Starting Over
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Pastor Pete ended with an alter call. “Anyone who needs to let go of the junk they have inside in order to let God heal them, now is the time.”
Sarah felt like she was paralyzed. Her brain was telling her to move, but her legs were as heavy as cement blocks. “God is that you?” She silently asked. ‘What do I need to let go of? Are you telling me to go up to the alter? What am I supposed to say?”
Pastor Pete interrupted her thoughts. “For those of you seeking a relationship with God, all you have to do is ask God to forgive you of your sins and that starts the relationship.”
Sarah laughed at the fact that Pastor Pete answered the question she intended for God. She had heard of people’s questions being answered quickly before, but never, in a million years did she think it would happen to her.
Sarah gently pushed Brandon’s arm and excused herself by him and went to the alter. Sarah caught Pastor Pete’s eye and he gave her a big reassuring smile, as if he was talking to her all the time and he knew she needed to reestablish her relationship with God.
After Pastor closed in prayer and dismissed everyone, he knelt down with Sarah, cupped her hands and prayed for her. He asked Sarah if she wanted to rededicate her life to Jesus.
With tears in her eyes, Sarah lifted her head and looked Pastor in the face, “Yes,” she muffled through the tears.
“Romans 10: 9-10 says, ‘That if you confess with your mouth, Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.’ Do you believe this Sarah?”
Sarah shook her head, unable to even speak. She continuously wiped her eyes with her sleeve. At this moment Sarah felt the embrace of her daughter. Sarah could never mistake her daughter’s touch.
“Sarah, now I want you to pray. Let God hear how you are feeling.” Pastor Pete placed his hand on her shoulder.
“God, I am so sorry for being a sinner; please forgive me. I believe that you gave up your son, Jesus Christ for me. Jesus, I know that you shed your blood and died for me and I want to repay you by living by and obeying your word. I declare here and now not to intentionally sin, but rather, to bring glory and honor to your name by doing your will. Lord, please forgive me for my sins and let me honor you. Show me your will for me, so I can make you proud. Amen.”
Sarah wiped her eyes as she lifted her head. Sarah embraced Lily, who was also crying. Then Sarah noticed Brandon, Jill, and Jerry standing behind her. “Well, this is embarrassing.”
Everyone laughed to make her feel comfortable, but Sarah knew all of them had been saved for a long time, so things didn’t embarrass them as easily. Jill hugged Sarah as she got up, then Jerry followed.
“Thank you for your support, but I really have to get to the hospital and see how my dad is doing,” Sarah explained.
As Sarah and Lily walked across the parking lot they turned quickly as they heard Brandon yelling Sarah’s name.
“You forgot your purse,” Brandon ran holding it out, as if it was a baton in a relay race.
“Lily could you start the car for me please and warm it up?” Sarah handed Lily the keys to the car and Lily happily obliged.
“Thanks for my purse. I would have been lost without it,” Sarah assured him as she gently took it from Brandon.
“Well, I thought about keeping it and returning it to you tonight; you know giving me a reason to come see you this evening.” Brandon shrugged one shoulder while he flashed her a quick, sly smirk.
Sarah fixed her hair behind her ears and smiled into his eyes, “You never need a reason to come see me. I hope you don’t look at me any differently now... you know after all that,” Sarah pointed to the church indicating her returned devotion to God.
“Of course I look at you differently.” Brandon said instantaneously.
Sarah’s smile quickly faded and she crossed her arms over her chest and hunched her shoulders inward like a turtle trying to retreat into its shell.
“Watching you give yourself to Christ and beginning a new relationship with Him made me fall even deeper in love with you.” Brandon pulled Sarah into his chest and squeezed her tight.
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About the Book
Sarah returns to her hometown in Maine with her adolescent daughter, Lily, to live with her dad, after her mom and husband died in unexpected accidents. Lily has a difficult time with the move because she misses her dad and her friends, so she rebels against her mother.
Gus, Sarah’s father, loves having his girls home with him; he also enjoys playing matchmaker for his daughter. Gus hires his favorite carpenter, Brandon, to complete renovations on his store; this ensures Brandon and Sarah spend significant time together. Fortunately, Gus convinces Sarah to attend church with him regularly, where she also has encounters with Brandon, as he is the Sunday school teacher for the teens.
Brandon quickly develops feelings for Sarah, but she is hesitant, as she doesn’t want to be disloyal to her late husband. Sarah spends a lot of time developing a relationship with her pastor, who helps her sort her feelings. Though a major health issue causes Sarah to distance herself from Brandon, she re-establishes her relationship with God and accepts Jesus as her Savior. Through His strength, Sarah is able to develop a solid relationship with the people around her, and she is able to start again under His direction.
About the Author
Karen Tucci is a veteran teacher with two established theses; one in education and one in history. God has blessed her with a wonderful husband, a precious, little daughter and another child on the way to raise in the great state of Maine.