Fruits of Repentance
Illustration
Stories
“I think that was probably the best dinner we’ve ever had with your parents.” Stephen finished wiping the counter and then turned the dishwasher on. “It was really great to have them over.”
“They certainly seemed to enjoy themselves and even Dad was talkative,” Molly gave him a kiss on the cheek. “Thanks for cooking.”
“My pleasure, I enjoyed it.” Stephen paused. “I think I could go for a bit more pie.”
Molly rolled his eyes. “Really?”
Stephen rubbed his stomach and then grinned. “Yeah, I think so.”
“Well, if you’re going to have one then cut me a piece too.” Molly poured a cup of coffee for herself and then topped up Stephen. He handed her a small plate and fork. “Oh, you really outdid yourself, this crust is melt-in-your mouth good.”
Stephen patted the spot on the couch next to him. “This is the dream.”
“This is good.” She put her mug on the coffee table and snuggled up next to him. “I’m glad things have gotten better.”
“Absolutely.” He toasted her with his mug and took a drink. “I wouldn’t want to go through the last two years again.”
“I’m proud of you. You’ve turned your life around.” She looked up and smiled at him. “I can’t imagine life is going to get any better than this.”
“It will get even better you know.” Stephen took a bite of pie. “Did your parents say if they were coming with us to church on Christmas Eve or are we meeting them there?”
“They haven’t decided.” Molly sat up. “What did you mean by what you said?”
“Which thing?”
“What you said right now.”
Stephen furrowed his brow. “You mean when I asked about your parents and Christmas Eve?”
“No, just before that. I told you that I can’t imagine life is going to get any better than this and you said it will get even better.” Molly narrowed her eyes. “What did you mean?”
“Oh that.” Stephen put his plate down on the table. “Remember how messed up things were when I was drinking?”
“Yeah.”
“I turned my life around when I stopped, didn’t I?”
“Yes, that is why I said I was so proud of you.” Molly frowned. “I mean you’re doing great at your job, we’ve never been better. Life is the best it can be.”
“I don’t think so.” Stephen took a drink from his mug. “Remember the reading from church this morning about John the Baptist and all the people coming to hear him?”
“I always think that is a strange lesson to hear in church leading up to Christmas.” Molly held up her hand. “Before you ask though, yes I was listening to the pastor and know it is the call for us to get our hearts and lives ready for Jesus.”
“Absolutely. When John preaches to the people he tells them to turn away from sin and to change their lives.”
“Okay.” Molly furrowed her brow. “What does that have to do with you?”
“Just give me a second I’m getting there.” Stephen smiled at her. “It’s the same thing we talk about in the addiction meetings. You get rid of the bad and then the good has a chance to enter your life. I stopped drinking and our relationship, work, and pretty much everything got better.”
“That’s why I said this is as good as it gets.”
“Ah, but John was just getting the people ready for Jesus.” Stephen said. “Remember what happens when Jesus arrives?”
“When Jesus arrived ‘all heaven breaks loose on the earth.’ See I didn’t just listen to the pastor I remembered his exact words.” Molly winked at him. “So, you’re saying that because you’ve turned away from the bad, like John called the people to do, then you’re ready for Jesus to start the good things in your life?”
“Exactly.”
“So what good think are you thinking of?”
“Well, what about starting a family?”
Molly looked at him for a few moments. “Are you serious?”
Stephen nodded. “I want the new life which God makes possible through Jesus and I know we’ve talked about it.”
“We stopped talking about having a family when you were drinking.”
“I know. So now that I’m not how about we start again talking about it again?” Stephen gathered her into his arms. “Molly, what do you say?”
“I think you know I’m all for us having children.” She kissed him and then looked at the pie and coffee sitting on the table. “But the pie is incredible you know, and I wouldn’t want to waste it.”
Stephen laughed. “I think a family conversation over pie is the best of every world.”
Molly snuggled beside him and they ate their pie, drank their coffee, and talked about the future they wanted in their lives. As they spoke Molly offered a prayer of thanks for the possibility that repentance makes and for the new life which Jesus freely offers to those who turn to him.
“They certainly seemed to enjoy themselves and even Dad was talkative,” Molly gave him a kiss on the cheek. “Thanks for cooking.”
“My pleasure, I enjoyed it.” Stephen paused. “I think I could go for a bit more pie.”
Molly rolled his eyes. “Really?”
Stephen rubbed his stomach and then grinned. “Yeah, I think so.”
“Well, if you’re going to have one then cut me a piece too.” Molly poured a cup of coffee for herself and then topped up Stephen. He handed her a small plate and fork. “Oh, you really outdid yourself, this crust is melt-in-your mouth good.”
Stephen patted the spot on the couch next to him. “This is the dream.”
“This is good.” She put her mug on the coffee table and snuggled up next to him. “I’m glad things have gotten better.”
“Absolutely.” He toasted her with his mug and took a drink. “I wouldn’t want to go through the last two years again.”
“I’m proud of you. You’ve turned your life around.” She looked up and smiled at him. “I can’t imagine life is going to get any better than this.”
“It will get even better you know.” Stephen took a bite of pie. “Did your parents say if they were coming with us to church on Christmas Eve or are we meeting them there?”
“They haven’t decided.” Molly sat up. “What did you mean by what you said?”
“Which thing?”
“What you said right now.”
Stephen furrowed his brow. “You mean when I asked about your parents and Christmas Eve?”
“No, just before that. I told you that I can’t imagine life is going to get any better than this and you said it will get even better.” Molly narrowed her eyes. “What did you mean?”
“Oh that.” Stephen put his plate down on the table. “Remember how messed up things were when I was drinking?”
“Yeah.”
“I turned my life around when I stopped, didn’t I?”
“Yes, that is why I said I was so proud of you.” Molly frowned. “I mean you’re doing great at your job, we’ve never been better. Life is the best it can be.”
“I don’t think so.” Stephen took a drink from his mug. “Remember the reading from church this morning about John the Baptist and all the people coming to hear him?”
“I always think that is a strange lesson to hear in church leading up to Christmas.” Molly held up her hand. “Before you ask though, yes I was listening to the pastor and know it is the call for us to get our hearts and lives ready for Jesus.”
“Absolutely. When John preaches to the people he tells them to turn away from sin and to change their lives.”
“Okay.” Molly furrowed her brow. “What does that have to do with you?”
“Just give me a second I’m getting there.” Stephen smiled at her. “It’s the same thing we talk about in the addiction meetings. You get rid of the bad and then the good has a chance to enter your life. I stopped drinking and our relationship, work, and pretty much everything got better.”
“That’s why I said this is as good as it gets.”
“Ah, but John was just getting the people ready for Jesus.” Stephen said. “Remember what happens when Jesus arrives?”
“When Jesus arrived ‘all heaven breaks loose on the earth.’ See I didn’t just listen to the pastor I remembered his exact words.” Molly winked at him. “So, you’re saying that because you’ve turned away from the bad, like John called the people to do, then you’re ready for Jesus to start the good things in your life?”
“Exactly.”
“So what good think are you thinking of?”
“Well, what about starting a family?”
Molly looked at him for a few moments. “Are you serious?”
Stephen nodded. “I want the new life which God makes possible through Jesus and I know we’ve talked about it.”
“We stopped talking about having a family when you were drinking.”
“I know. So now that I’m not how about we start again talking about it again?” Stephen gathered her into his arms. “Molly, what do you say?”
“I think you know I’m all for us having children.” She kissed him and then looked at the pie and coffee sitting on the table. “But the pie is incredible you know, and I wouldn’t want to waste it.”
Stephen laughed. “I think a family conversation over pie is the best of every world.”
Molly snuggled beside him and they ate their pie, drank their coffee, and talked about the future they wanted in their lives. As they spoke Molly offered a prayer of thanks for the possibility that repentance makes and for the new life which Jesus freely offers to those who turn to him.
