Category : Books-Fiction

Sub Category : Adventure

 
Our Novel

Chapter One

She groans under her breath as she stands up. She thinks she hears her knees squeak like unused, un-oiled hinges that have long since rusted. But she must put on a brave face for his sake. She doesn't want him to really know the extent of her pain, although she suspects he already knows. She doesn't want to distract him; tonight begins his busy period of preparing the weekly sermon. He should be allowed to focus entirely on that. She knew when she married him that she was second to God in his heart. But his love for her is complete. There will never be another woman to rival for his affection. 

He is a man of great perception and deep thought. There are not many people who can read her emotions correctly, but he nearly always does. He can see her pain when he peers into her expressive hazel eyes. He knows she is trying to conceal it, and he knows exactly why. In his mind he deftly runs through a list of biblical topics that would most benefit those whom he shepards. Memorial Day falls this weekend, so he decides on the topic of moderation in habits. It is easy to have one too many when a person is lounging with friends. The notebook that is in his right breast pocket during his waking hours and on his nightstand during his sleep is dispatched to his lap. In it he writes:

1. Alcohol itself is not evil. 
A. Jesus first miracle was to turn water into wine for a wedding feast. John 2:9
a. He would not have done this if alcohol itself were evil.
B. Paul counseled Timothy to "take a little wine for the stomach" ailments. 1 Timothy 5:23
a. He would not have done this if alcohol itself were evil. 

2. God expects moderate habits. 
A. As representatives of God here on earth, we must be "moderate in habits" 
1 Timothy 3: 2, 3 
B. There are a few times when we should consider alcohol to be "off-limits."
a. We should not imbibe directly before we come to God's house to worship. Leviticus 10: 9 first half of verse
b. For the present time God allows humans to try to rule themselves. Obeying the laws that man has made regarding not drinking and driving, and not providing alcohol to minors shows respect for the life that has been gifted us. Such laws do not contradict any of God's laws and must be obeyed.


His mind is a blank for the scriptural reference on the final point. He momentarily frets over the fact that age sometimes cause the mind to forget things that could be easily summoned forward at a moments notice only a year or two prior. He opens the Bible that is housed on his left side in a bookcase that is within arms reach of his easy chair. His fingers flip past the creation account, past the Israelites journey through the​ the wilderness after fleeing Egyptian bondage. Usually by this point, as if by photographic memory, he can "see" the page he wants in his mind. But he is still drawing a blank.

So, he adds 3 big questions marks at the end of that entry to remind him to look for it later.

???
3. Close sermon with reminders 
a. God wants us to be happy, for he is a happy God. But he has instructed us to be moderate in habits and not drunkards. 
b. Everyone have a safe and happy weekend.


He flips backwards in his notebook until he finds the page where he covered a similar topic for the Labor Day Weekend sermon last year. He copies the dates and page numbers that he referenced for that sermon into the notes for this weeks sermon, and adds a reference for Theocracy: A journal of the Bible's practicality for modern times. He has just received his copy yesterday. The cover article was about this topic and it caught his attention immediately.

He expects to meditate on this outline and add more details as he considers it prayerfully later. But having compiled a general train of thought he doesn't feel any guilt of conscience in going to his new bride and helping her care for her pain.



Chapter Two

	He finds her in the bedroom, struggling with the buttons on her shirt.  The tears streaming down her face were partly from the frustration of now needing help to complete tasks that were once commonplace, barely noticeable events, and partly due to the pain that consumes her body.  She has suffered daily for several years with the pain of young-onset Parkinson's and fibromyalgia.  She struggles with emotion occasionally, knowing that it will continue to get worse.  
	"Hey, Love."  the only two words he utters before grasping her hand and gently directing her head to his shoulder.  She lets out the frustration in 2 wracking sobs, then returns to biting her lip, her eyes still dispensing tears that shake her core but utter no sound.  He just holds her until he feels the shaking subside.  
	He gently sits her on the edge of the bed and begins to help her with the problematic buttons and into the nightgown that has been laid out on the end of the bed.  
	"Love, when was the last time you took your medicine?"  
	She looks at the clock.  10:02 pm .  "I should take them again."  She starts to rise, but he gives her a firm but gentle look that tells her to stay put.  
	"What color lid do you need?," he asks, knowing that she separates the doses into color coded containers when she gets the medication from the pharmacy.  
	"It's the red one, sweetheart;  green for morning, yellow for mid-day, and red for bedtime."
	He pulled open the top drawer of their shared dresser and found a pile of about a dozen containers with red lids.  He hands her one and goes to fetch a glass of water.  While he is gone she pulls the lid off and counts the pills in the container to make sure that she has put the correct pills in it.  It contains the correct pills, as it usually does.  13 of them, some are vitamins and herbal supplements, but most have been suggested  by her doctor or at least approved by him at her suggestion.  
	"Thank you, dear."  She says as she receives a glass of water and a plate containing 2 pieces of toast and jelly.  She swallows the pills and takes one piece of toast, handing the plate back to him.  
	"if you can eat both, you should.  It's probably not good to take that many pills on an empty stomach."  
	"You take at least half of it."
	He looks at her and nods, tearing the bread apart with his fingers.  They both reach for the smaller half.  He gets it first and pushes the plate back toward her gently as he takes a bite.  
	"Mmmm.  Raspberry-rhubarb on sour dough.  My favorite."  She finishes with the plate and cup and stacks them on the bedside table.  
	He tucks her into bed.  When he snuggles in next to her she feels both his calm security and the warmth of his body next to hers.  He is correct in suspecting that her pain is increased if she gets too cold.  
	"Darling, I'll stay with you until you fall asleep, then I need to go work a little bit more on my sermon."
	"It's okay, I'll be okay now.  You can go take care of what you need to do.,"  she said.
	He nestled in closer and put an arm arm around her.  She silently thinks 'Good man, God gave me a good man.' She grins as she turns on her side, then grimaces, as even that small movement causes additional pain.  Nearly 90-minutes later he finally feels the tension drain from her limbs and her breathing slows enough that he is sure she is sleeping.  He rises quietly and goes to his study to continue working on the sermon.  

Chapter Three
The next morning she is the first to rise.  She knows that his mornings can be difficult for him so she lets him rest if he can.  She finishes washing last nights supper dishes that have been neatly scraped and stacked in the sink for her.  she throws some diced stew meat into the crock pot and begins to chop some vegetables.  The vegetables will go into both the stew for supper and the omlet that she will prepare for breakfast.  She then remembers that there is barley to put into the stew as well.  (Because what is beef stew without barley?) 



Authors question.  I guess I need validation as an author.
Is this a book you would read if I were to keep my pen in motion?