Chapter 35
And they also, if they abide not still in unbelief, shall be grafted in: for God is able to graft them in again.
—Romans 11:23
Johnnie Mae called back fifteen minutes after Gabrielle left her message. Said she was driving when the call came. And anybody who knew Johnnie Mae knew the pastor’s wife neither talked or texted while driving. She’d waited until she’d reached home, having just left visiting her mother at the nursing facility, to return the call.
Gabrielle wasn’t sure how to say it. For that matter, she wasn’t even sure what she wanted to say. So she opted to merely tell Johnnie Mae what was going on, holding back nothing. After all, Johnnie Mae knew all there was to know about many of her secrets that no one, other than Zachary, knew. She knew about the baby she’d given up for adoption, and recently how the eight-year-old child had been in need of a bone marrow transplant (she’d told her all of these things herself). Johnnie Mae also knew, just as everyone else now, that someone had indeed been a match (although to date, no one, including Jessica, knew who that mystery someone was).
Gabrielle communicated to Johnnie Mae the latest development. That Jessica Noble, the adoptive mother and the only family Jasmine has left, had been diagnosed with breast cancer, reportedly stage three. “Jessica really needs me now,” Gabrielle said.
“So she’s asking for your help?” Johnnie Mae said. “But you’re helping her already, aren’t you?”
“Helping, yes. But Jessica feels she may be taking advantage of me with me working a full-time job at the church, then going there to help them,” Gabrielle said.
“Okay. Apparently I’m not following you. What are you trying to tell me here?”
“Jessica wants to hire me full-time to work for her.”
“So are you calling to resign your position at the church?” Johnnie Mae asked. “Is that what you’re trying to convey?”
Gabrielle sighed. “I really love what I’m doing at the church. But Jessica doesn’t have anyone to help her. And she and Jasmine need someone. I don’t know what I’m trying to say. I did tell her it wouldn’t be a problem for me to still do both.”
“Gabrielle, tell me what’s going through your head right now. Just say what’s on your mind. I’m here for you. I’ve always been here when you’ve needed me. So tell me flat out,” Johnnie Mae said. “What do you want to do?”
“Well, I don’t want to quit my job at the church. I love what I’m doing.”
“And you’re good at it,” Johnnie Mae said.
“Thank you,” Gabrielle said. “But how can I, in good conscience, not help someone when they need me the most?”
“So, do you feel you owe it to them to go it this way? ” Johnnie Mae asked.
“No. I’m not doing it, or even thinking about doing it, because I feel obligated. It’s just . . . I know what it feels like to need somebody to help you and not have anyone there to do it. I know what it’s like to feel all alone with nowhere and no one to turn to for help. I know. And I also know what it’s like to have someone to step in and give you a hand up until you get back on your feet,” Gabrielle said. “The way you and Pastor Landris stepped in and gave me a hand up when I was down. The way my dance mentor, Miss Crowe, helped me when I desperately needed someone.”
“Well, I want to go on record that Pastor Landris and I didn’t give you anything; you absolutely worked for it. You earned it, and you deserved it.”
Gabrielle wanted to cry after hearing that. “Thank you. I appreciate you so much for saying that. You just don’t know.”
“Okay, so tell me, Gabrielle: What do you want to do? What do you want?”
“I want to be able to help Jessica and Jasmine get through this, but I don’t want to lose my job with the dance ministry in the process. Honestly, I’d like to be able to do both: help them but not lose my job at the church.”
“All right, then. Let me offer a possible solution. Why don’t you just take a leave of absence from the church for a few months?”
“I can’t do that. I haven’t been here long enough. Besides, that wouldn’t be fair to the church. I can’t do that.”
“Yes, you can.” Johnnie Mae paused for a second, then continued. “Gabrielle, why do you think we exist as a ministry?”
“I’m sorry. I don’t understand your question,” Gabrielle said.
“As a ministry; why do you think we exist? What are we here for?”
“To do the work of the Lord, to serve God, and to serve people.”
“Right. And what you’re wrestling with right now is not a bad thing or a selfish thing. What you’re over there trying to figure out is how to be a blessing to a widow, the fatherless, and the sick,” Johnnie Mae said. “It doesn’t matter that they’re not members of our congregation. We always need to show the love of God. So you know what I want you to do?”
Gabrielle was sobbing now. She managed to speak. “What?”
“I want you to put in paperwork for a leave of absence for however long you think you’ll need. I want you to go on and help them. And I don’t want you to worry at all about your job at the church. It’ll be waiting for you when you’re finished.”
“Thank you.” Gabrielle wiped her eyes as she tried to pull herself together. “Thank you. Forgive me. My eyes are like fountains. I seem to be crying a lot lately.”
“It’s okay. You’ve had a lot to deal with. But you have such a kind heart and a wonderful spirit. Personally, I wish there were more people in the world like you. People look at Christians these days and they’re not seeing us exemplifying the love of Christ like we should be doing. They see all of these colossal edifices, but they don’t see colossal expressions of Jesus in our lives the way we should be showing of Him. Jesus said that whatever we did to the least of these, we’re doing it unto Him. Well, I happen to know for a fact that God keeps good records.”
“Thank you, Johnnie Mae. I don’t know what to say. I’ve been so blessed to have people like you and Pastor Landris in my life. I have . . . I have.”
“To God be the glory,” Johnnie Mae said. “So put in the paperwork for a leave of absence and do what you can to help those in need of your help right now.”
“I will. But I’ll still do what I can for the dance ministry when I can. Again, I thank you so much for this.” Gabrielle hung up and closed her eyes, lifted her face toward Heaven, and as the tears rolled down her face, she whispered, “Thank You.”