Let's Make a Deal Pt. 14

"And I've got to say, what you said about her telling your dad off for not treating you right, well, it sounds pretty much like someone I know." She stuck her tongue out at him, but she clearly was happy at that thought too.

Then she said, "I think I need to get to know Rita a little bit, at least. She obviously knows who my parents are. Either she thought her mother would remember me, or she knew that her mother knows Mom, I think, or why else would she have gone on about my baptism? If she knows my folks, I can talk to her about them a little. And anyway, she cared enough about me to say so much about it to her mother. And I barely remember knowing who she was. I don't remember her from church, at all—of course, she was a high school senior when I last saw her, and her name wasn't Johnson then. Can you point her out to me Sunday? Before the service, if you can?"

The black cloud had mostly dissipated, but Scott knew she was still worried about the situation. Still, talking about her visit had clearly brought back the good memories more than the ending. After dinner was done, before they got up to clean up, he suggested that they pray for Lynda's parents and the whole situation. They sat at the table holding hands, taking about fifteen or twenty minutes to offer thanks for the good visit and to pray for her mom to be strong enough to do whatever was right, for her to be encouraged by the time she'd had with Lynda, for Lynda's father to have a change of heart, not just about Lynda and his wife but toward God, for a strong and loving bond between them, and for Lynda as she tried to build her relationship with her mom without causing difficulties between her parents.

Scott also expressed his gratitude for the evidence of the Lord's work on Lynda's mother's heart, and for Lynda's willingness to put behind her all the pain she'd felt for years and to forgive, and to act on that forgiveness by writing her parents in the first place. He had some idea how much it had cost her to do that, and knew she'd done it only because she knew it was wrong not to forgive, and he'd been thanking God, every day since her mom's letter arrived, that she had done it and that it had borne such immediate fruit. Lynda often left him feeling awed at her courage.

He left about as soon as all the dishes were done. In his own prayers that night, he again prayed earnestly for Lynda's parents, especially that her mother wouldn't suffer for her courage. Lynda had said that her father hadn't ever been prone to physical violence that she'd known of, but Scott was concerned about that nonetheless. And emotional brutality could be almost as bad.

He'd come to see just how deeply hurt Lynda herself still was from her upbringing. He tried to be extra gentle with her, always, because of it, and he thought that with time and enough affection and support she would be able to counterbalance it with happiness and joy, but he knew that it would always be there waiting for just the right triggers. Scott thought that he himself was too much like Lynda's father for her good. He tried to recognize these tendencies in himself and rein them in, and to be warm and expressive instead, but he knew how easily he could fall into being cold and sarcastic. All the times Lynda had called him tender and gentle made him feel that it was really worth the effort, but it didn't come naturally.

73. The Child is father of the Man; And I could wish my days to be Bound each to each by natural piety.

Scott encouraged both women to join small-group Bible studies with other women in the church. He didn't have to push them much to do this. Both had been invited by women they were getting to know, and in fact they had each visited a couple of groups, even before they were baptized. He wasn't surprised that the group Martha settled on was mostly married women, because most of the women around her age were married. But there were several groups of single women about Lynda's age, and the group she joined was all married women, and all a few years older.

She had sought out Rita after she had visited her mom, as she had suggested, and they had hit it off. They hadn't really known each other growing up, in fact Lynda had mostly only known Rita's name, but Rita had noticed her even despite the age difference—which really wasn't such a big one to women in their twenties, of course. A couple of Rita's close friends in high school had had sisters Lynda's age, and she had heard things about her.

Rita was off at college by the time Lynda had left home, but she had heard about that, too. She'd seen Lynda around town occasionally after Lynda was staying with Martha, and her friends had kept her posted about Ron's growing reputation, so even though he wasn't in that town by the time he got into big trouble she had noticed a news story and followed the news as it developed. She had been thrilled when Martha and Lynda began coming to church, but she'd hesitated to approach Lynda, not knowing how Lynda might feel about such a connection with her past, and since they hadn't personally known each other anyway.

But she had asked the women in her fellowship group to pray for Lynda, and they had, regularly. Then, soon after the baptism, Lynda had approached Rita. She had explained how Rita's news had gotten to her mother, and the difference it had made, thanking her for what she'd said, crying a little as she spoke about her visit home. They had continued talking almost every week after church, and gotten together a few of times for lunch. Lynda had gotten to know Rita's husband a little bit, and just loved her two young children. So she had found herself at home in Rita's group, opening up in a way she hadn't felt able to for years.

Scott was very happy to see this. Martha was quietly happy in the relationships she was building as well, but he had been worried about Lynda, and it thrilled him to see her blossoming. He was relieved that they were getting Bible study with people other than him, and in both of them he could see spiritual growth happening very quickly. He hadn't even realized how concerned he had been about their reliance on him for almost all of their spiritual nurture, until he found himself enjoying having others pick up some of that load. He was elated and excited at the growth he saw in both of them, but especially in Lynda. It showed in the questions they asked in studying with him, and even in casual conversation. It showed, especially, in Lynda's willingness to forgive her parents, and to reach out to them, when she'd been hurt so badly.

And since, just by chance, their fellowship groups all happened to meet on the same evening, it didn't even affect their schedules for getting together.

Continue to Part 15