Welcome to the Whyte House Family Spoken Novels podcast: Holiday Edition episode #90. Today we are reading chapter 33 of the book “I’m Dreaming of a Black Christmas” by Daniel Whyte III with Meriqua Whyte.
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When Rev. Nichols, his wife, and Cassandra returned home, Paul picked them up from the airport.
“How did everything go?” he asked.
“Things could not have gone better,” Rev. Nichols said. “God is good, Paul. God is good.”
“Where’s Grant Lee? Did he decide to stay with his father?”
“He’ll be flying in later with his father and his aunt Carolyn,” Cassandra told him.
“Because these were last minute flights, we were unable to have all of us travel back together,” Rev. Nichols told him.
Paul noticed that Cassandra was unusually quiet on the ride home from the airport. He figured that this must have been a stressful time for her meeting with Grant Lee’s father after so many years of not seeing him.
Cassandra was fighting an inner conflict. The chance meeting with Grant brought back memories of the first time they met. Her love for Grant had never diminished, and now she had a strong desire to be with him. He’s the one I want to marry and spend the rest of my life with, Lord, she prayed silently. Paul has been a great person especially to Grant Lee, but why am I fooling myself, my love for him is not as strong as the love I have for Grant; it never will be. Lord, the wedding’s only a few days away, what should I do?
When they arrived at the Nichols’ residence, Paul stepped in for a few minutes. Rev. and Mrs. Nichols gave him and Cassandra some time alone.
“You seem extra quiet,” Paul said. “Really, how was the trip?”
“I had a great time. I probably just need some rest what with getting over Grant Lee’s disappearance, a turn around flight to California, then a wedding coming up, and…”
“And meeting Grant Lee’s father after so many years,” Paul said finishing the sentence for her.
Cassandra nodded.
“You’ve never told me much about Grant Lee’s father,” Paul said.
“Please forgive me for that. There was just so much surrounding that—a lot of negativity,” Cassandra said. “This trip was more than just going to watch his father play. A lot of things were aired out and hearts were mended. It was very touching. Thank you for your prayers and for understanding why I had to make the trip.”
“I think what you need to do is get some rest,” Paul suggested. “On your way up, could you please let your dad know I would like to speak with him.”
After Rev. Nichols came downstairs, Paul said, “I wanted to ask you something about Grant Lee’s father. You all told me that no one had heard from him in fourteen years. Grant Lee leaves to go and try to find him; then his father suddenly sends tickets to his game. I can understand you all making this trip for Grant Lee’s sake, but where does Cassandra come in? Something more had to have taken place between her and Grant Lee’s father for him to just disappear.”
“Yes, Paul, a lot of things took place over the years,” Rev. Nichols said. “We do owe you an apology for not telling you everything. We had not heard from Grant Lee’s father since shortly after Grant Lee was born, but that was all our fault. He tried to keep in touch with Cassandra and wanted to spend time with Grant Lee; he even wanted to marry Cassandra, but me and my wife put a stop to it.”
“Why would you do that?”
“To be honest, Paul, we didn’t want Cassandra marrying a black man. We called ourselves protecting our daughter from getting hurt. Believe me, he tried all he could to get in touch with her. Forgive us for leading you into thinking it was his doing when it was all our doing. Of course, Cassandra had nothing to do with all this.”
Paul nodded. “I know because she’s never said anything negative about him; in fact, she’s hardly ever spoken of him.”
“This trip was about Grant Lee meeting his father and in the process some confessing and forgiving took place as God worked in all our hearts.”
“How did things go between Grant Barnett and Cassandra?”
“Everything went well. Grant knows that Cassandra is getting ready to get married and he wishes her all the best.”
Paul left the Nichols’ residence in much thought. After prayer and locating the Barnett’s residential address, he decided to visit Grant Barnett.
“I’m sure you heard that Cassandra and I are engaged to get married within a few days. I came by because I feel it’s only right that we meet and at least come to some agreement about Grant Lee. I want you to know that I have no intentions on taking your position as his father from you, now that you’re back in his life.”
“I appreciate that, Paul,” Grant said. “Cassandra is a great person and I want the best for her. You be sure to take care of her. I only ask that I am able to freely see my son. It was a dream come true to be able to see him after fourteen years.”
“I’m sure it was. Rev. Nichols shared with me why you had not gotten in touch with Cassandra or Grant Lee down through the years,” Paul said. “I’m sorry it took so long for you to be reunited.”
Grant removed the ring from his finger. “Here, Paul, would you please give this to Cassandra for me?”
“What’s this?”
“That’s the commitment ring Cassandra gave me. I gave her one as well. I won’t be needing it anymore. I am glad she’ll be marrying you, Paul; you seem to be a good man.”
Paul thoughtfully examined the ring. She’s still wearing her ring; it looks just like this. I thought it was some kind of cosmetic jewelry. Fourteen years is a long time to wait for someone.
Handing the ring back to Grant, he said, “Here, you keep it. After talking with you and Rev. Nichols, seeing Grant Lee’s determination to find you, and the fact that Cassandra is still wearing her ring after all this time, I can’t come between you two. I see a special love that you have—a love that I could never give her nor Grant Lee, so Grant Barnett, I feel the Lord leading me to graciously step out without causing a scene. I’ll call Rev. Nichols and have him to tell Cassandra.”
Grant could not believe what he had just heard.
“The wedding we were planning in a few days can be yours. I wish God’s blessings upon your marriage,” Paul said. He gave Grant Barnett a firm handshake and a hug.
Grant watched Paul pull out of the driveway as the verse from the Bible he had read during his devotions that very morning crossed his mind: “For my ways are not your ways; neither are my thoughts your thoughts.” He immediately headed for the Nichols residence after calling his parents at the restaurant and asking them to meet him over there.
As they gathered in the living room, Grant asked Cassandra the question he had wanted to ask her fourteen years ago: “Cassandra, will you marry me?”
“Yes, Grant,” Cassandra answered without any hesitation.
Grant Lee smiled as his father, Grant Barnett, hugged his mother, Cassandra Nichols.
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Thank you for joining us for this episode of Whyte House Family stories. You may purchase a copy of this novel and any other Christian fiction books read on this podcast from Amazon.com.
Now, dear listener, please know that God—the divine Author of all things—wants to write a great story with your life as well. But first you must give Him the pen by trusting Him with the life He gave you and surrendering your heart to Jesus Christ as Savior. Here is how:
- Accept the fact that you are a sinner, and that you have broken God’s law. The Bible says in Ecclesiastes 7:20: “For there is not a just man upon earth that doeth good, and sinneth not.” Romans 3:23 reads: “For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.”
- Accept the fact that there is a penalty for sin. The Bible states in Romans 6:23: “For the wages of sin is death…”
- Accept the fact that you are on the road to hell. Jesus Christ said in Matthew 10:28: “And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.” The Bible says in Revelation 21:8: “But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.”
- Accept the fact that you cannot do anything to save yourself! The Bible states in Ephesians 2: 8, 9: “For by grace are ye saved through faith: and that not of yourselves: it is a gift of God. Not of works, lest any man should boast.”
- Accept the fact that God loves you more than you love yourself, and that He wants to save you from hell. Jesus Christ said in John 3:16, “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
- With these facts in mind, please repent of your sins, believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and pray and ask Him to come into your heart and save you this very moment. The Bible states in the book of Romans 10:9, 13: “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.”
“For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”
Dear friend, if you are willing to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation, please pray with me this simple prayer: Heavenly Father, I realize that I am a sinner and that I have done some bad things in my life. For Jesus Christ sake, please forgive me of my sins. I now believe with all of my heart that Jesus Christ died for me, was buried, and rose again. Lord Jesus, please come into my heart and save my soul and change my life today. Amen.
If you believed in your heart that Jesus Christ died on the cross, was buried, and rose again, allow me to say, congratulations on doing the most important thing in life and that is accepting Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour! For more information to help you grow in your newfound faith in Christ, go to Gospel Light Society.com and read “What To Do After You Enter Through the Door”. Jesus Christ said in John 10:9, “I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.”
May God bless you until next time.
BCNN1 WP 