Church Folk - Michele Andrea Bowen [19]
"Church, for some reason the Lord wanted our young Reverend here to talk about husbands and wives and families and friends and how we should be lovin' up on one another. Now I know there were some rough parts to this sermon. But that was because God was workin' on him right in the midst of his preaching. There was something that the Lord wanted all of us, including Rev. Simmons, to hear this morning. You see, God is about love, unconditional, honoring love—love with some juice. And if y'all can't love one another right, especially someone you claim stirs your passions, then what makes you think you gone act right when it's time to enter eternity and to live in love forever with the Lord?
"So, I'm opening the doors of Mount Nebo and I'm making a special appeal to some of you husbands to come on up here and rededicate yourself to the Lord, to dedicate your heart to doing right by your wives and your families. For you see, church, God's love begins in your own heart. It touches the lives of those around you, through you, and it becomes the church when you come together with hearts filled up with His love."
He turned around and addressed the choir.
"Choir, sing, 'Lead Me, Guide Me Along the Way. Lord, if you lead me, I cannot stray. Lord, let me walk this day with Thee. Lead me, O Lord, lead me.' "
The choir members stood and started singing. By the time they got to the second verse, Leroy Dawson, the son of the head of the Trustee Board, had come down to the altar crying and clutching the hand of his fiancée, Pearl. He walked, sobbing, into Rev. James's open arms. Holding Leroy Dawson for a few seconds, Rev. James signaled to his father that both he and his wife should join them at the altar. Pleased that the sermon had touched the younger Dawson's heart, he could only hope that Leroy's witness reached his father and moved him to treat Mrs. Dawson better.
Leroy Dawson let go of Rev. James, shook Theophilus's hand, and grabbed Pearl by the waist. Then turning to face the congregation, he said, "When Rev. Simmons first started this sermon, I thought he was unprepared. But as I watched him struggle to say what the Lord laid on his heart, I realized God was using him to reach someone in this church. And as Rev. Simmons kept talking, I realized that someone was me. You see, church, my Pearl has been on me to treat her right. She has pleaded with me, over and over again, to think about how wonderful our home would be if I did the right thing and married her. I have to ask God now to for–give me for not respecting and honoring you as He intended, Pearl. You are a good woman—you're smart, can cook like my mama, and you're kind and brave. Now I ask you, church, is there anything that is too good for a woman like my Pearl?"
"No, son. Ain't nothin' too good for a church girl like that," said the lady with the five grandchildren.
Leroy turned to Pearl. "Honey, I'm so sorry I didn't want to listen to you. I love you. And when people come in our home, they're gonna know it is a Holy Ghost home filled with some juice."
Before Reverend James could open his mouth to say, "Let the church say Amen," cries of "Praise the Lord," "Thank you, Jesus," and "Amen" rose from the congregation. Pearl pulled a handkerchief from her purse and wiped her eyes, thankful that God had heard her prayers and opened Leroy's heart. She kissed Leroy on the cheek and gave him a sweet smile. Leroy's mother wiped her eyes, glad that God had answered her own prayers for her son and his future wife, while his father stood by with a sullen expression on his face.
Rev. James laid his hands on the couple and led the congregation in a prayer for them. He then motioned for the choir to sing "Leaning on the Everlasting Arms" and made a gesture for the two young people and the parents to take their seats. He then looked at Theophilus and indicated that