****
This had been a very full day for Allen, and he was glad that it was now time to turn in for the night, so that he could digest everything that happened today. First there was Tim, who became baptized as a Christian. Allen noticed that after it was done, Tim had seemed happier than he had been in a long time. At dinner, he talked more than Tamiko did. Which led Allen to think about the next occurrence. Allen had totally given up on his relationship with Davis. He let go and submitted to God. Then out of nowhere it seemed that Davis was reaching out to Allen. Maybe God was listening to his prayers. Davis came back and it seemed like things just picked up where they left off. Even Tim wasn’t as standoffish as he used to be with regard to Davis.
Then Allen thought about what Davis had said. Allen thought he had let go of his anger at God, but now he wasn’t sure. In the past, he was angry and disappointed because God did not allow his life to turn out the way he wanted it. Allen had to admit that even now he was still angry and disappointed. He was disappointed that God did not speak to him when he wanted. He was angry about the loss of his friends, and about Tim’s illness. If he was going to trust God, he had to love God with all his heart, mind, and strength. How could Allen love God if he was holding on to anger? Then he thought about the Pastor’s sermon today.
Allen thought about God’s love for him. If God loved him like that, how could he keep hold of his anger? Maybe God wasn’t doing these things to hurt Allen as he had thought. Maybe the things God was allowing in Allen’s life were to help him and make him stronger. To keep him on the right path. To keep Allen’s eyes on Him. Allen got down on his knees and began to pray:
Father God, thank you for all of the blessings you have bestowed on me, my friends, and family this day. Thank you for saving my friend Tim, and restoring my friend Davis to our lives. Heavenly Father, I ask that you keep us all until the day when we are called from this earth to stand before You in Your glory. Father God, be with my friend Tim and heal him of his illness, and if you should choose not to heal him, then Lord help us to accept Your will for his life. Lord, I also pray that You reach out and touch my life in the way that You have touched my friends’ lives. You said if we draw near to You, You would draw near to us. If there is any anger in my heart towards You, please, Lord, help me to deal with it and take it out of me so that I may love You and praise You the way I should. I ask this in Your Son Jesus’ name. Amen.
Allen got up off his knees and went to bed still thinking. He began to re-evaluate why God had put him at the Sheraton and why He allowed him to meet Davis when he did. His mother may have been right. Maybe he was not put at the Sheraton to help Davis, but maybe it was Davis who was supposed to help him.
Sixty-Six