The Proposal (26 page)

“The Trinity is first mentioned in Genesis when God says that man is made in “our” image, “our” being the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. It’s God in three distinct persons. The best explanation might be in the first chapter of Mark when Jesus is being baptized. God the Son, Jesus, is standing in the water. The Spirit descends in the form of a dove and lands on Jesus’ shoulder—that’s God the Holy Ghost. Then God the Father speaks from heaven.”

Jennings’ face was so intent on this information that for a moment he said nothing. The children were aware of his demeanor and remained quiet. Marianne didn’t know what to do. She needed to get to the Hursts’, but she did not want to interrupt if Mr Jennings was trying to think.

“And you say that God is in all places at all times?” he finally asked.

“Yes.”

“Which God? The Father, Son, or Spirit?”

“They’re all the same God, Mr Jennings, but with different roles. The Father rules in heaven and is over all. Jesus became God-Man so He could live on earth and die for sins. The Spirit ministers in the hearts of believers.”

“So God the Father doesn’t minister to Christians?”

“Yes, He does, but it’s the Spirit’s unique role to minister to believers through Scripture.”

“How can He do that?”

“Because He’s three in one. He’s Father, Son, and Spirit at all times, everywhere.”

Jennings took another span of time to contemplate this, and Marianne knew she must leave.

“Children,” she said quietly, her eyes mostly on Thomas, “I’ll see you later this week.”

Thomas nodded right away and began to take James and Penny away.

Jennings, his eyes on a distant spot, didn’t notice their departure.

“Mr Jennings?” Marianne tried when they were alone.

The thoughtful man looked at her.

“May I tell you something?”

“Certainly.” Jennings’ eyes were now intent on Marianne.

“When my father was searching, a man told him that while God loves questions and that everything He wants us to know is in His Word, there might come a time when you need to stop working to figure it all out, realize you need a Savior, and fall down on your knees. My father has always said that those words helped him tremendously.”

For the space of several heartbeats, Jennings held her eyes and let the words sink in. At last he said “Thank you” in genuine appreciation.

“I must go,” Marianne said.

“Of course,” Jennings nodded, backing up so the carriage could move on its way.

He walked slowly to the house, still not realizing that the children had gone ahead and that Thomas was praying for his guardian as he never had before.

Jennings had never experienced a sleepless night. Yet he heard the chimes at midnight, one, two, three, and four. He had readied for bed at the usual time, but that had done little good. His heart in a quandary, he paced the floor of his room, checked on the children, stared out the window, lay back on the bed, and repeated the process for hours.

Sometime after four o’clock, he went for the Bible on his writing desk. He opened it but didn’t look at the words. With a hand to the pages, he prayed.

“Holy Father, I don’t know what’s wrong with me. I yearn for something. I think it must be You, but I don’t know where to start.”

Jennings thought of the happy life he saw in the parishioners of Pastor Hurst’s church. The women were shy and sweet around him, not bold and brazen as they were at the parties in London. And Pastor Hurst himself! He had not turned out to be anything like Jennings had remembered.

And all of these thoughts ran through his mind before he made a close inspection of the Palmer family. There was no denying the genuineness of their faith. The children were well behaved and respectful. They adored their parents and enjoyed each other. Rarely did he see a squabble between them, and when he did, it was worked out with kind words, not accusations and shouting.

And Palmer and Lydia—Jennings didn’t know another couple who enjoyed each other more. They worked together even in tense situations, and unlike many other marriages Jennings had witnessed, they were devoted to each other and not joined in name only.

“I’ll go tomorrow,” Jennings prayed quietly. “I’ll see Palmer tomorrow, Father God.”

Even as he said this, Jennings wondered to whom he should be praying: the Father, Son, or Holy Spirit. Suddenly he was more tired than he’d ever been in his life. He went back to his bed and lay down, his heart a mixture of burden and peace. He had so many questions, but he was certain that Palmer would have the answers.

Blackburn Manor

“Are you all right, dear?” Mrs Walker asked of Marianne at the breakfast table, her hand reaching for the teapot.

“I didn’t sleep well,” the younger woman admitted, still not understanding why, as she absently accepted a hot cup of tea.

“Was it something you ate?”

“I don’t believe so.” Marianne reached for the toast rack. “Mr Jennings was on my mind, and I prayed for him a good deal.”

“That’s not surprising, dear.” Mrs Walker moved the butter dish closer to her child. “The conversation you had with him on the Trinity was most unusual. It was bound to stay on your mind.”

“You’re probably right,” Marianne said as she used the butter and preserves. “I sense that he’s ready to listen.”

Mrs Walker smiled. “I remember the day that happened for your father.”

“Mother,” Marianne interrupted her. “I can’t remember how long before Father you came to Christ.”

“Almost a year. I said little of the matter in those days. Your father was having a terrible struggle, and my peace seemed only to rattle him more.”

“I recall some of that. I mostly recall the peace in the house once the matter was settled.”

After exchanging a smile, the ladies ate breakfast in silence. Marianne was tired, and Mrs Walker’s mind had strayed again to a husband for her last daughter. She had been at peace over the situation for some weeks, but now she felt restless and anxious again.

Reaching for the newspaper, she scanned the words, but her mind was more prayerful than it was attentive to reading. Not all the anxious thoughts in the world would bring a man for her Marianne before God’s timing was right, and it was time to remember that.

Tipton

“Is it truly so simple, Palmer?”

“Salvation is from God, Jennings—it’s remarkably simple for Him. What it isn’t, is easy. I don’t mean for God, but for us. You can’t plan to live your life as you please once you’ve made that step. Salvation means you belong to Him. You no longer live for yourself. That doesn’t happen overnight, and all believers fail repeatedly, but the goal is to live for Christ each day.”

Jennings sat in silence. Seven weeks ago he wouldn’t have believed he could be having this conversation, but his heart was so ready, his mind so settled, that he couldn’t wait another day. He hadn’t even given eternity much thought, but he knew he needed help in his life. He needed peace and wisdom for the children, and suddenly it was perfectly clear that God could give him those things.

“What do I say?” Jennings asked.

Palmer opened his Bible. “Ephesians 2:8-9 says, ‘By grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God, not of works, lest any man should boast.’ Our salvation is from God, Jennings, but we do have something to do. Romans 10:9-10 says, ‘If thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.’ Do those verses make sense to you?”

“Yes, but I’m still not sure what I need to say.”

“Let me show you a verse from Acts. It’s in chapter sixteen, verse thirty-one. A man has just asked Paul and Silas what he must do to be saved, and this is what they tell him: ‘Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved.’”

“So I need to tell God that I believe in His Son?”

“Exactly. We come to God for salvation when we realize we need a Savior and can’t save ourselves. It’s your heart before God, telling Him what you need. There’s not a perfect prayer. If you’re admitting that you’re a sinner in need and you want Him to take care of that need, God will do it.”

Jennings’ hands covered his face. Palmer couldn’t tell if he was praying or not, so he remained quiet.

“I didn’t sleep much last night,” Jennings said quietly, his hands coming down. “I can’t help but wonder if God wasn’t involved in that.”

Palmer waited. When he didn’t reply, Jennings looked over at him.

“Can I take care of this today, Palmer? Can I pray now, or must I be in church for this?”

“You can take care of it right now.”

Jennings tipped his head back, his eyes open and looking up.

“Father God, I need You. I can’t do this on my own. My sins are many, the worst of which is my belief that I didn’t sin at all. I can see now that I sin every day. I believe the words I read in Luke. When Your Son died, He commended His spirit to You. I wish to do the same. Please save me. Please help me to raise Thomas, James, and Penny. Amen.”

Jennings looked across the room and then over at his brother-in-law. Palmer did nothing to hide the moisture in his eyes.

“Where’s Liddy?” Jennings asked quietly.

“I’ll get her.”

Not two minutes later Lydia was returning with Palmer, her face full of hopeful anticipation.

“Jennings?”

He met her in the middle of the room.

“It’s settled, Liddy. It’s all taken care of.”

Lydia could only hug him. Jennings hugged her back. How many years had she prayed, and now in just a few months of his being with them, he had seen his need.

“When will you tell the children?” she asked.

“I’m not sure.”

“They might figure it out on their own,” Palmer suggested, and Jennings smiled.

“They might.”

Suddenly the group laughed. It was a laugh born of relief, peace, and a measure of fatigue. Nevertheless it felt wonderful, and especially so when the little girls came looking for them just minutes later.

“Which pony is this?” Penny asked of Emma as Jennings got the cart underway.

“I think this is Bessy.”