“The discussion where I offered for ye hand, and yer father said I had his blessing as long as I had yorn.”
Reed stood and offered his hands. Ann stepped into his arms. “Annie Wright,” he looked down into those stormy eyes. “Will ye be my wife?”
“Yes.”
“That’s it?”
“I can make it longer.” She waved her arm in the general direction of the house, “Consult with…”
He caught her lips before she could get away.
Epilogue
5 Years Later
Contentment filled Reed’s heart as he followed Annie up the short flight of steps to the nursery. A long, satisfying day of seeing off their Christmas guests and spending family time in front of the warm hearth in the parlor ended with the children falling asleep while their grandmother read to them.
Annie caught hold of the railing. Two-year-old Amity rubbed her nose deeper into her mother’s shoulder, her little legs resting on Annie’s protruding stomach. Four-year old Field lay over Reed’s shoulder as spent as his little sister. Annie paused as she reached the landing.
“Did ye see them today when Amity’s giraffe broke?” she whispered while slowly rocking the sleeping child.
“The one from the Ark that ye were worried wouldn’t make it?”
She nodded.
He shook his head.
“It was so sweet. She saw me, so I put out my hand. She swung away. ‘Field fix.’”
Reed’s heart filled.
“She walked right on over to him and handed it over. ‘Fix.’”
“And did he?”
Annie leaned forward, a sure indication she’d done enough.
“Let’s put them down,” he whispered.
She had months left to go before this little one came yet he or she seemed to be tapping her every resource. A twinkle returned to her eyes again once they’d tucked their children under warm down quilts.
Where had the time gone? It seemed like yesterday they’d made their vows before Vicar Carson. Field was born, and then Amity. Now a new little one. Thankfulness welled in his heart. Only God’s grace could have brought him to this great abundance.
Annie rested against the doorjamb to gaze at the babies in their beds.
Reed interrupted her thoughts by placing a kiss on her forehead. “Did Field fix the giraffe?”
She took his hand and slipped into the hallway. “He took it to his little workbench and banged on it with his hammer two or three times,” she whispered. “Then he handed the big piece back to her. She grinned and went back to the Ark.”
He placed a tender hand on her swelling belly. “He’ll be such a good big brother.”
Ann placed her hand over his. “He’ll be such a good man. Just like his father.”
A Devotional Moment
AND WHEN SAUL WAS COME TO JERUSALEM, HE ASSAYED TO JOIN HIMSELF TO THE DISCIPLES: BUT THEY WERE ALL AFRAID OF HIM, AND BELIEVED NOT THAT HE WAS A DISCIPLE. ~ ACTS 9:26
The Lord wants all of us to experience conversion and to come to Him. The Lord asks us to trust those new to the faith, and to show them the way, the Truth, and the Word. But sometimes, a person comes to the Lord whom we don’t trust, someone who’s done us great harm in the past. It is hard to accept someone into our Christian faith who once made us feel afraid. Yet, when true conversion happens, when God has forgiven someone’s sins, we are to do the same.
In The Woodcarver’s Snow-kissed Christmas, the protagonists have a history of friendship and the promise of a future together, but the stain of past actions remains to mar the relationship. Only by showing intent can the protagonist prove that forgiveness can be life-changing.
Have you ever been wary of someone’s motives to the point that you questioned the validity of their Christian faith? It is true that evil people do use trusting Christians to mask their own agenda. So, how do you decide when to trust a person’s conversion and when to shy away from a deceiver? When you encounter people whom you’ve never seen redeemed, you must lean on the Lord and ask Him to help you discern the person’s intent. Ask for protection from being duped, and ask for confirmation that the person is truly living for Christ. The Lord will grant you the wisdom you need.
LORD, HELP ME TO SEEK THAT WHICH IS GOOD IN ALL PEOPLE, AND TO SHOW THEM THE WAY TO REDEMPTION. PROTECT ME FROM THE “WOLF IN SHEEP’S CLOTHING”. HELP ME TO RECOGNIZE SINCERITY AND TO GIVE GRACE AND SECOND CHANCES TO THOSE WHO MAY HAVE WRONGED ME IN THE PAST BUT ARE NOW REPENTANT IN JESUS’ NAME I PRAY. AMEN.
Thank you
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White Rose Publishing
Where Faith is the Cornerstone of Love™
an imprint of Pelican Book Group
