At Wheeler Homes Chapter 17

                                  Chapter 17

          Jessica and her mother were working on preparing lunch for Jessica’s step-father.  He usually got off work about four o’clock and it usually took him only about ten minutes to get home.  That is if he didn’t stop by the bar on the way.  And if he stopped by the bar ... well no one knew what time he would be home.  Jessica’s mother was fixing spaghetti for lunch so Jessica made the garlic bread.  She had buttered some bread, sprinkled garlic salt on top, and had put it in the oven for a few minutes.  Her mother was busy with the spaghetti noodles, so Jessica had a few free minutes.  She said to her mother, “I’m going over to Gloria’s house for just a few minutes.  Can you get the garlic bread out of the oven in a couple of minutes?”  Her mother nodded and kept busy stirring the spaghetti pot.

          Jessica wiped her hands on a kitchen towel and hurried out of the back door.  It was a warm late spring afternoon.  Summer vacation would soon be here.  Jessica could hear children laughing in the distance.  One of them was probably James.  He loved the outdoors.  Jessica knocked on Gloria’s back door and her mother answered.

          “Oh, hello, Jessica,” she said.  “Gloria is up in her room.  Just go on up.  She’ll be glad to see you.”

          Jessica went up the stairs and knocked on Gloria’s closed door and said, “It’s me, Gloria.” 

          Gloria answered, “Come on in.”

          Gloria’s room was small, but neat and clean.  Gloria always has everything in place, Jessica thought.  Gloria’s room was her safe place.  It was her own place.  She had a twin size bed and a small desk.  Behind the door was a book case.  By her bed was a small nightstand with a lamp and her Bible on it.  Jessica could tell that Gloria kept her Bible nearby to read it often.

          “How did you like church this morning?” Gloria asked Jessica.

          “Oh it was good,” Jessica replied as she sat down on Gloria’s bed.  “It was much like I expected it would be.  Everyone was friendly and I felt at ease.”  Jessica had been worried about visiting church for the first time.  She knew that the church people would be welcoming, but new things were always sort of scary.

          Gloria went on, “What did you think of what the Sunday school teacher said?  What did you think of the Prodigal son story?”

          Jessica knew where Gloria was headed with her questions.  And Jessica knew that Gloria wasn’t being nosy; she was just concerned about her friend.  So Jessica said, “Gloria I know what you mean.  I think I am like that prodigal son.  And I know that I am away from my heavenly Father.  Gloria, I am ready to turn around and go back to my Father.  But I don’t know how to - I don’t know what to say.”

          Gloria sat down on the bed beside Jessica.  “You don’t have to worry about what to say,” Gloria explained.  “God already knows what you are thinking.  He knows how you feel.  He cares about you more than you could ever imagine!”

          Jessica thought about that for a moment.  God knew what she was thinking!  He knew how much she wanted to be clean on the inside.  He knew how much she had tried to be good, and how sadly she had failed.

          Jessica said, “Gloria, will you help me to pray?”

          “Sure, I will.” Gloria replied.  Gloria knelt down beside her bed and Jessica followed her to her knees.  “Just pray after me and mean it in your heart,” Gloria said.  And then she prayed a simple prayer.  “Dear Jesus, I know that I am a sinner.  I am sorry for my sins, and I would like to ask you to take away my sins and give me a home in heaven when I die.  Thank you for dying on the cross and for saving me.  In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.” 

          Then Jessica prayed that prayer.  And as she did, it seemed like a heavy load was lifted off of her shoulders.  Jessica knew that Jesus had done what she asked Him to do.  She knew that she was now a child of God and on her way to heaven!  She couldn’t stop grinning.  She and Gloria hugged and cried tears of joy.  It was a wonderful day.  The best day ever!

At Wheeler Homes Chapter 16

                                  Chapter 16

          The Sunday school bus was noisy on the way home with little kids jumping all around.  The driver had handed out candy treats to each child and they were all excited.  But Jessica was lost in her thoughts.  It was as if she were in her own world.  She spoke only a few words to Gloria.  She was going to have a serious conversation with her that afternoon.  The bus stopped at their neighborhood and they got off.  After brief goodbyes, Jessica, James, and their mother were walking home. When they reached home, Jessica’s mother got right to work on lunch.  Her husband would be home soon and she wanted the meal to be ready and on the table.  Howard had let them all go to church, and she wanted his food to be ready when he walked in the door.  Jessica’s mother didn’t want Howard to regret letting them go to church; she wanted to go again.  She already had plans to get her husband to go with her.  But that would take several good meals.

          It took James only two minutes to get out of his Sunday clothes and into his favorite t-shirt and jeans.  He bounded down the stairs and was out the door before his mother could say a word.  But he did manage to grab a snack cake as he made his get-away.  His mother was too busy to even notice.

          Jessica was changed and downstairs not long after James.  She put away the breakfast cereal boxes and set the table for lunch.  She got things out of the refrigerator and cabinets and helped her mother prepare lunch.  Jessica wanted to talk to her mother about the church service that morning, but she didn’t know how to begin.  She thought about what she was going to say before she said anything.  Then she said, “Mother, what did you think about church this morning?

          Jessica’s mother stopped peeling potatoes for a moment and seemed to be looking far, far away.  Then she went back to her peeling and said, “It was just like going home.  It was just like when I was a little girl going to church with my mother – your grandmother.  It brought back so many memories.”  She stopped peeling and got that far-away look again.  She looked absently out of the window above the sink with a half-way peeled potato in her hand and said, “I used to go to church all the time.  I didn’t know how much I missed it until we went this morning.”  Jessica’s mother went on, “Jesus used to be my best friend, but I grew away from Him.  Jessica, I am sorry that I have not taken you and James to church.  But things are going to be different from now on.”  She sounded determined.

          And Jessica was more determined than ever to have that conversation with Gloria.  She had so many questions.  But deep down in her heart, she already knew the answers to most of those questions.  And the answer was actually a person.

At Wheeler Homes Chapter 15

                                  Chapter 15

          The morning worship service, as they called it, began with the choir coming in from a side door.  The director led them in an opening chorus.  He then turned around and instructed the audience to turn to a song in the hymnal entitled Love Lifted Me.  Jessica was fascinated with the words of the song, but she especially liked the part that said, “When nothing else could help, Love lifted me.”  She knew that she needed some help.  Her entire family needed help.  May be this was what they all needed.  There were many interesting things that took place that morning: a hand-shake chorus when everyone shook hands with their neighbor, an offering, and a special.  Jessica was especially interested in the special because it was sung by her Sunday school teacher.  Jessica thought that she had a beautiful voice.  But she didn’t seem to be what you would call a show-off.  She seemed to take the words seriously that she was singing.  She seemed to be singing those words right to Jessica.

          The pastor was an older man with gray hair and a kind face.  He read a portion out of his Bible and prayed that God would open everyone’s eyes and ears.  That was just fine for Jessica, because she was all eyes and ears.  This was what she had been waiting for.  The pastor spoke about God’s love.  But he also spoke of God’s holiness and justice.  Jessica knew that God was way above her.  She also knew that she was not a perfect girl.  Oh, she tried to do the right things, but often she lost her temper with James and a few times she had cheated at school.  Jessica knew what sin was, but she hoped that God understood that she was doing the best that she could.  But the pastor kept bringing up the fact that God expected holiness and perfection in order to get into heaven.  He said that there was no way that anyone could live up to God’s expectations.  Jessica agreed and felt hopeless.  The pastor went on top say that God sent His Son, Jesus to pay for our sins.  Jesus, who was perfect, died in our place.  He was our substitute.  It was as if Jesus traded places with us.  Jesus took our sins upon himself on the cross and in exchange, offered us His eternal life.  What a wonderful trade!  It all made sense to Jessica.  The harder that she worked, the more frustrated she got.  She just couldn’t do everything right.  This plan that God and Jesus devised was so simple, yet wonderful!  The pastor explained that we accept the exchange of Jesus by faith.  Jessica realized that it was like giving in to Jesus and letting Him do all of the work for us.  It would be so wonderful to not have to work so hard at being good.  It would be so wonderful to accept the goodness of Jesus instead!

          But then the pastor was finished.  The song director was up again with a final song.  Jessica looked over at her mother to see her reaction to the church service.  Jessica noticed a tear running down her mother’s cheek.  But Jessica also saw a smile on her face at the same time!  Jessica was puzzled.  She tried to sort out her thoughts.  She tried to understand why her mother could have tears and joy at the same time.  Jessica felt the burden of her own guilt, but at the same time, she felt the love of God.  She felt the kindness and deep love of Jesus as He died in her place.  Jessica knew that she was at an important moment in her life.  She had an important decision to make.  But she needed time to think.  She needed to talk to Gloria.

At Wheeler Homes Chapter 14

                                  Chapter 14

          Jessica and Gloria got up to leave the Sunday school classroom for the church auditorium.  As they left the room, the teacher was at the door saying goodbye to each student.

          “Thank you for coming this Sunday, Jessica,” she said.  “I hope you will be back next week.”

          “Oh, I hope so too,” Jessica said.  And she meant it.  She didn’t want to miss any more Bible stories.  They were so interesting.  But there was something inside of her that Jessica couldn’t understand.  She was glad to be at church, but she felt like something was missing on the inside of her.  She felt hollow – like something wasn’t there that needed to be there.  Jessica felt like she was missing something inside of her that she didn’t even know she was missing.  When they had a few moments, she was going to ask Gloria about it.

          The girls walked upstairs and through a side door into the main auditorium.  The room was all abuzz with people greeting one another.  There was laughter and talking all around the big room.  Jessica and Gloria made their way toward the back of the auditorium and found an empty row.  Jessica was excitedly looking all around drinking in the whole new experience.  She saw James as he came in the same side door.  He was looking around searching for a familiar face.  Gloria stood and waved to James to get his attention.  When James finally saw Gloria waving, his eyes lit up.  He waved back and hurried up a side aisle toward the girls.  As he slid into the seat beside the girls, Jessica noticed that he had a Sunday school paper with him.  It was a folded story lesson with a picture on the front about the Prodigal son.

          Jessica asked, “Did you have a story in Sunday school about the Prodigal son?”

          James looked surprised and said, “Yes we did!  How did you know?”

          “I saw your paper,” Jessica said.  “It had a picture of the Prodigal son on it.  We had the same story in our class.”

          Gloria had just attracted Jessica’s mother’s attention, who had just come into the auditorium from her Sunday school class.  Jessica’s mother waved to the kids and began to make her way through the crowd toward them.  Several ladies shook her hand before she made it back to the row where her children were waiting.  She sat down and straightened her dress just as a friendly lady came up to the row.

          “Hi there,” the friendly lady said.  “Do you mind if I sit with you during the service?”

          Jessica’s mother smiled and said “Hello again.  Sure, let me scoot over a bit.”  With that Jessica’s mother waved her hand and had all three of the kids slide down a bit to make room for the friendly lady.  The two women continued to talk as other folk were finding their seats and getting ready for the church service.  Jessica realized that her mother and the friendly lady must have met during Sunday school.  Jessica was glad that her mother didn’t have to sit there in church alone.  Jessica had Gloria with her, and it was good that her mother had a friend to sit with her as well.  Jessica thought for a moment that James didn’t have anyone to sit by him, but then she remembered, “it was James.”  James didn’t need anyone to sit by him.  James didn’t need anything or anyone.  Or did he?

At Wheeler Homes Chapter 13

                                  Chapter 13

          Jessica looked around the Sunday school classroom.  The room was small, but just big enough for the small group of kids.  There were about ten boys and girls in the classroom besides the teacher.  Jessica recognized about half of the kids from the bus, but she didn’t know the others.  Some were rowdy, but most were listening to the teacher.

          “Our lesson for today is from Luke chapter fifteen,” the teacher said.

          Jessica looked around a little nervous.  She didn’t have a Bible.

          The teacher must have seen Jessica’s worried look, because she added, “If you don’t have a Bible, or if you didn’t bring one, just look on with someone else or you can just listen as I read the verses.”

          Jessica liked the Sunday school teacher.  She seemed to care about everyone in the classroom.  She was kind and observant and seemed to be interested in each boy and girl.

          “Our story for today is about the Prodigal Son,” the Sunday school teacher began.  “Prodigal is a big word that simply means that the boy was a run-away.  Have you ever thought about running away from home?”

          Jessica had thought about running away.  She had thought that it would be easier for her if she had run away from home.  But then she had realized that she would just be exchanging one set of problems for a new set of problems.

          The teacher went on, “This boy was the younger of two sons.  He told his father that he wanted his inheritance early.”  The teacher explained, “An inheritance is the money that a man leaves to his children when he dies.”  She went on with the story, “This boy wanted to leave home and to enjoy life.  He wanted his freedom.  His father was hurt by his son’s attitude, but he gave his rebellious son his half of the money.  Soon the son left home for a far country.  In this far country, the boy didn’t have his father or older brother to check up on him.  He had new friends who enjoyed partying with him.  The boy didn’t realize that he was the only one paying for the party.  But soon his money ran out.  When his money was gone, so were his friends.  They had only been using him.  Without money and without friends and in a far country, the boy was desperate.  He had no money to buy food.  He couldn’t pay rent for a place to stay.  He was homeless.  The only job that he could find was feeding hogs.  What a change of life, for this boy!”

          Jessica felt sorry for the boy.  He was getting what he deserved, but she still felt sorry for him.

          The teacher went on, “One day he was feeding those hogs and he began to think.  Here he was, in a pigpen with no food; no money; nothing!  This was the moment when he woke up!  He said to himself, “This is crazy!  Why don’t I go back to my father?  I’ll apologize to him and just become one of my father’s hired workers.  At least I’ll have food and a place to stay,”

          The teacher explained, “So the rebellious boy went back to his father, all ready with his apology.  But when his father saw him coming up the road, he ran and hugged him and was so glad to see his long lost son.  The son began his apology, but the father ignored him.  The father was so glad to see his son that he welcomed him back home!  The father wasn’t angry; he was glad to have his lost son back.  He didn’t scold his son; he threw him a party!

          Jessica was amazed at the father in this story.  She could not believe how kind he was.  He should have been be angry at his son, who had wasted so much money.  But he wasn’t angry.  Jessica realized how much the father must have loved and missed his son.

          A bell rang somewhere out in the hallway.  The teacher finished up the story and dismissed the children.  But Jessica couldn’t forget the kindness of the father in the story.

          She thought, “I wonder if that is how God feels about me?”  Jessica had never thought of how much God loved her until now.  And then she thought, “Have I been rebellious like that prodigal son?”  Jessica was thinking new thoughts.