Where There Is Love

The argument was hot between daughter and mother one sunny day. "Why did you marry this white man ?" Nancy asked her daughter, Jeanna, Nancy added  "We have enough problems in our lives''. Jeanna's sister, Carolyn  had been brutalized, raped and ridiculed by the white man. The only African American family on the block was being harassed daily in this predominantly white neighborhood..

Jeanna's mother ,Nancy recalled being called a nigger and coon by the whites, burning crosses in their front yard as a child in the 40s while coming up. Life as a single parent with two beautiful daughters was hard trying to work two jobs to raise her family.  

Nancy felt betrayed by her daughter ( Jeanna) for marrying this white man. Nancy said to Jeanna "Did you forget it was a white man a member of  Klu Klux Klan that beat and hung your father and also raped your sister, Carolyn?. Did you forget the deep- rooted scars on your back from whipping you with a leather strap?". 

 In annoyance Carolyn replied her mother    " I will never forget, it haunts me day and night., Mother let's go ", she shouted. Jeanna hesitated before speaking and said " Bob my husband shouldn't have to pay for others' mistakes in our lives. I love him ":  The door slammed as Jeanna's mother and Carolyn walked out.

Bob came home from work with a bouquet of flowers in his hand and a nice bottle of red wine. He was searching around the house for his wife . He wanted to surprise her with his new promotion from work and take her out  for shopping. It was then he saw her crouch over their bed crying and visible scars showed from underneath her shirt. He asked " are you okay Honey? ", for he had never seen his wife cried before.  

Alone in her room Jeanna fell to her knees and prayed. She asked God to soften her mother and sister's  hearts.  She begged for forgiveness for them and herself.  Bob her husband is the best  husband any woman would pray for .His thoughtfulness and love outweighed any questions her mother posed. She thanked God for meeting a wonderful ,caring,  and loving man regardless  the color of his skin.

After she composed herself from weld eyes, she stood up and wrapped her arms around her husband's neck, softly whispered into  his ears and she said " you are about to be a father. I am two months pregnant". He immediately swept her up off her feet and spin her around with such joy in his heart that he kissed her repeatedly.

But  the dreadful thought hit her like a boulder , her mother and sister's reactions to her pregnancy. Bob could sense something was wrong. He asked again  " Are you okay ?''. Looking off to the walls in the bedroom , she replied  "My mother and sister will not be happy for us " but  Bob replied
 while holding her close  ''I love you unconditionally, I'm so thankful for marrying a good woman and  now about to have my baby. I pray that your mother and sister will have a change of heart ".

When the baby arrived  , Bob was right there holding his wife hand through it all. The nurse said,
" It's a girl ". Bob kissed his wife and wept. He started praising God for the wonderful bundle of joy that was just  born, Suddenly from nowhere ,Jeanna's mother and sister were standing in the doorway of her room looking as if they had seen a ghost , both of them ran to Jeanna's bedside as  mom kissed her forehead.

Nancy was so proud of being a first time grandma that she couldn't wait to hold her granddaughter.
''Where's my grand baby?'' she asked the nurse as she extended her arms and hands to receive her granddaughter as Carolyn made her way over to hold her niece. Both of them were so delighted that they forgot about Jeanna and Bob were in the room.

Bob held his wife's hand by her bedside as both glared into each other's eyes. They knew  it was God that brought all of them together and put love in their hearts through this little bundle of joy named Mary....