Starbucks. To think that Chloe had given her heart to Jesus while sitting in front of Clay's grave. Only God could do something so totally cool. And then it struck me–I hadn't even told her that my aunt was married to Clay's brother or that this new addition to our family (that I was suggesting she might baby-sit) was actually Clay's nephew and namesake!
As it turned out, Jenny did drive Beanie and Anna home for the weekend, and we all got together on Saturday afternoon. First we went to the mall and just hung out and caught up. Then we decided to pull an all-nighter at Jenny's house. It was so great to see my old friends. And it didn't take too long to learn that everything hadn't been going perfectly smoothly for them either. Anna had gotten a roommate who snores like a logger and lets her laundry pile up until the whole room smells like rotten tennis shoes. And although Beanie and Jenny were used to sharing accommodations, they'd never lived in such close quarters (in the same room),and even their relationship had begun to wear thin after the first couple weeks.
“Yeah, we had to start giving each other more space,” explained Jenny as she botched a perfectly good pool shot.
“But once we figured that out, it's been pretty much okay.”
Anna laughed. “Yeah, except for last week when Beanie came storming over to my room after she and Jenny had gotten into a big stink over whose turn it was to take out the garbage.”
“Oh, it wasn't that bad,” said Beanie.
So I told them a little bit about Liz, and they all acted appropriately sorry for me but also promised they'd be praying for her. And somehow, after hearing about their less-than-perfect situations, I felt slightly better about mine. I suppose it's sad but true: Misery does love company.
Then we all went to youth group and church the next day. And sure enough there were Chloe and Josh. I don't think I'll ever forget the smile on Josh's face as he proudly introduced his sister to the kids in the youth group–kind of reminded me of how Tony had looked when he'd introduced me to his new son Clayton Antonio.
And despite how pleased I was for both Chloe and Josh, I must admit to feeling just a smidgen of what I think was probably some form of jealousy. Like I should've been getting some of the credit or glory–I mean, hadn't I had a hand in helping Chloe reach this place? But atthe same time I chided myself for my stupid selfishness. After all, I know that it was totally God's doing. And what if He had used me? Who am I to strut around like I'm something special? And so I felt adequately humbled, and as a result, I may have seemed more quiet than usual.
“Are you okay?” Josh asked me after the service ended.
“Sure.” I smiled brightly.
“Do you have time to grab some lunch?”
I glanced at my watch. “I really wish I could, Josh, but Bryce is picking me up in about ten minutes.”
“Bryce Lundgren?”
“Yeah, I almost forgot you know him. He's the one who gave me a ride from school.”
A tiny shadow crossed Josh's face. “So you two are pretty good friends, huh?”
I laughed. “Yes, but that's all we are. Y'know Bryce already has a girlfriend.”
He nodded, but I could tell he was slightly embarvassed by his line of questioning. “Well, I just wanted you to know how much I appreciate everything you've done for Chloe. God is really using you, Caitlin.” He smiled that dazzling Matt Damon smile. “And you just never cease to amaze me.”
“Amaze you?”
“Yeah, the way you keep living for God–giving 100 percent. I really admire you. And I thought it was time for me to say it.”
Well, I wasn't quite sure what to say, but I think I mumbled a quiet thank-you or something like that. But I must admit that Josh's approval meant a lot to me. Sometimes we forget to tell each other that we're doing a good job. And it was sweet of him to say that to me.
On the way back to school, I told Bryce all about Chloe and her graveyard conversion.
As it turned out, Jenny did drive Beanie and Anna home for the weekend, and we all got together on Saturday afternoon. First we went to the mall and just hung out and caught up. Then we decided to pull an all-nighter at Jenny's house. It was so great to see my old friends. And it didn't take too long to learn that everything hadn't been going perfectly smoothly for them either. Anna had gotten a roommate who snores like a logger and lets her laundry pile up until the whole room smells like rotten tennis shoes. And although Beanie and Jenny were used to sharing accommodations, they'd never lived in such close quarters (in the same room),and even their relationship had begun to wear thin after the first couple weeks.
“Yeah, we had to start giving each other more space,” explained Jenny as she botched a perfectly good pool shot.
“But once we figured that out, it's been pretty much okay.”
Anna laughed. “Yeah, except for last week when Beanie came storming over to my room after she and Jenny had gotten into a big stink over whose turn it was to take out the garbage.”
“Oh, it wasn't that bad,” said Beanie.
So I told them a little bit about Liz, and they all acted appropriately sorry for me but also promised they'd be praying for her. And somehow, after hearing about their less-than-perfect situations, I felt slightly better about mine. I suppose it's sad but true: Misery does love company.
Then we all went to youth group and church the next day. And sure enough there were Chloe and Josh. I don't think I'll ever forget the smile on Josh's face as he proudly introduced his sister to the kids in the youth group–kind of reminded me of how Tony had looked when he'd introduced me to his new son Clayton Antonio.
And despite how pleased I was for both Chloe and Josh, I must admit to feeling just a smidgen of what I think was probably some form of jealousy. Like I should've been getting some of the credit or glory–I mean, hadn't I had a hand in helping Chloe reach this place? But atthe same time I chided myself for my stupid selfishness. After all, I know that it was totally God's doing. And what if He had used me? Who am I to strut around like I'm something special? And so I felt adequately humbled, and as a result, I may have seemed more quiet than usual.
“Are you okay?” Josh asked me after the service ended.
“Sure.” I smiled brightly.
“Do you have time to grab some lunch?”
I glanced at my watch. “I really wish I could, Josh, but Bryce is picking me up in about ten minutes.”
“Bryce Lundgren?”
“Yeah, I almost forgot you know him. He's the one who gave me a ride from school.”
A tiny shadow crossed Josh's face. “So you two are pretty good friends, huh?”
I laughed. “Yes, but that's all we are. Y'know Bryce already has a girlfriend.”
He nodded, but I could tell he was slightly embarvassed by his line of questioning. “Well, I just wanted you to know how much I appreciate everything you've done for Chloe. God is really using you, Caitlin.” He smiled that dazzling Matt Damon smile. “And you just never cease to amaze me.”
“Amaze you?”
“Yeah, the way you keep living for God–giving 100 percent. I really admire you. And I thought it was time for me to say it.”
Well, I wasn't quite sure what to say, but I think I mumbled a quiet thank-you or something like that. But I must admit that Josh's approval meant a lot to me. Sometimes we forget to tell each other that we're doing a good job. And it was sweet of him to say that to me.
On the way back to school, I told Bryce all about Chloe and her graveyard conversion.
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