Miracles

Rocky flopped in the grass, pointing his legs in the air and wiggling back and forth, enjoying the good scratch while giving us that goofy grin of his.

"He always enjoys every bit of life," Brenda said.


He does. He runs and plays and rolls around and grins constantly. He acts more like a six month old dog than one of seven years.

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Yesterday was a big day. We went to check out a group home for Jeremiah.

Though it seemed clean, and he would be provided with a room with its own half bath and fed well, there really wasn't anything there for him. The living room held a tv set and a horseshoe shape arrangement of couches.

The people running it, a brother and sister, are from Ethiopia. Their accents a little thick. There was something unsettling about them I couldn't quite put my finger on.

They seemed confused about our questions about Jeremiah going outside. They spoke about the basketball court at the nearby church, but the idea of enjoying the outdoors didn't register to them. Their lawns were mowed, but the grass was brown. It takes very little effort to have a green lawn in Oregon. Water once a week in July and it will be fine.

I did my best to not pay too much attention to the woman. She was well endowed and her tight blouse barely contained her... assets. Brenda told me later that one of her nipples was partially exposed the whole time.

We took the long way home, driving through the country, and quickly agreed that it was not the place for Jeremiah. It was a house and not a home. The only other current resident was a female who seemed nearly catatonic. He would have no friends there.

As we were entering Newberg Brenda cleared her throat.

"I guess I will do my best at being a family again."

"Are you saying what I think you are saying?

"Yes," she said quietly.

We stopped at a pub. She had a few beers. I had a couple of drinks. We talked about the mess we are in. She regrets what she will have to tell this other man.

We talked about Jeremiah needing more training to be ready for the outside world. We spoke in terms of one to three years.

Things became a little lighter for a while.

We went home. Put our kids to bed.

We were lying in bed and she sighed...

"I want to enjoy life. I want to feel every bit of it. I want to run wild and free."

She grew quiet. I knew she was thinking about the other man.

Lying in the dark I knew she was crying.

"Do you want me to hold you?"

"No."

I waited a little while, slipped out and slept on the couch.

She has been moody today. I know she feels trapped, She has been saying things about what a good man I am. She said that this other guy told her I must be a good man because of the way I have been handling all of this.

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I spoke with my pastor the other day about my sense of evil spirits, that there has been something lurking about our home, and especially Jeremiah, for some time. I don't like to think about such things. I really avoid it. But there has been some strange things going on.

A woman came up to me after church and said that our pastor had spoken to her husband about my concerns and that they would be helping us in that area soon.

I don't like accepting the possibility of such realities, but there has been some strange things going on...

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After church Brenda and I were in the backyard. I'm working my way through the old weeds and plants, turning everything over for winter.

I gave her a hug, pressed my nose into her hair. She looked up at me.

"I'm sorry."

The words were heartfelt. The first real apology she has given me for the current mess.

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We took Isaac into Portland this afternoon for a maintenance session on his dreadlocks. He looks good.

When we returned there was blood streaks spread along some of the walls inside the house. Nothing on the dog. Nothing anywhere else. No little half dismembered critter in the yard. No injuries on the dog. No spots ofblood on the floors. Creepy.

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I think our marriage may find a way to heal. Brenda has spoken about telling this man she needs to break it off and that she will have to find another job. She is depressed.

I believe that the prayers of my friends, and of strangers as well, has begun a miracle in the heart of my wife.

There is a very long ways to go.

She still needs a miracle to clean her heart.

Our home may need a miracle as well.

Jeremiah needs a miracle.

My heart needs healing.

There is a lot of work to do.

I have trouble accepting the reality of evil. But it really is the flip side of accepting divine goodness.

I know that my Lord has begun a work of miracles in this home.

"...because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus." --Philippians 1:6-7

He began miracles in my home. He will complete it.