Joy Comes in the Morning (22 page)

The next few weeks I spent meditating in the Word of God; letting it transform me. I knew I needed this preparation if I were ever going to become Joshua's wife. Surprisingly, Taylor decided to join me in my divine quest. She and Keith had become quite close while I was gone, and part of their weekly routine was none other than doing Bible study. Leave it to Keith to get Taylor on track. Finally, I got the call from my Aunt Dorothy that Michelle was in the hospital.

I drove to Brooklyn Hospital, remembering the uneasy feeling I had the first timeI met with Michelle's parents about her pregnancy. I checked her room number at the front desk, then took the elevator upstairs to the labor and maternity suites. I noticed that Mr. Harris stood in the doorway of her room as if he were protecting it. He smiled and invited me in.

The room was decorated with pastel lilac colored walls, modern cherry wood furniture, and carefully tucked away warmers. Admiring the decor, I looked up at the ceiling and noticed concealed ceiling lights. Now this was the kind of room I would want to deliver my children in.

As I entered I saw Sister Harris holding the sleeping newborn.

I walked quietly over to Michelle. “Hello, everyone.”

“Hi, Sister Alex.” Michelle reached around my neck with her free arm to hug me.

“Oh, Michelle, he's beautiful.” I smiled at her mother.

“It's good to see you, Alex.” Sister Harris politely smiled back.

“Thanks,” Michelle said to my compliment toward her beautiful son.

“What's his name?” I asked.

Michelle smiled, obviously proud of her child. “His name is Elijah, and he's going to be a prophet.”

“Amen to that.” I held up my hand in typical church style. “May I hold him?” I reached out for the plump cheeked baby. “Are you kidding me? You're the reason he's here,” Michelle said.

Sister Harris stood up and placed the baby in my arms. I felt all the emotion run through my body, but this time it was a warm feeling, and my eyes began to fill up with tears. “I'm glad he's healthy, and I'm glad he's here.”

“Me too.” Michelle leaned over to see her baby's face. “His father joined the army, so hopefully I'll be getting child support to help too.”

“That's good.” I smiled. “You made the right choice, the only choice.”

“I know. One time I thought about putting him up for adoption, but after talking it over with my parents and my baby's father, I decided to keep him. Thank you again for not letting me . . .”

I was so glad the whole ordeal was over. “Don't worry about it. Your experience actually helped me.”

“Helped you?”

“Yes, saving your baby forced me to face my own fears about not saving my own babies. I've grown a lot since that day. In fact, when I'm done with my training, I'm going to start a not for profit organization to help young mothers to keep their babies.”

Michelle sat up in bed. “That's a great idea.”

“No, that's a God idea,” Sister Harris said.“You see, everyone doesn't have the spiritual guidance or family support that you have. Some girls are really all alone and desperate. I don't think they should be. Every girl deserves to know that Jesus loves her regardless of what she's done. Every girl deserves to know that she can have a second chance at life without condemnation.” It was my vision, and I couldn't let it go now.

“When Elijah gets a little older, I'd like to help out at your center,” Michelle said.

“You just do whatever it takes to finish school and get to college, young lady. There will always be a place for you and Elijah at the center.” I handed Michelle her baby.

“I'm going to college right here in New York City, hopefully to City College. I'm going to become an obstetrician.” Michelle kissed her baby's cheek, and I could feel the love.

“You'll make it if you keep yourself focused.” I stood up and started walking toward the door. “May God's will be done in your life.”

“And in yours, Sister Alex,” Michelle said.

“I guess I'll see you on Sunday.” I walked toward the door.

“I'll see ya then, and thanks for coming by.” Michelle held the baby close to her chest with one arm and waved with the other.

“Good-bye, Minister Harris and Sister Harris,” I said.

“See you Sunday, dear,” Sister Martin hugged me before I went out the door.

“Thanks for stopping by, Sister Alex.” Minister Martin held the door open for me.

I looked back at Michelle, and she looked so happy. “Take good care of Elijah.”

“I will,” Michelle said.

I rode away with the wind in my hair and a song in my heart. Michelle's new life had begun. Unfortunately, the moment I walked through the door of my apartment, I heard that Taylor's life was over.

Taylor sobbed uncontrollably. I stepped over a pile of dirty clothes in the middle of the floor and almost tripped over a pair of shoes as I walked toward her “What happened?”

“My life is officially over.” Taylor sat, slumped over in her wheelchair.

I bent down in front of her wheelchair. “What's wrong? Tell me what happened.”

A cool breeze blew in from the half cracked window. I noticed that her laptop was on the floor and papers were also scattered as well. “I received an e-mail today from Ms. Arlene about The Push It Fitness Center, so I called.” Taylor smelled like mints, and I wondered what she had been eating.

“Okay?”

“I called her, and she told me that she was ready to accept Shayla McConnell's offer since it was the only on the table. I begged her, and she told me she'd give me three weeks more and that's it.” Taylor shook her head.

“Well, it's nice of her to give you three more weeks. She likes you.”

“Likes me? That ain't helping. I don't have a dime to my name and haven't been able to borrow anything. I stalled by asking her for more time, but I don't have a clue what to do. It's just hopeless. My life is over.”

“Look, don't say that. We've come too far for you to say that.”

“Too far?”

“God spared your life for a reason.” I grabbed onto Taylor's shoulders and shook her lightly. “You could've died in that car.”

“Maybe I should've died.” Taylor reversed her wheelchair and wheeled herself away from me.

“Oh, come on. I'm not gonna stay here and let you wallow around in self pity.” It was hard for me to hear her talking like this, giving up on all she had worked her whole life for. I wanted to instantly fill her with faith, but I knew she was a work in progress.

Taylor sniffled. “Then don't stay here. Go, then; just go.”

“I'm not going anywhere. Neither are you.”

“What am I supposed to do now?”

“You're supposed to stand and fight.” I caught up to Taylor and rubbed her back. “I don't know what we're going to do, but we're not going to give up. Now let's pray.”

“Okay.” Taylor nodded as the tears continued to roll down her face.

“Father God, we come before you, not in desperation, but in complete expectation and gratitude. We already know who you are and what you've said in your Word. We believe and we continue to stand on your Word. Please give us the wisdom and the courage to go forth in your name and to possess the land. In the precious name of Jesus. Amen.”

“Amen.” Taylor turned her back to me. “Look, you can pray, but it won't work for me like it does for you, Alex.”

I saw the disbelief in her eyes. I felt her disappointment, but I couldn't succumb to the circumstances. “Don't say that.”

“I've never wanted anything more than The Push It Fitness Center, and I know it was a pretty big dream since I don't have any money. Now it's over.”

I let her lean her head on my shoulder. “Sweetie, it ain't over till God says it's over.” A week later as I was reading the morning paper, I ran across an article on Mark McConnell, Shayla McConnell's husband, and the financial challenges that he had been having as a result of the changing economic times. I took the article to Taylor who slapped me five, but Taylor still worried about where she would get money for the down payment she needed. Ms. Arlene was going to give up the center and retire on schedule, no matter what. Ms. Arlene had waited long enough and couldn't afford to wait for Taylor's dreams to manifest.

I was in the kitchen preparing banana pancakes and cheese omelets for breakfast when the doorbell rang. I was surprised to see my dad and Keith at the door together.

“Hi, Daddy. What are you doing here so early?”

“I just wanted to see my baby girls and spend some time with you two today. I missed you when you were gone. Plus I haven't seen Taylor in a couple of weeks, so you know . . . it's time.”

“I understand, Daddy,” I said.

“Hi, Alex.” Keith waved his hand as I let him in.

“Hi, Keith.” I faced Taylor's room. “Get up, Taylor. You've got company.”

“I'm here, and it's time for our session.” Keith's voice swept through our small apartment.

I peeped in at Taylor, looked over at the clock, and realized that she had overslept. A huge art deco mirror hung over her bed. She moved around under the covers to position herself upright. Suddenly, Taylor let out a scream. “Come on in. I've got a terrible cramp in my leg.”

I opened the door wide.

“What do you mean a cramp in your leg?” I wasn't sure I heard her correctly.

“Can you feel your leg?” Keith yelled out before he burst into the room with Daddy right on his heels.

Still half asleep, I don't think Taylor even realized what she said right away. “Wait, I can feel something in my legs, like a cramp.”

“Are you sure?” I jerked the covers off of her, revealing her bare thighs and legs. “Yes, I'm sure. I can feel a cramp in my left leg.” Taylor covered her mouth with her hands.

Taylor looked up at Keith, but I'm sure she didn't have time to be embarrassed. It all happened so fast. Daddy cracked the bedroom door just a little.

“Good morning, Taylor.” Daddy sat down on the edge of her bed.

Taylor yelled out. “Morning, Daddy.”

Keith moved in for closer observation, and he began poking and prodding Taylor.

“Ow, be careful,” Taylor said.

“Oh my goodness. That's the breakthrough.” I danced and shouted around the room. “Hallelujah. That's the breakthrough.”

“That's great. This is a miracle.” Keith lifted her up out of the bed and spun her around before placing her gently back in bed. Then he calmly took out his pad and pen to document everything.

I could hardly believe it myself, that what she was feeling was actually real, that she could feel her legs in any capacity, something she hadn't done for many months.“Good, then let's work on these legs.” Keith began pushing and pulling gently, bending her knees, massaging her legs and feet, and asking questions of all kinds.

For the first time since the accident, she said she felt his hands when they were on her body, every finger, every knuckle.

Then Taylor began to cry. “Thank you, Jesus. Thank you, Lord. Father, forgive me for running from you, for isolating myself from my family, and for being so hard hearted. I'm sorry, and I ask that you make me right, clean. I believe you died on the cross for my sins. Please accept me into your kingdom, the one that Mom and Alex, Aunt Dorothy, Dad, and Keith have been nagging me about this whole time. In Jesus' name. Amen.”

Dad and I put our arms around Taylor, and we were a family like we hadn't been in years. Our worship lifted us out of the room and into the Spirit where we could all move about freely, walk and run and dance.

 

 

For two weeks, after careful examination by her doctors, Keith and Taylor worked harder than ever. She was determined to break medical barriers, and she said she knew the Lord would help her, even though she had a long road ahead, and even though she still could not walk on her own.

I was happy that she acknowledged that it was God who had brought her this far, and that He wouldn't let her down.

Then one day Keith showed up at our door. “Hi, Keith,” I said.

“Hello, Alex.” Keith whispered. “I came over because I have a surprise forTaylor.”

“Okay. Come on in.” I watched Taylor's face light up when she saw Keith. “We were just sitting here talking.”

“Really? I don't want to interrupt.” Keith gave Taylor a hug and sat down on the couch next to her.

I sat on the loveseat.

“Hi, Keith.” Taylor couldn't stop smiling.

“So what were you guys talking about if you don't mind me asking?”

Taylor poked out her lips. “We were talking about my business deadline and how there's no chance of me meeting it. No money, no hope.”

I picked up a throw pillow and squeezed it. “I told her not talk like that, that nothing is impossible for God, but she won't listen.”

“Oh, come on. I'm sure Shayla McConell's offer has already been accepted by now,” Taylor said.

“Why would you say that? Didn't Ms. Arlene say she'd give you three more weeks?” Keith shifted his position so he could look directly at Taylor.

“Yeah, she did, but I've only got a week left of that extension and nothing has changed for me. Plus I'm sure Shayla is hounding her everyday about the center. She wants it almost as bad as I do, just for the wrong reasons.” Taylor looked down at the floor.

“I don't think Shayla has been hounding Ms. Arlene about the center,” Keith said.

“Why not?” Taylor asked.

Keith pulled out a newspaper. “Because she's got bigger problems with her husband filing for bankruptcy.”

Bankruptcy?” Taylor snatched the paper out of Keith's hands. “You're kidding, right?”

“Nope,” Keith said.

I threw my hands in the air. “God is good.”

“Okay so Shayla has some money problems, and she probably can't buy the center right now, but neither can I.” Taylor rolled her eyes. “Ms. Arlene is going to get rid of it regardless.”

“That brings me to my surprise,” Keith stood up and started fumbling around in his pockets.

“What is it?” Taylor asked.

Keith bent down and kissed Taylor on the forehead. “I'm proud of how hard you've been working in therapy and on your research for the business. I know your boss is selling the center now, and you didn't even have a chance to get it like you wanted.”

“It's just funny, though. A few months ago the Push It Fitness Center was all I cared about. I was so bitter, but now I've got you, my big headed sister over there, and my dad. The accident was sad, but with God's help, I was able to get through it all.”

“And come out a better person,” I added.

“Yeah, that's right. A whole person. Now I just want to be able to start my own center one day. I'm grateful for my disability check in the meantime, though.” Taylor held Keith's hand.

“I'm glad you said one day because that day is now.” Keith reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out an envelope. “This is for you.”

Taylor looked up at him. “What is it?”

“It's the down payment for Ms. Arlene's place and a loan application where I've co-signed for you.” Keith looked like he could hardly contain his excitement.

“What are you saying?” Taylor leaned forward in her chair.

“Well, I've been thinking about how determined you've been and about how you really deserve to own The Push It Fitness Center. I figured you'd need a partner, maybe a physical therapist.”

“Oh, Keith, are you sure?” Tears started to stream down Taylor's eyes.

“I've never been surer of anything,” Keith said.

Taylor reached up to hug him. “You're the best.”

“That's wonderful. I'm so happy for you.” I leaned down to hug Taylor.

“Oh, and there is just one more thing . . .” Keith reached back into his pocket and pulled out a small ring box. When he opened it, the brightest diamond sparkled in her face. “Well, what do you think? Will you become my partner for life?”

“For life? I don't know. That sounds like a long commitment.”

“I know you're committed to the center, but will you make the commitment to me?” Keith pushed the ring on her finger.

“As soon as I can walk down the aisle.” Taylor smiled at her ring.

“That's good enough for me,” Keith said.

I grabbed Keith and gave him a big hug. “Welcome to the family.”

“Hey, hey, hands off. You've already got your man.” Taylor laughed through her tears and planted a big kiss on Keith.