are you’re new friends?”
“This
is Kayleigh and Adalyn Jones mom. Their
dad is one of the ushers.”
“Well,
hello there you two, my name is Miss Sarah, how old are you?
Adalyn answered first.
“I’m
five and I’m gonna be in kindergarten this year!”
Sarah answered her.
“Really? Well Adalyn, I’m going to be your teacher
then.”
“Yay,
I like you!”
With that answer all Sarah could do was
smile. Kayleigh then answered.
“I’m
eight and I’ll be in third grade.”
Michael had been watching his girls and
then came up and introduced himself. He
started chatting with Sarah.
“I
hope my girls haven’t been talking your ear off Mrs. Stephens.”
“No
they haven’t been. I’ve been enjoying
talking with them and please call me Sarah.
Your wife must be very proud of your girls!”
“Please,
call me Michael, and yes I’m sure she’s smiling down from Heaven watching
them. She’s been gone for about a year.”
“I’m
so sorry! I know how you feel
though. My husband has been gone for
about two years.”
“I’m
sorry to hear that.”’
“It’s
alright. That is why we moved. I figured
a new start would be good for both Connor and I.”
Pastor Matthews had been watching from
afar and decided to go join the conversation.
“Hello
Michael, I see you’ve met my daughter and my grandson.”
“Yes
sir, we were just chatting. I probably
should get going.”
“Michael,
why don’t you and the girls join us for lunch, we have plenty.”
“I
think the girls would enjoy that pastor.”
Little did Michael Jones and Sarah
Stephens know that afternoon would be the start of God showing them they were
meant for one another.
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