A Far Off Land
A Far Off Land
Finally the front door opened. After what had seemed like hours, the waiting was over. It was apparent by the tears on the women's faces that Heather was leaving. In a slow procession they carried her belongings out to the waiting van.
It was Saturday afternoon. A cold day out here in the hills of Virginia when Heather returned to her mother's home to get her stuff. She was sixteen, about to turn seventeen and had decided to move in with her father. She had gone to her dad's house for Christmas grudgingly. Deaun, her mom, feeling that her daughter needed contact with both natural parents, had admonished her to go. Problems began when Heather called her mom to ask permission to stay longer and attend a New Year's Eve party that her dad was hosting. The answer was no. Deaun and her husband Andy are committed Christians. The family already had already plans to celebrate the New Year, plans distinctly different than your average pagans.
Heather didn't come home. Days passed with no clear communication. Deaun called her ex-husband's house repeatedly, but was told that her daughter did not want to talk to her. Finally, the prodigal daughter talked to her mom and told her she was choosing to live with her father. The blow was crushing.
Deaun, Heather's morn, is something of hero to many of us here. When her deadbeat of husband dumped her 15 years ago with a 1 year old daughter Deaun managed to take care of herself and her little one. She was soon recognized as a godly young woman with a caring heart and a willingness to serve others. She was one of the first friends that my wife made when we moved here. Her smile is genuine and her spirit is transparent with the warmth and love a person has when she honors God with her life. After her divorce, many in the church were there for this deserted single woman and her child. Several families took it upon themselves to watch little Heather as her mom worked as a nurse to make a living for them. As her daughter grew, Deaun would have to explain to her daughter why her dad, though invited, never came to birthday parties, piano recitals, and holiday celebrations. Not wanting to embitter her daughter against the man who had deserted them both, this courageous mother would hold her child as she cried from a broken heart for the important male figure that wasn't there and try to give plausible reasons for his absence.
Heather was raised a Christian. She had seen and experienced all the beauty of the family of God. She had sung the hymns, heard the sermons, fellowshiped with the saints. She also witnessed first hand God's answer to Deann's prayer, a prayer for a righteous husband. On June 10, 1995, Deaun and Andy, to the delight of all the people who knew and loved this young woman, were married. Andy was perfect for Deaun for like his new bride Andy is a giving, vibrant member of the body of Christ. The match could not have been better for Deaun ... or Heather. Andy proved to be a gracious, loving father to a child not his own, who did not succumb to being too lenient in the erroneous hope of winning favor and respect.
Over the last few years God blessed the family with three more children: Calvin, now 3 years old, Isabel, 18 months old and Christopher, a recently adopted 14 month old boy from Korea. Last September, Andy and Deaun purchased an old farm house that they are in the process of renovating. Their new home is in the country surrounded by hills and by friends that they have known for years.
Despite all this, Heather decided to leave. All appeals to reconsider from her mother, friends and pastor fell on deaf ears. Slowly the women of the church packed the van with the contents of Heather's room. Wiping away tears continued their procession until the room was empty. Deaun and Andy stood on the porch in sorrow and disbelief that Heather would choose to live with someone who had never been there for her, who rarely sent her strug- gling mother child support, who time after time over the years had broken promises made to her.
Deaun looked into her daughter's eyes and told her she could always come back. Heather turned away and started for the van. Suddenly, Calvin, her three year old brother cried, "Heather, Heather." Running out of the house and down the drive, clutching a sheet of construction paper, he handed his older sister a picture that he had drawn just for her. She smiled, thanked him, walked to the van and got in.
The winter air was colder now, the after- noon late. Day was soon to give way to twilight as the van backed out of the driveway and headed down the road. The small band of friends stood on the front lawn, silent and emotionally drained. The pastor led the congregation in prayer for the prodigal's repentance and comfort for the family. Some of the women made arrangements for dinner for the hurting family.
A few weeks have passed now. Heather and her father went to court for the right of custody. Andy and Deaun did not contest the motion, knowing that pagan courts, like pagan parents, always give in to the desires of rebellious youth in this fine country of ours.
This week Deaun went to stay with her parents for a period of rest. The demands of taking care of three small children alone during the day is a bit much for this young mother who has recurring bouts with mononucleosis.
Those that will not feel the fear of God, whether young or old, who willfully go their own way, sooner or later find their way is blocked by the fearsomeness of God that they would not acknowledge. We pray fervently that this time it will be sooner. I heard the other day that Heather's dad bought her a car.