Once upon a time in the late twentieth century there was a middle-aged divorcee who lived in the bible belt of America. Her name was Laura.
Laura had three children who were all just about out on their own when she met a man named Daniel. He was also a divorcee and had one grown child. At the time, Laura worked as a bookkeeper for a department store. Daniel was a self-employed landscaper. They had met one day, quite by accident, and fell in love at first sight.
For the next couple of years, Laura and Daniel lived apart because neither one was prepared to remarry (they both had unhappy first marriages), and Laura still had one child not quite out of the nest. Once the last child was off on his own, Daniel moved in with Laura. They began to make plans for their future together.
Laura and Daniel counted their pennies, measured their savings and reviewed their retirement plans. They determined how much they could spend on a home of their own and began making plans to buy one. They were very, very happy, and very much in love.
By the time both of them reached retirement age, they had found their home. Hardly ever are there two people so in love as they were. Hardly ever is there such a warm and happy home as theirs was.
Some years into their retirement, Laura suddenly became ill one day and was rushed to the hospital. Daniel was frantic for all the days it took the doctors to find out what was wrong. Laura remained unconscious the whole time. Daniel never left Laura's side except for when she went for tests. When the tests were finally completed, the doctors told Daniel that Laura might never talk or walk again. Daniel's heart broke into pieces.
It was a week later when Daniel went back to their home for the first time since Laura was sick. For hours, he cried and he prayed and he begged God to make Laura well again. Then, without sleeping, he returned to the hospital. He sat beside her bed and he whispered in her ear: "Laura I love you. Do not leave me, please. I can not live without you and I don't want to. You can heal, Laura, I know you can and I will carry you every step of the way. I promise."
Later that day, Laura came out of her coma. One month later, she was back in her beloved home with Daniel. Together, they began doing everything they could think of to make Laura well. In three months, she was starting to talk in a whisper. In six months, she began to use a walker. Within a year, Laura's voice was strong and she could sometimes walk without assistance. Laura and Daniel felt like they had experienced a miracle.
Laura so believed that she had been blessed with a miracle that she decided to go to church. Daniel was not very interested in attending church. Both of them believed in the Christian God and the Good Book but neither of them had been to church for many years (except for special occasions). At first, Daniel was willing to go to church for Laura's sake. Daniel told Laura just that. Laura was not surprised to hear this. She knew Daniel very well. She had begun to make new friends at the church and soon he was off the hook and did not have to go.
About a year after she had been going to church, Laura announced to Daniel that she was moving into the guest room of their home. He was shocked. "Why?!" he asked her. "We live in sin," she replied.
Daniel went to see the church pastor. He told the pastor of his love for Laura. He explained that they would jeopardize their medical insurance, their pensions and even their home if they were to legally wed. Daniel pleaded for help from the pastor. The pastor responded, "I can not change the Laws of God". Daniel's heart broke into pieces.
Two years after Laura started going to church, which was one year after Daniel spoke with the pastor, Laura's health began to weaken. At first the doctors gave her stronger pain medication. Then they prescribed medicine to correct her mental and emotional balance. The medicines did not help. She began having slips and falls and slurring of speech.
Laura and Daniel spent their last years living under the same roof. Laura could not get to church anymore but she read her Bible every day (mostly the Book of Job). Daniel kept his eyes glued to a flat screen wall television (a birthday present to himself).
Laura was assured of one thing: She might qualify for heaven. She was nearly as certain of another: Daniel might too.
And they lived eternally happy ever after.
Laura had three children who were all just about out on their own when she met a man named Daniel. He was also a divorcee and had one grown child. At the time, Laura worked as a bookkeeper for a department store. Daniel was a self-employed landscaper. They had met one day, quite by accident, and fell in love at first sight.
For the next couple of years, Laura and Daniel lived apart because neither one was prepared to remarry (they both had unhappy first marriages), and Laura still had one child not quite out of the nest. Once the last child was off on his own, Daniel moved in with Laura. They began to make plans for their future together.
Laura and Daniel counted their pennies, measured their savings and reviewed their retirement plans. They determined how much they could spend on a home of their own and began making plans to buy one. They were very, very happy, and very much in love.
By the time both of them reached retirement age, they had found their home. Hardly ever are there two people so in love as they were. Hardly ever is there such a warm and happy home as theirs was.
Some years into their retirement, Laura suddenly became ill one day and was rushed to the hospital. Daniel was frantic for all the days it took the doctors to find out what was wrong. Laura remained unconscious the whole time. Daniel never left Laura's side except for when she went for tests. When the tests were finally completed, the doctors told Daniel that Laura might never talk or walk again. Daniel's heart broke into pieces.
It was a week later when Daniel went back to their home for the first time since Laura was sick. For hours, he cried and he prayed and he begged God to make Laura well again. Then, without sleeping, he returned to the hospital. He sat beside her bed and he whispered in her ear: "Laura I love you. Do not leave me, please. I can not live without you and I don't want to. You can heal, Laura, I know you can and I will carry you every step of the way. I promise."
Later that day, Laura came out of her coma. One month later, she was back in her beloved home with Daniel. Together, they began doing everything they could think of to make Laura well. In three months, she was starting to talk in a whisper. In six months, she began to use a walker. Within a year, Laura's voice was strong and she could sometimes walk without assistance. Laura and Daniel felt like they had experienced a miracle.
Laura so believed that she had been blessed with a miracle that she decided to go to church. Daniel was not very interested in attending church. Both of them believed in the Christian God and the Good Book but neither of them had been to church for many years (except for special occasions). At first, Daniel was willing to go to church for Laura's sake. Daniel told Laura just that. Laura was not surprised to hear this. She knew Daniel very well. She had begun to make new friends at the church and soon he was off the hook and did not have to go.
About a year after she had been going to church, Laura announced to Daniel that she was moving into the guest room of their home. He was shocked. "Why?!" he asked her. "We live in sin," she replied.
Daniel went to see the church pastor. He told the pastor of his love for Laura. He explained that they would jeopardize their medical insurance, their pensions and even their home if they were to legally wed. Daniel pleaded for help from the pastor. The pastor responded, "I can not change the Laws of God". Daniel's heart broke into pieces.
Two years after Laura started going to church, which was one year after Daniel spoke with the pastor, Laura's health began to weaken. At first the doctors gave her stronger pain medication. Then they prescribed medicine to correct her mental and emotional balance. The medicines did not help. She began having slips and falls and slurring of speech.
Laura and Daniel spent their last years living under the same roof. Laura could not get to church anymore but she read her Bible every day (mostly the Book of Job). Daniel kept his eyes glued to a flat screen wall television (a birthday present to himself).
Laura was assured of one thing: She might qualify for heaven. She was nearly as certain of another: Daniel might too.
And they lived eternally happy ever after.
