Chapter 26

Fair warning, we are about to do a lot of jumping to match the storyline; but you guys are finally getting some happy chapters lol.

Today, Dad was well enough to be allowed back into church and officially preach again. Everyone was supposed to be there, eager to welcome him back. Although I was aware everyone was supposed to be present, I forgot just how many people could be here. Even people who didn’t regularly attend our church showed up today as Father greeted them at the door in his wheelchair. Mom stood behind him, her eyes fond as she simply watched him and helped to greet everyone at the service today. Once everyone was seated, we commenced, and Mom helped Dad up onto the platform, getting his things set up for him and his microphone adjusted. She walked, sitting off to the side as he began to speak.

“First, I would like to say how grateful I am for everyone who showed up today to hear me speak God’s word, tell my stories, and celebrate Christ,” Dad began. I was sitting in the third row of pews with Ellie on my right, Kaylee on my left, and Ivory beside her. “This means a great deal to me…to see all these familiar faces. I was in the hospital, as I am sure most of you know by now. I was weak after my crash but what got me through it all, truly, was God himself. When I was on my last breath, he came to give me another chance…and prove myself. So here I am, still alive, still breathing, still preaching, speaking his true word into existence.
I am beyond grateful to see my family in this crowd. My beloved daughters and my wife. I was given another chance, and I am so lucky. Through God I have become a better man and I will continue to do that for everyone in here today. I will continue to better myself through my faith and my strength. For my wife, Beth. For my eldest daughter, Ivory. For my middle daughter, Kaylee. And for my Eve…I will better myself. Because God has given me another chance…despite my mistakes,” he murmured, taking a deep breath as he looked around the church, specifically to me. I hung my head, my hands quivering in my lap as my eyes welled up with tears. Kaylee rubbed my back, covering her mouth with her free hand as she too began to get emotional. Ivory leaned back in her seat, gnawing at her lip and biting her nails interchangeably. Ellie let out a slow breath, continuing to rub her hand over my shoulder as she had been the entire time.

Thank you, God.