Read Online Promising Angela by Kim Vogel Sawyer - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Kim Vogel Sawyer
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always be holy? I should never make mistakes?” Angela’s heart gave a nervous double beat with that idea. If she were supposed to be free of mistakes, she had a long way to go.
“Now, I didn’t say that. Unfortunately, we’re humans, and humans aren’t perfect.” Aunt Eileen paused, her forehead creased in thought. “No, what I mean is you shouldn’t spend your time worrying about what mistakes you might make. You should concentrate on two things. First, you aren’t alone anymore. The Holy Spirit is with you, helping you be strong when you feel weak. When you’re tempted, you just ask for help, and help will come. The Bible says we’ll never be tested beyond our ability to resist. So remember that.
“And second, you’ve got me. I know I’m no young hipster, and it’s not the same as having friends your age to hang up on—”
Angela burst out laughing. “Hang out with, Aunt Eileen!”
The older woman gave a tug on Angela’s hand. “All right, all right, so I don’t even know the terminology. But I’m here. I love you, and anytime you need something, you can come to me.”
Angela thought her heart might melt. The tears returned. “Oh, Aunt Eileen, thank you. I love you, too.”
“But just keep this in mind.” Aunt Eileen’s voice took on a stern undertone. “You don’t have to depend on me. If there’s a lesson I’ve learned well over the years, it’s that there is One who will never abandon me, never turn a deaf ear, never refuse me comfort, and He’s Jesus. Lean on Him, sweet girl, and you’ll be fine.”
Angela laid her head against the backrest of the old recliner and sighed. “How did you learn all this, Aunt Eileen? How do I get to be as—as comfortable with Jesus as you are?”
A smile lit her aunt’s eyes. “Why, same way as with any relationship. Time. Think about your first days at New Beginnings. It was awkward, wasn’t it?”
Angela nodded. She had been certain she wouldn’t last ten minutes, let alone ten months.
“But what happened?” Aunt Eileen smiled, offering a wink. “You got to know the clients. You formed a relationship with them. And then the awkwardness slowly went away. That’s the way it is with Jesus, too. You gotta talk to Him—get to know Him.”
Angela nodded, nibbling her lower lip. Prayer … Carrie had said that, too. Reading the Bible every day and praying were important things for growing in the Christian walk.
She stood. “Aunt Eileen, I’m going to my room now. I–I’m going to do a little talking with Jesus.”
eight
Angela rose from her knees at the side of the little bed in her temporary bedroom. Sitting on the edge of the mattress, she released a contented sigh. Aunt Eileen was right—talking to Jesus did make a person feel better. She raised her gaze to the ceiling and added a quick postscript. “I’ll talk with You again soon. Count on it.”
She rustled around in the half-unpacked suitcase at the end of the bed and located a pad of paper and pen. A list … While praying, she’d gotten the idea of forming a list of Christian friends who could be a support to her. She knew she shouldn’t spend time with her old crowd. That could prove to be unwholesome. But somehow she needed to replace those relationships. Replacing them with Christian people seemed a wise thing to do.
Flipping the pad open, she wrote Christian Support System at the top of the page then began plugging in names. Aunt Eileen’s name came first, followed by Carrie and her husband Rocky. Her boss, Philip, came next. And then her hand paused, the pen nib against the paper. Should she include Ben? He was a Christian, and he’d been a support up until that morning when he’d frustrated her so badly.
Her reaction to him replayed in her mind, and remorse struck. She shouldn’t have barked at him like she had. Even if she were angry, she should have kept a rein on her tongue. She knew she hadn’t spoken in a way pleasing to God.
Releasing a deep sigh,
“Now, I didn’t say that. Unfortunately, we’re humans, and humans aren’t perfect.” Aunt Eileen paused, her forehead creased in thought. “No, what I mean is you shouldn’t spend your time worrying about what mistakes you might make. You should concentrate on two things. First, you aren’t alone anymore. The Holy Spirit is with you, helping you be strong when you feel weak. When you’re tempted, you just ask for help, and help will come. The Bible says we’ll never be tested beyond our ability to resist. So remember that.
“And second, you’ve got me. I know I’m no young hipster, and it’s not the same as having friends your age to hang up on—”
Angela burst out laughing. “Hang out with, Aunt Eileen!”
The older woman gave a tug on Angela’s hand. “All right, all right, so I don’t even know the terminology. But I’m here. I love you, and anytime you need something, you can come to me.”
Angela thought her heart might melt. The tears returned. “Oh, Aunt Eileen, thank you. I love you, too.”
“But just keep this in mind.” Aunt Eileen’s voice took on a stern undertone. “You don’t have to depend on me. If there’s a lesson I’ve learned well over the years, it’s that there is One who will never abandon me, never turn a deaf ear, never refuse me comfort, and He’s Jesus. Lean on Him, sweet girl, and you’ll be fine.”
Angela laid her head against the backrest of the old recliner and sighed. “How did you learn all this, Aunt Eileen? How do I get to be as—as comfortable with Jesus as you are?”
A smile lit her aunt’s eyes. “Why, same way as with any relationship. Time. Think about your first days at New Beginnings. It was awkward, wasn’t it?”
Angela nodded. She had been certain she wouldn’t last ten minutes, let alone ten months.
“But what happened?” Aunt Eileen smiled, offering a wink. “You got to know the clients. You formed a relationship with them. And then the awkwardness slowly went away. That’s the way it is with Jesus, too. You gotta talk to Him—get to know Him.”
Angela nodded, nibbling her lower lip. Prayer … Carrie had said that, too. Reading the Bible every day and praying were important things for growing in the Christian walk.
She stood. “Aunt Eileen, I’m going to my room now. I–I’m going to do a little talking with Jesus.”
eight
Angela rose from her knees at the side of the little bed in her temporary bedroom. Sitting on the edge of the mattress, she released a contented sigh. Aunt Eileen was right—talking to Jesus did make a person feel better. She raised her gaze to the ceiling and added a quick postscript. “I’ll talk with You again soon. Count on it.”
She rustled around in the half-unpacked suitcase at the end of the bed and located a pad of paper and pen. A list … While praying, she’d gotten the idea of forming a list of Christian friends who could be a support to her. She knew she shouldn’t spend time with her old crowd. That could prove to be unwholesome. But somehow she needed to replace those relationships. Replacing them with Christian people seemed a wise thing to do.
Flipping the pad open, she wrote Christian Support System at the top of the page then began plugging in names. Aunt Eileen’s name came first, followed by Carrie and her husband Rocky. Her boss, Philip, came next. And then her hand paused, the pen nib against the paper. Should she include Ben? He was a Christian, and he’d been a support up until that morning when he’d frustrated her so badly.
Her reaction to him replayed in her mind, and remorse struck. She shouldn’t have barked at him like she had. Even if she were angry, she should have kept a rein on her tongue. She knew she hadn’t spoken in a way pleasing to God.
Releasing a deep sigh,
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