The Prodigal Daughter

The Prodigal Daughter - Chapter 11

Video to this short chapter. My favorite group and one of my favorite songs!! Listen to the end when Kim Walker-Smith kicks this song to places unheard in most renditions!! (Just my personal opinion!)

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Chapter 11

MaryBeth missed a lot of things in her eight years away, and it surprised her as she sat in church services after she returned that church was one of them. She always liked church, but she did not think about it in her absence. She thought about her parents, she thought about Joey, she even thought about certain food items she missed that were specific to home. But, she never thought about church. But as the choir was singing “We Exalt Thee” MaryBeth realize how much she not only missed church, but how she missed worshiping God. Thanking him for bringing her through the last eight years. Yes, a little damaged, due to her own bad choices, but she was whole.

Standing next to Joey, she lifted her hands and began to thank God for many things. First of all, she was thankful for forgiveness. Not just God forgiving her, but her parents and Joey forgiving her as well. Then she was thankful that she was healthy and the baby was OK. She still wasn’t sure what the future was going to be for her and the baby. She would need to talk that over with Joey and her parents. But for right now they both were safe and healthy. And, finally she was thankful that Joey was standing by her side and that they were going through this together. She loved him and he loved her and they could face anything together.

Since the meeting with Edward, things had gone well. She was no longer worried about Richard. She also was happy and giddy in love with Joey, the only difference from when they were kids and in love was the growth in her abdomen. But, that was OK with Joey. He would just pat it every once in a while, or feel the baby when they kicked.

One day, she decided that she needed to have a conversation with Joey and let him know everything that was going through her head. If things were going like she expected, he would have a say in this too. They were sitting on her parents sofa and watching a movie. Joey held MaryBeth’s head on a pillow in his lap and he was playing with her hair.

“Joey, are you into this movie?”

“It’s OK, but I have seen it before. What’s up?”

“I just have something I want to talk to you about. I need your advice.”

“OK.” Joey said, “Shoot.”

MaryBeth sat up and looked him in the eyes. “I don’t know if I want to keep the baby.”

“Why do you say that?” Joey was baffled, he didn’t want her to think he did not want the child. He loved her and would love her child no matter what.

“Well, I want to be a mother. I never really thought about it until it happened. But, I don’t know that I want to be a mother to Richard’s baby. I mean I will love and protect this child. But, there are people out there that can not have children that might raise this child better not knowing my past and about Richard. And I wonder if someone else can raise this child better than me?”

“Wow. I honestly did not see this coming.”

“I mean, I know you are a good man, and what if one day we get married and have a child of our own, would you look at this child different than your own?”

“I would like to say no. That I will treat this child as who they are, your child. And I would love them no matter what. And I do think you would make a wonderful parent for any child. People are going to gossip, no matter what, and we can not base our decision on the possibility of gossip.”

“But, when I just said that, about us having a child, what did you feel.”

“Excited for the future.”

“But, do you feel that excitement over this child?”

“I feel that excitement over you. Child, or no child.” Joey said as he put his arm around her and held her.

“I don’t want to abandon any child. I just wonder if this child deserves a better chance than what I can give them.”

“Can you live not knowing where your child is in this world and if they are safe?”

“I don’t know.” MaryBeth said and she began to cry.

“Let’s pray about it.” Joey said as he lifted her head with his fingers softly touching her chin. “Because as long as you don’t feel peace about your decision, you are going to wonder.” MaryBeth just nodded. “Lord God, we come to you, we know you can help us in this decision because once you gave your child to the Earth and an Earthly mother and father to raise. Heavenly Father, we come to you asking to help MaryBeth with her decision whether to keep the child or to release this child for others to raise. No matte what Lord, let her feel peace about her decision. In Jesus name we pray. Amen.”

“Thank You” MaryBeth said through tears and in the crook of Joey’s neck. And he held her for a very long time while she cried.

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A/N - I know this chapter was short and in all honesty, I had something else planned for this chapter, but this just started coming to me. I am torn whether I want her to keep the baby or give it up for adoption.

FULL DISCLOSURE HERE: My son is adopted. I could never imagine the pain that his birth mother went through when deciding to give him up for adoption. But I am so glad she did. HOWEVER, my story is not my life and I don't want my adoption from the adoptive parents side to taint this story. So please let me know how you feel one way or another. You never know, your comment my help me decide for MaryBeth and Joey.