Chapter – 48 ‘Rebekah discovers a new Friend’
Rebekah was on her way to meet Oley’s sister. She had gone back to NY City and made arrangements to switch job functions. She could work from home; then go into the office just two days at mid-month to meet with her VP. She would be marketing and building new web sites for the next year. It was something she had done in her early twenties; it had been the job that caught the boss’s eye back then; it had moved her up the corporate ladder. That was then but she had a loving mother that needed some affection now; she would be thirty-two in a month and down the road she would have plenty of time for a rebound.
Her name was Sophia and she had contacted Rebekah; she wanted to help in the youth group while living back in Uniontown. It was just what Rebekah had been praying for; someone to help counsel the high school girls on the wrong and right choices. Rebekah wasn’t calling this an interview but non-the-less it was about the same.
After several minutes Rebekah had ask several questions about her life style in NY over the past couple of years. She wanted to make sure alcohol or drugs would not be a negative if she were to have a challenge with one of the teens; she didn’t want Sophia making it a nonissue. Sophia finally commented, “Rebekah, there has never been drugs or sex issues in my life. I don’t date often but most people make fun of me because I’m a one-date girl; guys never call me back.” Rebekah smiled and told her thanks for getting the hard stuff out of the way.
Rebekah asked, “How about scripture; are you learning it ok?” Sophia told her that she was a work in progress. “I like that,” commented Rebekah. Half an hour later Rebekah told her that she had to meet her husband in fifteen. She would call her the next day and plan to meet again. Twenty minutes later she was meeting her husband and they were driving to Morgantown, West Virginia to pick up supplies for the flower shop.
***
While they drove Rebekah asked, “What is the latest on Caleb; is his engagement on again or off?” Valentine told her it was off at the moment, “She don’t want to move from Philly to Uniontown since we are a little hick-town.” She told him that Oley’s sister was in town for a year or so if he is interested in the prettiest single lady in town. “When did this happen,” he asked?
Rebekah told him that she was seriously thinking of having Sophia be her assistant with the high school girls youth group. Valentine laughed then he spoke, “You can get them both in the same room and just let God make it happen; that way you can stay uninvolved. She is one nice lady,” They drove in silence for the next five minutes.
Rebekah finally asked, “Have you talked with Oley lately? He seems like a nice young guy.” Valentine told her that Oley was a shift Forman and worked Sunday thru Thursday each week. She asked, “Is there some way you could involve him besides Sunday mornings?”
An hour later they were just starting the truck to return. Things were loaded in crates with a tarp tied over everything.
***
Sophia was just finishing up the last of the dirty dishes; her brother Oley had a dish towel in his hand and was about to put the last pan under the counter where it was kept stored. She spoke, “Today I met with Jaye’s wife; we talked about the possibility of me helping her with the teenaged girls for the next several months. Would you be interested in doing something?”
Oley didn’t say anything but his mind was working; on occasions he had attended church services until he was twenty. He quit when the girlfriend he had at the time dumped him for the preachers son; it turned him sour on the preacher. He knew it wasn’t the preachers fault but he needed an excuse to be mad about being dumped. He thought, “Maybe it was time to mend his ways but would the Lord consider a ‘welcome back’ to him?” He would have to think about it; maybe talk to Valentine to see what he thought.
Scripture reference
1 Corinthians 12:4-6, Now there are varieties of gifts– teaching others the scriptures
[Sophia, you have to know scripture to teach the context accurately]
Proverbs 21:9, It is better to live in the corner of the roof than in a house shared by a contentious woman. [Should Caleb marry someone who is already a distraction?]
2 Corinthians 6:14, Spiritually speaking, do not be bound together with an unbelieving wife. [You can be friends with anyone but when it comes to a spiritual belief or marriage; be equal.]
Proverbs 31:10-12, An excellent wife, who can find one? etc.. [Caleb needs an exceptional wife to support him in his ministry; not a distraction before he ever marries her.]
Luke 15:21-24, The Lost Son said to the father, “I have sinned against heaven and in your sight.” [The prodigal son asking to be restored or forgiven. Oley in a sense has the same thought on his mind.] [So what is the choice; you ask for forgiveness; there are no unpardonable sins unless you die before you repent.]
John 21:15-17, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Do you love Me?”.. three times; then Jesus said, “Feed my sheep.”; Finally Jesus said, “Follow Me.” [Peter had denied the Lord three times in public but Peter repented and Jesus forgave and restored him; Oley can be restored as well.]
How about You?
DG