My Father's Gift (26 page)

Authors: Mary M Hall-Rayford

BOOK: My Father's Gift

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When they decided that there was nothing else they could do about the hearing, they prepared their clothes for the following morning, showered, prayed and went to bed. For the first time in their short married life, they went to bed without making love, wanting to make sure they were rested and ready for anything that was thrown at them.

*****

The next morning found both, Cal and D’Cerner, dressed in black suits with cleric collars, sitting in an alcove at the headquarters of the pastors’ council at nine forty-five waiting for their ten o’clock hearing.

Not wanting to keep anyone waiting for them, they had arrived a little earlier than the scheduled hearing. They had seen both Pastor Thomas’ car and Pastor Gibson’s car in the parking lot as well as those of other members of the council, but they had not seen anyone. Finally, the door to the conference room opened and they were beckoned to come in.

They walked through the doors, holding hands with heads held high, as the presiding minister, announced them.

They stood facing the panel of pastors without flinching, ready for any and every thing.

“
Well done, my good and faithful children.”

Epilogue

After the morning service ended, Cal and D’Cerner lingered in the sanctuary for a while to greet visitors and to chat with the other church members before going home to change clothes for the afternoon. They were celebrating their first pastoral anniversary and the members of Christian Faith Ministries had insisted upon having a gala dinner celebration that afternoon in the fellowship hall.

On the drive home, which was only a few miles away from the church, they reminisced about the past year and marveled at what was accomplished in such a short period of time. They knew they couldn’t afford to become complacent because there was so much more to do, but they were happy with their accomplishments.

“Cal,” D’Cerner mused as she watched him drive, “can you believe that we’ve been here for a year already?”

“It seems like we’ve been here much longer,” he responded smiling back at her. But I must admit, it’s been worth the effort. I know quite a few people weren’t sure that we could cut it, but I believe that think a little differently now.”

“I know they do,” D’Cerner said, smiling as she remembered how wary the people in the community were when they first arrived and began pastoring Christian Faith Ministries.

“I’m sure that the rumors about us made them particularly cautious about us, but you have been magnificent in winning their trust,” Cal said as he reached over to squeeze her hand.

“We have both won a major battle in winning trust. If we hadn’t, I don’t think that we would be getting this dinner celebration today. We have been given favor with this congregation and I’m glad that we’ve managed to keep it.”

“As long as we know who’s responsible, we’ll be all right. Let’s just pray that the next two years will be just as successful and maybe we can think about going back to Michigan.”

That remark caused them both to sigh and think about all that happened that had brought them to their appointment in London, West Virginia, a very small community that barely boasted a population of five hundred. The nearest area that could even be called a city was Montgomery, which was about five miles away. The largest city in the vicinity was twenty-five miles away. The adjustment from living in a large city like Detroit to a small rural area was challenging, but they had made it and now they looked forward to the next two years, expecting continued miracles as they watched over the sheep given to them.

Cal had learned to be patient with people as well as with his wife, who had also discovered she enjoyed cooking for her husband and sharing a life with him. Together, they were a formidable team, in the pulpit as well as other areas that required their attention in the church. There were also becoming great gardeners, good listeners, and the most compassionate pastors that anyone could have imagined. Their fold had grown from a handful curiosity-seekers, to almost two hundred in the year they were there and there was a constant flow of visitors from neighboring towns.

“We have just about enough time to call the kids before getting back to the church,” Cal said as they pulled into their gravel driveway.

“That sounds like a great idea. I do miss them.”

Just as they were about to get out of the car, they both noticed a strange car across the road in front of a neighbor’s house, but they didn’t really think too much about it. They had almost closed the front door when their four children and Brandon Jordan came from the kitchen and shouted, “Surprise!”

D’Cerner and Cal were excited and overwhelmed. They stood hugging them, and D’Cerner cried. Cal hugged each of the girls and shook hands with the young men, beaming, so glad he had planned this surprise for D’Cerner. She looked at him knowingly with a heart so full of love that it overflowed and spilled out of her tear-filled eyes.

About The Author

Mary M. Hall-Rayford has been an educator in private, public schools and in higher education. She is now fulfilling a dream and becoming the Life-Writer she always knew she could be. She blogs on WordPress.com and Blogspot.com to encourage and inspire her readers and has been writing feverishly since her retirement from public school setting. Opinionated, rebellious, outspoken, compassionate, and giving—she writes across genres and prays that she will see peace in the world before her last chapter is written. When there are no more words to rearrange, sort, and commemorate life, there will be nothing more for her to say.

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