Lillian's Journey to Jesus

Just a week away

A few weeks had passed. It was in the middle of December when I remembered that the annual Christmas ball was just a week away, the night before Christmas. As I was reading my bible one morning, sitting in the library window, I noticed John's family all walking out of the front door, holding hands. His mother had a picnic basket around her arm. I wished I was tagging along with them, but sadly, I wasn't. But there was one thing I knew, I wasn't alone. Jesus was with me, he was living in me, I never had to feel alone again. It was then that a lightbulb went off in my head. I didn't have a bow to go with to the ball. John, of course, was the only guy I would want to go with. But Father would never let us go. Quickly closing my bible, I briskly walked to my father's office, where I found him calculating the right price for the sugar crop. I took slow steps as I walked towards him. He looked up at me, with a look that said "what are you doing here?"
"Papa" I began, "who will I go to the Christmas ball with this year?" A smile spread across his face. "Well, of course you'll go with one of the wealthy boys who we know, how's about Kordel?" Kordel was a handsome young man, but he was arrogant, not to mention rude and demanding. "Father, do you think that I could go with, John?" I prayed and prayed he'd say yes, but he simply said "no" , "absolutely not Lillian! Didn't we have this talk already? If John was a wealthy young man, perhaps you could go with him, but he is not, his family is poor."
I was about to get very angry when the Holy Spirit whispered to my heart to stay calm and show Gods love to my father. Then I remembered what John had said about obedience, and how no matter what, we should always obey. Papa looked down at his papers and began calculating again.
"Ok papa, I'll go with Kordel."
Papa looked up and smiled.
"I'll make the arrangements today. I'm sure Kordel will be delighted to take you, from what I hear, he's quite fond of you."
A smile spread across my face.
"Well, we shall have a nice time together" I said, as I began walking out of the room. I suddenly remembered Lydia and William. I wondered how they were doing. I grabbed a basket, placed some gingerbread cookies inside, and set off to Lydia's house. When I was a few steps away from the house, I heard footsteps behind me. "Lillian, where are you off to? Mama sent me to ask you"
It was Genevieve.
"I was just going to Lydia's, to bring them some cookies"
"Oh. I'm sure mother will be okay with that. But are you sure that's where your going?"
"Genevieve, where else would I be going? Have I ever been one to sneak around?"
"Well, I seen you and that boy John, ink so you like him"
"Genevieve, I like him as a friend, and a friend only. Please don't tease me with such foolishness"
"Okay" she said, with a knowing look on her face.
I began walking again. There was a slight chill in the air, with a gentle breeze. I silently prayed, asking God to save my family. It made me sad to see my papa to have such a prejudice attitude towards the family whom they had taken in A few months back.  These things filled my mind and passes time, and soon I was at Lydia's. I knocked on the door twice, Lydia answered, and with a huge smile, welcomed me in. "Sit down, I have big news!" She said. I sat down and placed the basket on my lap.
"I'm pregnant!"
My eyes grew big And my mouth opened wide with a smile.
"I'm so happy for y'all! And I'm going to be a aunt!"
Joy filled my heart. I had looked up to Lydia in the past, but now that she was a Jesus follower, I really looked up to her. William soon walked in the door and interrupted our talk about baby clothes, names, and pregnancy. William put his coat on the coat rack behind the front door and looked at the smiling, over joyed Lydia. "Is something thing wrong?" He said, confused.
Lydia walked up to him. "William, I'm pregnant!"
"Really?" He said, putting his hands on her shoulders.
"Yes!" They hugged.
"We are going to raise this baby up to know the Lord" William said.
"Yes, and we will read the bible to him or her and teach him or her the ways of the lord" Lydia said. I smiled at the both, I admired the couple. Now that they were Christians, they were a prime example to the youth. William turned to me and said "Lily, thank you for bringing that boy here that day, had you not, I don't know where I'd be right now"
"I'm glad I did too, John is such a wise young man, and a good example"
"Perhaps you and John could court someday" he said with a smile
"Papa has forbidden it. He won't even let me go to the Christmas ball with him. He told John we couldn't be friends anymore. We haven't talked in a while. Papa doesn't like him because he brought me to Jesus, and papa said he doesn't want my mind clogged up with religion. And I tried to tell him, it's not religion. Jesus is all we have." I said, looking down at the basket in my lap.
"Perhaps pops will soften up a bit, maybe once he sees that John isn't so bad, he will let you talk to him again."
"I hope so" I said, sadly. "Well I brought you all some cookies!" I said, handing Lydia the basket.
Their faces lit up. "Gingerbread! Our favorite!" We talked a while about the bible, papa and mama, and our siblings, and soon it was time for my visit to end. As I walked to the door Lydia asked me what I would wear to the Christmas ball. "Hmm, I'm not sure."
"Perhaps we can go dress shopping with your sisters tomorrow?"
"I'll ask my mama and let you know!"
"Ok, goodbye!"
"Bye!" I said, waving my hand and shutting the heavy wooden door.
I took a deep breath and made my way back home. It was 5:00, and the sky sure was pretty. Purple, pink, blue, and yellow painted the edges of the puffy clouds that looked like the whipped cream cakes Ms. Kierra cooked. How good that sounded, a nice slice of light white cake with strawberry cream in between the layers and fluffy whipped cream on top. Mmmm. I remembered a verse from the Bible that John had shared with me, it said that God painted the skies for us to see his majesty. How glorious! The God who created all that was before my eyes actually cared about me and thought about me! I began to skip with joy and sing a hymn John had taught me. "What a friend we have in Jesus, all our sins and griefs to bear.." My heart leaped with joy because I knew in my heart that Jesus, was indeed real and there was no doubt!

Note from author:
Hello! Please comment below and let me know what you think! My name is Teresa, God bless!