Fifteen Years (34 page)
Authors: Kendra Norman-Bellamy
“Thanks, Dad.” Josiah looked at Joanne who had reclaimed her seat at the table. “Thanks, Mama. I appreciate this … very much.”
“You’re welcome, baby,” Joanne said.
A blanket of silence draped across the table with no one seemingly
having the power to remove it.
“Cake, cake, c-c-cake, cake.” Just like he had a special gift to come to the rescue just when they needed it most, Sammy began chanting and clapping like he was in the stands at a baseball game. “Cake, c-c-c-cake, c-c-cake, cake, cake.”
Laughing, Arielle began clapping and chanting too. “Cake, cake, cake, cake …”
Josiah and Patrice looked at each other, shrugged, and then joined in.
“Okay, okay,” Joanne said. “Let’s eat cake.”
Thomas held up his glass of milk. “Let’s make a toast,” he announced.
“What are we toasting?” Joanne asked.
After a pause, Thomas shook his head. “I don’t know, but it’s been a wonderful week. God has performed some miracles and answered some prayers. We got our boy back, our children have found love, our baby boy is growing up … Surely we can find something to toast.”
Josiah looked across the table at Patrice and returned her smile. Then he looked at Thomas. “Can I do the honors, Dad?”
Thomas nodded. “Sure you can.”
Josiah raised his glass high in the air. “To fifteen years,” he said.
“To fifteen years.” The chorus of echoes were followed by the loud clanking sounds of five glasses and one plastic cup with a green turtle on the side.
JT spent much of his life in foster care. Do you believe that children who grow up in “the system” are less likely to succeed? Why or why not?
The tragic death of JT’s mother had a long-term, traumatic effect on him. Why would the loss of a grossly neglectful parent cause distress to a child?
What did you think of the analogy (of the prosthetic leg) that Bishop Lumpkin shared with JT during their first talk? Did you think it was a good comparison to JT’s troubles?
If JT hadn’t spent those formative years in the Smiths’ home and been introduced to Christ, do you think his outcome would have been any different? Do you believe he could have managed to still develop into the productive citizen that he became without that spiritual foundation?
JT had a “close encounter” with God as he sat in his car readying to start his search for his foster parents. What did you think of his reaction? Have you ever had such an encounter? If so, how did you respond?
Both JT and Patrice battled with the knowledge that fifteen years had changed the way they saw each other. Did you understand their hesitation, or do you think they overanalyzed the situation?
What are your thoughts about relationships like JT and Patrice’s? It is true that they were not biological siblings, but did you agree with Danielle, Craig, Bishop Lumpkin, and the Smiths that there was no sin in their pursuing a romantic relationship?
What about Patrice’s traumatic experience with her ex-husband? Was she right to keep the details of it from the Smiths? Is it something she could possibly still need counseling for?
Patrice spoke of seeing a television program on which the host said that a young Christian woman should never give a young man the position of “boyfriend” in her life without first seeing him in worship so that she could have an idea of his relationship with God. Do you agree or disagree?
With Sammy’s character, the subject of autism played into the story. Do you personally know anyone with this neural development disorder? If so, please discuss.
Though it was tattered and worn, JT kept the prayer mat that was given to him by his foster parents as a child, and he took it with him wherever he lodged so that he could kneel on it. Do you have a special mat you kneel on when you pray? If so, why do you choose to kneel there?
Thomas and Joanne saw their time as foster parents as a God-ordained ministry. Do you believe that one’s chosen profession (other than the traditional preacher) can be used as a form of ministry?
What did you think of the secret Thomas and Joanne kept from JT? How could they have handled it differently?
Who was your favorite character, and why? Who was your least favorite character, and why?
One of the main subjects that
Fifteen Years
addresses is the importance of nonbiological family and how much of an influence they can have on the lives of those they touch. Do you have people in your past who you feel had/have as much impact, if not more impact on your life than your biological family?
Lift every voice and sing
Till earth and heaven ring,
Ring with the harmonies of Liberty;
Let our rejoicing rise
High as the listening skies,
Let it resound loud as the rolling sea.
Sing a song full of the faith that the dark past has taught us,
Sing a song full of the hope that the present has brought us,
Facing the rising sun of our new day begun
Let us march on till victory is won.
The Black National Anthem, written by James Weldon Johnson in 1900, captures the essence of Lift Every Voice Books. Lift Every Voice Books is an imprint of Moody Publishers that celebrates a rich culture and great heritage of faith, based on the foundation of eternal truth—God’s Word. We endeavor to restore the fabric of the African-American soul and reclaim the indomitable spirit that kept our forefathers true to God in spite of insurmountable odds.
We are Lift Every Voice Books—Christ-centered books and resources for restoring the African-American soul.
For more information on other books and products written and produced from a biblical perspective, go to
www.lifteveryvoicebooks.com
or write to:
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Chicago, IL 60610
www.lifteveryvoicebooks.com
