Dancing in the Florida Sun (Completed)

20- FS Lambs

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     While slipping a shirt over Noah's head to get him ready for church, Brooke's heart began to race. Grams had repeatedly invited her to church, and she'd been avoiding it. But today things felt different. She felt different, and wondered if going would help make sense of some of her feelings.

     Walking Noah out to the living area, she saw Grams sitting outside on the patio glider with her morning coffee and an open Bible.

     She took a deep breath before approaching her grandmother. "I'd like to go to your church today."

     Grams face lit up. "Wonderful! We have a great Sunday school for young singles if you'd like to try it."

     Brooke began to feel anxious. "I'm thinking just the main service today. Maybe another time I'll check out that Sunday school." She smiled nervously. She didn't want to hurt her grandmother's feelings, but she just wanted to test the waters today.

     Her grandmother hesitated, then smiled. "You know what, we'll skip Sunday school today, so we can all go together." Brooke shook her head and started to speak, but Grams held up her hand. "No, really, I want to wait. I understand you not wanting to go to Sunday school, and I want you to feel comfortable walking in."

~~~

     Brooke held Noah in one arm, and clasped her Bible in the other, as she approached the church. Unlike the church Gram's attended in Memphis, which was a huge brick building complete with white columns and a steeple, this one looked like a metal warehouse with a couple of exterior additions. Once inside, she was further surprised by the contemporary decor. It was not at all what she expected.

     Her eyes scanned the area, and were drawn to a perfect little family. A young dad holding the hand of a toddler with blond hair and a pink dress, and his other arm around his pregnant wife, who was glowing. Her heart clenched as she looked down and saw that indeed, they both had wedding bands. Would she ever have that? As a teenager she had promised herself she would be married before having a child, and yet here she was. The woman looked up and caught her eye and smiled, then walked to Brooke.

     "Hi! I'm Hannah. So nice to have you here."

     Brooke smiled. "Thanks, I'm Brooke and this is Noah."

     "Of course. I've met Noah when he's been here with your grandmother." Hannah looked at Grams and grinned. "Clara is such a blessing to this congregation. We moved here a year ago, and she has been like a second mother to me, and a grandmother to Charlotte," she pointed to her daughter. "That's my husband, Craig, by the way." Craig smiled and joined the group then introduced himself.

     "Clara has told us some of what you have gone through," Hannah spoke softly while Craig and Grams were chatting. "I've been praying for you." Noticing Brooke's surprise she added, "Your grandmother leads a small prayer group with me and some other young married women. We share a lot of personal things. She has been a great mentor. You're lucky to have her."

     Tensing and holding Noah tighter, she waited for Hannah to give her the look that said "I know you're a sinner, and you don't belong here," but it never came. Instead she saw only sincerity and caring in Hannah's eyes. She relaxed, and Hannah smoothed a loving hand over Noah's head. "Yeah, you're right. My grandmother is pretty special. I don't know how I would have gotten through the past month without her."

~~~

     Taking her Bible and turning to Exodus 12, Brooke listened intently as the pastor described the Israelite families preparing to leave from their slavery in Egypt once God enacted the final plague. They were to pick a lamb without blemish, and..." her stomach turned and her face contorted, "paint its blood on the doorpost, and roast the meat. They were to eat it and couldn't leave any for the next day, but were to be prepared to leave quickly. Even their bread was to be unleavened, because they would not have time to let it rise. God's final plague was to kill the first born of every family in Egypt, and the lambs' blood around the doors of the Israelites would be a sign for God to pass over the home without harming the first born.