I smiled at my little girl and imagined what frame would fit best around this pose of hers. And then I stopped smiling. There were tears in her eyelashes. I looked closer and noticed the little pucker just below the left side of her lips that she always wore when she was sad or hurt. I wondered what was wrong. I forgot about the perfect frame and worried about my little daughter. I wondered if I should wake her up and ask what was wrong. Her mother would have known. But her mother wasn't here. I shook my head as I turned to go out the door and then I stopped.

Previous Chapter

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Esteemed Ladies and Gentlemen,

I
Every time I see you
I hang my head in shame
For all the selfish seasons
The times I was to blame

But you look back with love
A picture drawn of grace
Your friendship given freely
A smile on your face

Charity suffers long
The scriptures say; it's true
Charity is faithful
It's been lived out in you

II
A blessing I ask on friends so dear
When I need them they are near
To join in laughter or dry a tear
I know they will be here

In the darkness there is a creature that hides behind every shadow.
In the hall where there should be company and fellowship, a single man sits alone.
And the silence weighs down on him with ever increasing tension.
The creature slowly comes out of the shadow, bringing with it a dread that cannot be escaped.
You sit and wait for it to come, as it has come before.
You think you can fight it off, but its strength is too much for any man.
And with a sudden horror you realize it is your old foe, whose presence fills you with hopelessness.

Prologue: Edaled, Year 50
In the beginning there was peace.
There was peace between husband and wife. There was peace between brother and sister. There was peace between all kingdoms of Edaled. But most of all, there was peace between Ad and His creation.
When Ad dwelt among His people, there was joy every time He was seen. Every time He spoke. Every time He was mentioned. To love and be with the One who created them was all anyone asked. Even the kings would leave their most important business when He came, so great was their love for Him.

My Jesus Story

Stepping into tights.

Lord, I believe Thy faithfulness sure:
Myself Thou shalt steadfastly secure.
With Thee in me through every trial,
Though my head droop it shall be rais’d higher.

Lord, I believe Thou orderest my way,
Come gloom or gladness; come night or day.
If my faith fail, or I should lose hope,
Thee, Lord canst bear with what I cannot cope.

Lord, I believe that weakness of mine
Is swallow’d in strength of the perfect Divine.
And Thou in Thy love givest to me
The sweet blessed Jesus: all I shall need.