Free To Love and Honor by Irene Brand Page B

have employed with me,” Larry said caustically, “both as an applicant for a jobhere and in our social life.” He might as well have said that if he had known about her cloudy past, he would never have dated her.
    â€œI deserve that, Larry, so I won’t take offense, but both my parents were dead to me. I couldn’t remember either of them. That would have been difficult to explain on a résumé or during a job interview.”
    Violet was almost home before she realized that Larry hadn’t mentioned a date, although for months they’d had a standing date on Saturday nights. Well, she had given him a rough jolt, and right now, he was probably trying to figure out how to tell his mother. Violet felt upset by Larry’s reaction, though in her heart, she’d expected it. Instead of stopping at her home, Violet continued down the street to the church. Her heart lifted at the sight of Pastor Tom’s car, in its designated parking spot. She parked and found him in the sanctuary with the custodian checking out the lighting system. When he saw Violet, he came to her immediately.
    â€œI’ve been thinking about you this morning, wondering if you had returned.”
    â€œLast night, and my mother will arrive on Wednesday.”
    â€œCome into the office,” he invited, and closed the door behind them. “How can I be of help?”
    â€œRoger and I discussed many pros and cons on our drive back from Topeka, and we finally concluded that it would be well for you to make a brief statement about the situation at the end of the service tomorrow morning and tell the congregation that I need their prayers. Do you think that would be appropriate? I know that I should make the announcement, but I’mtoo emotional about the situation to speak about it publicly.”
    â€œIt sounds like a good plan to me, and I’ll be praying to find the best words. I’ll also be praying for your strength to handle this. I admire you, Violet. It took a lot of courage to make the decision you did.”
    Violet nodded and looked down at her hands. It was good to know she had the support of friends like Pastor Tom, but if Larry’s reaction was any indication, many others in town weren’t going to be as sympathetic. In fact, she expected many to be downright hostile.
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    Dreading to have her personal life aired to the community, Violet entered the sanctuary apprehensively the next morning. Usually she counted Sunday morning worship with her friends as the highlight of the week, so it seemed strange to dread today’s service.
    First Community Church had been established twenty years ago to minister to the needs of the underprivileged in the area, but through the ministry of the congregation, the majority of the disadvantaged had become viable citizens, and life in the community had improved as the local residents had become involved in the church fellowship.
    Inside the redbrick building the high ceiling was arched with heavy walnut buttresses supporting the roof, and the sanctuary had always reminded Violet of a European cathedral. The stained glass windows, dedicated in memory of deceased church members, illustrated the seven sayings of Jesus when He hung on the cross. As she sat in her customary place, Violet fixed her eyes on the window that showed Jesus looking down at his grieving mother, bearing the inscription, “He said unto his mother, ‘Woman, Behold thy son!’ Then saith He to the disciple, ‘Behold thy mother!’”
    The artist had depicted Jesus with a compassionate half smile on his face, and Violet felt blessed in the presence of that smile. No matter what malignity she might suffer in the coming weeks, she could always bask in the assurance that Jesus approved of her compassion toward her mother. During his agony on the cross dying for the sins of all mankind, He didn’t forget the needs of his mother. Could Violet Conley do any