Read Online A Passion Most Pure by Julie Lessman - Free Book Online
Authors: Julie Lessman
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God help me, I can't get it out of my mind. I'm so ashamed because there isn't a minute I can't feel his touch, and yet I'm sick inside because ... Mrs. Gerson, I want his touch! Never has my heart soared so, and yet I know it's wrong." Her voice bubbled into a sob.
Mrs. Gerson gathered her into her arms. "There, there, my child, everything's going to be fine. The Lord sees your heart. He knows how you long to please him."
"But these feelings are wrong, aren't they? Even if the impossible were true and Collin wanted me instead of my sister, aren't these feelings wrong?"
"Faith, my dear, feelings in and of themselves aren't wrong; it's what we choose to do with them that makes them wrong or right. Obviously you've been greatly stirred by this young man. Right or wrong, he's now fixed in your heart. As you read Song of Solomon tonight, your heart was reminded of him. Tell me, my dear, do you have any idea why the Bible would speak of these things in such a bold manner?"
Faith said no and wiped her nose with the handkerchief.
"Because, my dear, God is love. Not just maternal or fraternal love but romantic love as well. Song of Solomon was written to show what the love between a husband and a wife should be, but it was also written to emulate the depth of feeling and love God has for each of us. As intense and wonderful as this young man's kiss made you feel, more so is the passion and love God has for you. No, your feelings aren't wrong, but perhaps the timing is."
Mrs. Gerson tilted Faith's face in her hands. "Dear Faith, those same wonderful feelings will knit you to your husband some day in a romantic bond that God intends. The feelings you experienced when this young man kissed you-the racing heart, the lightheadedness, the overpowering warmth and sense of the moment-these are all good things. Created by a God whose love for you, if you can imagine, far surpasses how Collin made you feel. God intended for these wonderful feelings to be experienced between a man and his wife. But we live in a fallen world, my dear. Many choose to pursue such feelings outside of God's intent."
Mrs. Gerson sat back and sighed. "True enough, the passion and excitement are often as potent whether one is in or out of God's will. But a word of warning, my dear. The true depth, fulfillment, and joy you're searching for, such as what your parents experience, can only be found when God is part of the equation. When we seek such feelings and relationships outside of his will, I'm afraid we leave ourselves open to mediocrity and, more often than not, heartbreak."
Faith sniffed. "I believe that. But what do I do with these feelings for now? I can't seem to fight them."
Mrs. Gerson chuckled. "Oh, you'll fight them, all right. In a manner that will infuriate the devil more than you can know. You will, my dear, pray for this young man. Each time the feelings come, chase them away by praying that God will bring this Collin McGuire to his knees before the throne of God. Oh, the devil will hate that! With each prayer spoken, you'll find the heartache slowly receding. Trust me on this, my dear; when you pray for those who hurt you, remarkable things happen."
"Mrs. Gerson?" Faith's tone was troubled. "I desperately want to have strength ... should he ever confront me again."
"Not to worry," Mrs. Gerson said as she rose to her feet. She toddled toward the kitchen with a mischievous smile on her lips. "That prayer belongs to me, my dear. And we both know how much I enjoy giving the devil his due."
Collin might have heard the church bells pealing if his brain wasn't pounding in his head. As it was, the blinding glare of the sun peeking over the horizon was the only reminder he'd stayed too long at Brannigan's Pub. His hands were sluggish and clumsy as he fumbled with the key in the door, and he was making far too much noise for someone who hoped to maintain a degree of stealth.
Before he could turn the knob, the door swung open. In an instant, he knew
Mrs. Gerson gathered her into her arms. "There, there, my child, everything's going to be fine. The Lord sees your heart. He knows how you long to please him."
"But these feelings are wrong, aren't they? Even if the impossible were true and Collin wanted me instead of my sister, aren't these feelings wrong?"
"Faith, my dear, feelings in and of themselves aren't wrong; it's what we choose to do with them that makes them wrong or right. Obviously you've been greatly stirred by this young man. Right or wrong, he's now fixed in your heart. As you read Song of Solomon tonight, your heart was reminded of him. Tell me, my dear, do you have any idea why the Bible would speak of these things in such a bold manner?"
Faith said no and wiped her nose with the handkerchief.
"Because, my dear, God is love. Not just maternal or fraternal love but romantic love as well. Song of Solomon was written to show what the love between a husband and a wife should be, but it was also written to emulate the depth of feeling and love God has for each of us. As intense and wonderful as this young man's kiss made you feel, more so is the passion and love God has for you. No, your feelings aren't wrong, but perhaps the timing is."
Mrs. Gerson tilted Faith's face in her hands. "Dear Faith, those same wonderful feelings will knit you to your husband some day in a romantic bond that God intends. The feelings you experienced when this young man kissed you-the racing heart, the lightheadedness, the overpowering warmth and sense of the moment-these are all good things. Created by a God whose love for you, if you can imagine, far surpasses how Collin made you feel. God intended for these wonderful feelings to be experienced between a man and his wife. But we live in a fallen world, my dear. Many choose to pursue such feelings outside of God's intent."
Mrs. Gerson sat back and sighed. "True enough, the passion and excitement are often as potent whether one is in or out of God's will. But a word of warning, my dear. The true depth, fulfillment, and joy you're searching for, such as what your parents experience, can only be found when God is part of the equation. When we seek such feelings and relationships outside of his will, I'm afraid we leave ourselves open to mediocrity and, more often than not, heartbreak."
Faith sniffed. "I believe that. But what do I do with these feelings for now? I can't seem to fight them."
Mrs. Gerson chuckled. "Oh, you'll fight them, all right. In a manner that will infuriate the devil more than you can know. You will, my dear, pray for this young man. Each time the feelings come, chase them away by praying that God will bring this Collin McGuire to his knees before the throne of God. Oh, the devil will hate that! With each prayer spoken, you'll find the heartache slowly receding. Trust me on this, my dear; when you pray for those who hurt you, remarkable things happen."
"Mrs. Gerson?" Faith's tone was troubled. "I desperately want to have strength ... should he ever confront me again."
"Not to worry," Mrs. Gerson said as she rose to her feet. She toddled toward the kitchen with a mischievous smile on her lips. "That prayer belongs to me, my dear. And we both know how much I enjoy giving the devil his due."
Collin might have heard the church bells pealing if his brain wasn't pounding in his head. As it was, the blinding glare of the sun peeking over the horizon was the only reminder he'd stayed too long at Brannigan's Pub. His hands were sluggish and clumsy as he fumbled with the key in the door, and he was making far too much noise for someone who hoped to maintain a degree of stealth.
Before he could turn the knob, the door swung open. In an instant, he knew
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