I wasn’t sure how I wanted to end this story at first. Like many writers, I had grown close to the characters, especially Ruthie. I wanted her story to reflect God’s work in our lives. That even in our darkest times, our times of doubt, God is with us. He is a friend to us and places friends in our lives to help us overcome. In this month, may you reflect on the power of friendships in your own lives.
Part 5
In the time it took those green-gray eyes to blink, I felt my whole life flash behind my eyes. Or at least the life I felt I should have had. My sister Clara and I played in the green lawn with our parents watching. My mom’s face was smiling so hard that you could see the small wrinkles in the corners of her eyes. My dad looked at her with a deep knowing. Knowing that this is the woman he will love for the rest of his life.
I don’t know when I finally felt oxygen enter my lungs again but the exhale was swift.
Recognition flared in my dad’s eyes. Old and wise now.
“Clara?” He whispered with soft incredulity.
I nodded wordlessly. Noticing there was a petite woman standing next to him. She had grayish blond hair swept up into a loose ponytail. Her eyes were a kind brown. She had the same look elementary school teachers had. Kindness mixed with infinite patience. Her blouse and skirt were demure but she was clearly a person of some means considering the quality.
My dad seemed to collect himself and looked behind him at the line of people impatiently waiting for popcorn. He looked back at me with a resoluteness in eyes. Like he wasn’t expecting a fight today but would have to settle for it. He said, “We’re sitting in section D.” And walked away with the kind lady in tow.
As they walked away, I felt like going back to my dream. Isolation my oldest friend seemed to beckon me. In this space of not knowing what to do. Not even what my options were. It’s tough. Simple as that.
I could jump over the counter and run after him. Jump over and run away. I could go back to serving popcorn and act like nothing happened. I could stand in this spot forever.
In the end, I didn’t have a choice. The impatient family at the counter shook me from my indecision. There was no place to go except to continue with my duty. Taking a deep breath, I scooped up some more popcorn.
Soon enough I heard the final announcements. The home team won. Clara would be in a good mood since most of her students were playing. I sighed, because I hadn’t abandoned my post. I never went to section D. The only emotion I had was cold dread. I barely recognized the man that stood in front of me today.
I had so many questions. Who was that woman? Why did she seem familiar? What happened after my dad got out of prison? Why hadn’t he contacted my sister and I after all these years?
I was wiping the countertops when I heard another familiar voice. Two kids ran by and a man was playfully chasing them. It was George. All grown up. Wavy dark blond hair blown back as he ran. Sharp blue eyes filled with laughter as he finally caught the two children. They all fell, laughing as they went down.
It was then that his gaze met mine. I didn’t even have the chance to blush or feel self conscious about the popcorn in my hair.
George’s eyes widened. The two children, with strikingly similar features broke free and looked at George expectantly. He was still looking at me. Wordlessly, he approached the counter.
“My stars, look who it is,” he said, “If it isn’t little Ruthie.”
“Funny how we’ve always lived in the same town but never really crossed paths,” I muttered.
“It’s not that small a town. And maybe we just weren’t ready to see each other. How have you been these past few years? Haven’t seen you at church. You know I’m a youth pastor.”
I gulped before answering, “Yeah you know I’ve been putting in a lot of late nights and weekends at the office. I’m an interior designer now.” Rocking my heels back and forth, “I honestly haven’t been to church in years.”
“Yeah?” he smiled a little, “maybe if I can’t persuade you, these little rascals can.” He tousled the little boy’s already mussed hair. The little girl with the same shade of dirty blond hair simply stared at me. She couldn’t have been more than 5. The little boy looked even younger.
“Are these your children?”
He smiled, wider this time, “Yes, this is April and this little monster is Ethan.”
“They look just like you,” I said, trying to hold back my emotions. Of course, George was married and had beautiful children. A beautiful man would. A strange sadness crossed my heart. It must have registered on my face because the girl, April, said, “Why do you look so sad?”
George looked at me and it was as if he knew my thoughts in that way he always did.
“Now let’s leave Ruthie alone. We all have bad days. But it’s not our job to judge others. Remember what Jesus says, ‘Judge not or else you’ll be judged.”
April nodded seriously and apologized.
“It’s alright,” I chuckled, “it’s just all the popcorn in my hair.”
She smiled and started chasing Ethan around. George looked at me and said, “You know I never stopped thinking about you. About where you’ve been or what you’ve been up to. Sometimes I think about that summer at the lake and wonder why we lost touch. We could’ve been good friends, you and me.”
I barely had words to respond. “Where’s your wife? When did you get married?”
A sadness creeped into George’s eyes. “She passed away a year ago. Cancer.”
“Oh I’m sorry, I didn’t know.”
“How could you know? We haven’t been keeping tabs on each other.”
“I tried, George. But life got the best of me. I’ve been wandering for a long time.”
“Then you know what the answer is. Like the prodigal son, you can always go home. Because of Jesus we can always go home. No matter how lost you are or how dark the road is.”
I only shook my head. I’d heard this all before.
“When my wife died so young, I thought God and the angels were jealous. Of her beauty, her kindness, her heart for Christ. I was angry that my children won’t grow up with their mother. Angry that she left.”
“I didn’t know her, but the way you describe her, she didn’t leave willingly. She left beautiful things behind.”
George began to tear up. “You didn’t know her and yet you described her perfectly. She would have liked to know you. You might’ve even been friends. She always liked the stories from our childhood. She was even jealous sometimes. That she didn’t know me then.”
In a wave of vulnerability, I said, “I missed you, George. I pushed you away all those years ago and I was wrong. I was scared of being too close to anyone. Funny enough, I saw my dad today. After 15 years. Here of all places.”
He looked surprised, “Did you talk to him?”
“No, I was kind of busy and he couldn’t get away fast enough with his lady friend.”
“I’m so sorry, Ruthie. If we are going to be friends, I should start by being able to say difficult things. Forgiveness is one of the most difficult things we do in this life. God wants us to be able to let go of the things that weigh on our hearts. One day, I hope you can forgive your father.”
Before I could respond, April and Ethan stopped playing and asked where grandma was.
“She’s making sure we didn’t leave anything in the seats.”
A woman with grayish blond hair walks up to the children. To my surprise, my father walks behind her.
George interrupts the thoughts swirling in my mind, “Ruth, this is my mom. Mom, you remember Ruthie, right? And this is my mom’s boyfriend, John.”
“Dad?” I blurted out.
It seemed like a mess, this whole situation. A father I haven’t forgiven, comes back. A friend whom I have unresolved feelings for, comes back. They know each other. God really knows how to put you in places where you have to grow. You have to be more than you’ve been and sacrifice who you were.
After all the years of anger, pain, and bitterness, looking into my father’s eyes once more, I realized I am capable of forgiveness. It’s going to be a long road. Looking at George’s eyes, I see a friend. One that was always there when I needed him most. At that moment, I understood why God put us together.
George, recovering from shock, asked, “Hey Ruthie, we’re about to get some dinner. Would you like to join us?”
I truly smiled for the first time in years.
Streams of Comfort 
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