It's Only Because I Love You

Chapter Twenty-Six- Sunday Family Reunion

Twenty-Six-Sunday Family Reunion

          The next morning Mom, Jonah and I all eagerly got ready for church. Sunday mornings were the one time a week that we could be together as a family, and we all treasured it.

          This morning was especially exciting because Derek would be joining us. There was something so special about studying the Bible with Derek, so it was a great feeling knowing I could do that again.

          I had gotten dressed in my khaki pants and dull pink shirt and slipped on a pair of casual dress boots. Everyone at my church pretty much wore jeans, but I always felt like it was appropriate to dress up for church. Jonah always wore dress pants with a dress shirt, too, I guess he gets my vibe.

          Mom was dressed in a pair of jeans with her prettiest white lace shirt. She hadn’t dressed up much after Dad left, and she still doesn’t too much, but seeing her wear her laced shirt was encouraging. I was so happy for my mom that despite everything she went through the past few months, she never lost faith in God. She understood that He makes everything work out for our good. Rather it be a bad situation, or a great one.

          Jonah drove Mom and I to church after we had all eaten breakfast as a family. We arrived our normal twenty minutes early to church. We always had people to talk to and bulletins to read. This morning in particular, I went to find our seats right away and sat down. My family has sat in the same spot for the past thousand years, but that’s ok, I liked it.

          After sitting and looking at the bulletin for about five minutes, I felt a lap on my left shoulder. I turned around to see a smiling Derek. I stood up and embraced him.

          “Good Morning,” I greeted as I hugged him.

          “Good Morning, Bethany,” Derek responded and came and sat to my left.

          “How does it feel to be back in our church?” I asked as he settled into his seat.

          “It feels awesome. It feels like home,” Derek was so corny, but that’s why I loved him.

          Mom and Jonah made their way up to our seats and sat down. Jonah sat to my right, and Mom to his right. As we sat conversing, we observed the pastor come on stage to start the announcements.

          “Welcome, and thank you for joining us this morning,” Pastor said as a sudden hush came over the congregation. He continued with the announcements, and shortly after, like normal, the worship team came up, and following that, a sermon was given. Consequently enough, the sermon was on desiring Godly relationships. It made me think of how grateful I was to have two Godly guys sitting right next to me. That truly was a blessing.

          After church, Derek, Jonah, Mom and I all headed back to my house. I rode with Derek since he drove to church and had a car he was responsible for. Meanwhile, Jonah drove Mom back to our house.

          I noticed as we drove that the temperature was dropping quickly. It was around 40 degrees during the day, which is normal in mid-November for Connecticut, and into the 20s at night. The forecast for the next week said that the temperature would be dropping into the lower 30s and even into the 20s. I was glad I had a warm house fully with loving people to keep me warm.

          As Derek and I pulled into my driveway, we saw that we had beaten Jonah and Mom home. I figured they probably stopped at the gas station along the way and they would catch up within a few minutes. Derek and I walked into my house took of our coats and shoes and proceeded into the living room. I asked if he wanted anything to eat or drink, but he said no. I made myself some popcorn and took a seat next to him on the couch.

          “Why did your mom invite me over today?” Derek asked me. My mom had invited him over at church this morning, which I didn’t know she was doing.

          “I’m not sure. I didn’t even know she was going to ask you to come over,” I responded. Derek grabbed a handful of popcorn. “I thought you didn’t want anything to eat?”

          “I didn’t, but when you’re eating popcorn right in front of me you can’t expect me to not want some!” Derek said smiling.

          “I suppose,” I leaned the bag over to him and he took another handful. Just then Mom and Jonah walked in.

          “Hi!” I said with a mouthful of popcorn.

          “We figured you would beat us home, we stopped at the gas station,” Jonah said. I looked at Derek and gave him an I-told-you-so look. I got up and followed Mom into the kitchen. Jonah went and sat on his chair and talked to Derek.

          “Mom?” I started. “Why did you invite Derek over?” I asked curiously.

          “I thought it would be like a reunion time. You know, to welcome him back and what not.”

          “Oh, ok. That was nice!” I said and walked closer to give Mom a hug. “You’re the best,” I said into her sleeve.

          We spent the rest of the day hanging out and talking about all that had happened in the past couple months, and what we anticipated for the next couple months. Derek explained his housing situation and how he would be moving in to his old house and how his mom would eventually move here.

          We also talked about how Jonah was enjoying college while still living at home. It didn’t seem to me that Jonah was in college, it didn’t feel any different to me. His major was still undeclared, but he trusted that God would show him what to do in life.