SermonStudio

Tom doesn't like black people. It is the belief of many of his friends that Tom dislikes this group because he doesn't know anyone who is black. It's such an archaic notion to dislike a particular group because of color, background, gender, or religion, but Tom says he can't help himself.

Otherwise, Tom is a pretty nice guy. He works hard, helps around church and his community, adores his wife and children, and is very outgoing. He just doesn't like black people. His friends have challenged him time and again to no avail. Tom couldn't change his way of thinking.

Until Tom met Rebekkah.

Tom's oldest daughter, Tina, wanted to adopt a baby. She and her husband had tried to conceive for six years. Tina worked in a hospital; her husband, Rollie, worked for a trucking company as an auditor. They had a very comfortable life, but they felt they were missing something. They wanted a baby in their lives. They wanted someone to love, nurture, and share their happy marriage with. They signed up for a home study.

A few changes had to be made to pass the home study, but a new fence, different locks, and gadgets here and there were nothing compared to the excitement they had over the prospect of having a little one around their home. Rollie would have bought a whole new house had the state wanted it!

The adoption agency called one evening. Would they consider taking in a foster child? The agency said they were desperate for this child to have a home for at least a month or two until they could find an adoptive home for her; the child was a newborn. Would Tina and Rollie consider it? Tina and Rollie didn't hesitate, although they reminded the agency to continue searching for a baby for them. The state worker would bring the baby over within the hour, and they could sign temporary custody papers later. Tina and Rollie were happy, even though they knew it was to be a temporary situation.

Rebekkah was all bundled up in her infant seat when she came. The worker, Mrs. Williams, took her out and handed her over to Tina and gave Rollie papers to sign.

Tina held Rebekkah in her arms. Rebekkah was four days old and had been abandoned at the county hospital. The state would look for her mother, but the chances were very good Rebekkah would be in foster care until she could be adopted. The hospital had discovered that the name the mother had used was false, her address was the address of a museum, and Mrs. Williams didn't hold out hope for finding the mother. "And if we do, I can't imagine she would want this child. The mother was only fourteen years old and took great pains to leave the hospital in secret. At least she named the baby! Oh, I just changed Rebekkah, so she should be all right for a good while." Mrs. Williams said she would come back in a few days with the custody papers.

Tina held Rebekkah tighter, rocking her through the night. She didn't want to let her go, and she sat in the living room with only the night light on for several hours. The next morning, Tina unwrapped Rebekkah and changed her. She had taken two little bottles of milk through the night and Tina wanted to see her little friend closer. Rebekkah's skin was dark, her eyelashes were long, the bridge of her nose was a little flat, and her mouth puckered up as if sucking. Tina knew she was the most beautiful baby in the world. How would she be able to give her up after only a few months?

Tina and Rollie took turns holding Rebekkah, singing to her, and watching her sleep in her little bassinet by the couch. They just couldn't seem to keep their eyes off her, and they wanted to hold her every minute. What on earth would they do when they adopted their own child? They laughed together at the thought.

The state couldn't find Rebekkah's mother and Tina and Rollie filed for permanent custody after only two weeks. They just couldn't bear the thought of their little Rebekkah living with any other family. They loved her too much.

Tina's family came to look at the baby and brought her a mountain of presents. Tiny pink dresses with ruffles and bows, a rocking horse that would have to wait for many months, a pair of little red leather shoes, and many, many more things were showered upon Rebekkah. Their families were so happy for them!

Except for Tom. He took one look at Rebekkah and gasped. He wouldn't even hold her. "She's black - well, part black anyway! Give her back!" Tina was appalled at her father's comment. "Her mother is white. And who cares anyway? You don't know if she's black. Her skin is dark, but her father could have been Latino! Or Filipino! Or - who cares!" Tina was incensed. She ran to her room and cried. Tom ran up after her. He apologized, but told her he just didn't like black people. Tina told him to get out and never come back unless he could accept Tina, Rollie, and Rebekkah as a family.

Tom was hurt, deeply hurt. He loved his oldest daughter, but why did they have to do this to him? He talked to his pastor and his friends. They were very concerned and warned him not to come between his daughter and granddaughter. "Don't make her choose because you'll lose," they warned. Tom had to think long and hard about it.

He avoided the house when Tina came over with Rebekkah - which was often. Tina's mother and two sisters couldn't stop talking about little Rebekkah, and Tom had to admit he was curious.

Rebekkah was at his house when Tom came in one day after work. He had forgotten that Rollie and Tina had to go to a banquet and Tom's wife was going to watch Rebekkah. Tom could hear his wife in the kitchen, humming and banging pots. Tom peeked under the hood of the bassinet. Rebekkah's hand was by her mouth and her mouth was making a little sucking noise. Was she hungry? What if she was? But she wasn't crying, she must be dreaming, he thought. He lifted the blanket a little. Her little legs were round and chubby. He squeezed her little thigh - oh, he remembered when the girls were this age! He loved to sit and hold them for hours. He had held them and played with them and read to them until his wife teased him that he forgot she existed. Tom remembered how fun it was to have a baby around. They were so precious!

Tom looked at Rebekkah long and hard. Why was his heart so hardened? This was a baby who needed a family. Why was he so mean and biased? He reached down and picked up little Rebekkah. She was sleeping soundly and he cradled her in his arm and sat on the recliner. Carefully, he wrapped a blanket around her and he put his feet up. It had been a long day, he was tired, but he wanted to hold Rebekkah for a little while.

Tina eyed her dad on the recliner, holding Rebekkah, when she and Rollie came to get her a few hours later. Tom was snoring softly, and she hated to wake him up, but Tina wanted to get home. She winked at her mother, who was reading a book on the couch nearby. "I tell you, I don't understand your father," her mother said. "All this talk about not wanting to have anything to do with Rebekkah and I come in here and who's on the recliner sleeping, holding Rebekkah? You'd think he was getting soft in his old age."

Tom woke up and kissed Rebekkah. Tina could see he had been crying. He admitted he was praying and thinking, and with every breath Rebekkah took, he felt himself falling deeper and deeper in love with her. His little granddaughter had won his heart when she looked up and smiled up at him.

"Dad, that must have been an air bubble. She doesn't smile yet!" But Tina smiled and thanked her dad for holding Rebekkah. "She's a beauty, isn't she? She's so sweet and only needs one bottle through the night. We're all getting more sleep. I think I'm getting this mother business down, Dad."

He looked at his daughter and reached out to her. "Well, maybe I'm getting this grandfather business down, too!"