Free Miss Katie's Rosewood by Michael Phillips Page A

her.”
    The idea stung Teague with remorse. At last the tears began to flow.
    â€œI’ve hardly slept in weeks,” he said. “Oh, God . . . I killed your sister! I am so sorry! I’ve killed other men too. It is so crushing that I cannot stand it. Can you imagine the terrible guilt of knowing you have killed innocent human beings? The guilt is overpowering. Can you imagine what it is like to hate who you are, to look in a mirror and see the devil himself? It will be a relief to die and have it over with. Even the torment of hell could hardly be worse than this!”
    â€œBut rather than just having it over with, wouldn’t you rather have it made right?”
    â€œOf course, who wouldn’t—but how?” Teague sobbed. “I can’t go back and undo the evil I’ve done.”
    â€œThere is one who can make it right. Death is nothing to Him. He conquered death.”
    â€œI know who you mean,” nodded Teague.
    â€œRemember His promise on the cross. The salvation He offers was not only for those listening, not only for the repentant thief . . . it was for you and me too. He died for you , Mr. Teague, so that you could know His salvation too. All you have to do, like the thief on the cross, is acknowledge your sin, and then ask Him for His salvation. Tell Him what you are, that you are sorry, and ask Him to forgive you and change you.”
    â€œI suppose you mean pray a sinner’s prayer like the hell-fire preachers are always talking about.”
    â€œCall it whatever you like.” Robert smiled. “I would rather think of it as crawling into your Father’s lap, telling Him you are sorry for being bad and asking Him to help you be good.”
    â€œDo you think . . . I mean, did He really die . . . for me ?” “Yes He did. Had you been the only person on the face of the earth, He would still have died for you.”
    â€œBut . . . but why—how could He possibly . . . why would He do such a thing?”
    â€œIt’s just what I told you before—because His Father loves you.”
    At last the power of the word broke down the final barrier in Damon Teague’s heart, and God’s love rushed in.
    He broke down in sobs of remorse.
    â€œGod . . . I am so sorry!” he wailed. “Forgive me for what I am and what I have done. I have been a sinful man. But . . . if it is not too late . . . I want to start over . . . help me and heal me of this horrible evil.”
    He continued weeping as the cleansing tide of repentance flowed through him.
    Several minutes went by. Gradually he calmed.
    â€œI deserve nothing, God,” Teague prayed, still sniffing and wiping his nose and eyes, “but if it’s not too late to begin over again, I am ready to let you see if you can do anything with me. I don’t see what you can accomplish in a day, but if young Paxton is right and that’s all it takes to make a beginning, then please begin with me. Jesus, like the thief on the cross beside you, I ask you to remember me tomorrow.”
    Again a long silence followed. Robert did not want to fill it with his own words.
    When Teague spoke again, Robert silently rejoiced that he had begun to look forward. He was no longer thinking of hell and death, but about the next phase of life . The will ofGod can only be known by doing, and this do Teague was ready to face.
    â€œYou say a day is enough for God to make a beginning,” he said, “even for someone like me. But how . . . what am I to do ? What do I do today and tonight in the hours I have left? How am I to begin?”
    â€œBelieve in Jesus Christ and then do what He says.”
    â€œHow can I possibly do that? I’ve got no time to learn what you know about Him.”
    â€œHe said to give yourself up into the will of His Father, who is also our Father. There is time to do that. Give yourself into the care of God the Father.”
    â€œBut how?”
    â€œThe