Falling on Main Street (Seasons of Love, #1)

by Tara Grace Ericson

My, my, but you do work fast sometimes, Father, Ruth thought. I said I wanted the opportunity to reach her, I didn't say I was ready tonight! Help me show her You, Lord. Speak through me, the words she needs to hear.

You are so good, Abba. Thank you for leading me to the right book for her. Open her heart to your prompting.

I love that ! I call Him Abba, too.

When you pay attention, it’s easy to see God working. Even the smallest interactions serve His good purpose.

Charlotte went to Ruth’s and borrowed a cookbook and a cake pan. After assuring Ruth that she didn’t need any help, Ruth had given her a bag with measuring cups and spoons, an electric hand mixer, and a look full of skepticism.

At that, she snorted and laughed again. Luke physically felt his defenses weaken upon hearing her laugh and the most adorable snuffle. “I think so… I just… You. Here. Now. Of course.” “Okay?” Luke didn’t know what that meant,

“Try not to burn the place down again.” With that snide comment hanging in the air and her stunned face etched in his memory, he walked out, mentally smacking himself for essentially kicking a wounded puppy.

“No, Charlotte—that’s not what—arghh!” he muttered. He hadn’t been saying she needed to cover her legs because he didn’t want to look at them.

Unfortunately, most of the trail was overgrown and she was frustrated beyond anything that Luke had been right. She shouldn’t have been wearing shorts. “I’m Luke, I know everything. Blah blah blah. Do what I say, Charlotte.”

Charlotte, In case you need it. Luke Next to the note, Charlotte picked up the small bottle and tube. Calamine lotion and Neosporin. Firmly ignoring how his thoughtful gesture made her feel,

Luke spotted Charlotte walking up the front steps and opened the door for her. "Hi, Ms. Walters. How are you today?" "Ummm, hi. I'm okay... how are you?" Besides certifiably bipolar, I guess?

Mostly, she just heard him doing his nightly check of the house and the cottage, and she found herself never really falling asleep fully until she knew his evening ritual was complete.

“Oh honey, it’s not your fault. Trusting the wrong person doesn’t make you a failure. It just makes you human.”

Charlotte being in Minden wasn’t like an askew puzzle piece anymore. Luke wasn’t sure if it was her edges that had been softened or if the whole town of Minden had shifted around to make room for the new piece.

When he didn’t respond, she added, “I’m sorry.” His head lifted quickly. “You’re sorry? What are you sorry for?” He sounded genuinely perplexed. “You may have saved that woman. Only God knows what might have happened if it had gone further. You were amazing. Charlotte, look at me.” She looked. He started walking toward her. “God sent you here, to Jessica, tonight. I’m grateful I was there, but sweetheart—he sent you.” He emphasized the last word and as he reached her, he took her hand. “Thank you, Father, for protecting Jessica tonight. For Charlotte’s willingness to help where she saw a need. You are so good, Amen.”

My purpose is to glorify God with my actions and point people to Jesus.

“In all things I have learned to be content.” Thank you, Father, for your peace and joy that passes all understanding. My Joy is in you, no matter what. You are all I need.

Sure, he’d believed when Rachel was alive–but it wasn’t Jesus that had saved him then. It was Rachel. She’d saved him, or so he’d always thought. Jesus was just an afterthought to his devotion to her. And when she was gone, the only thing that remained was a poor excuse for a relationship with God.

Although Paul was facing awful circumstances—he was imprisoned, likely sick or injured. But Paul wasn’t broken. In fact, he said ‘In all things, I have learned to be content.’ He said, ‘when I am weak, then I am strong’ because he found his strength and identity in Christ. That is a peace that is beyond understanding and beyond the things of this fallen world.”

It wasn’t that Joe wasn’t competitive or that he didn’t want the job. It was the faith he had mentioned once or twice that led to a sense of peace and contentment regardless of the outcome of the process.

I learned a long time ago that God’s plans and our plans are often very different. And I also learned that His plans are infinitely better. After my initial disappointment of not getting the job, I realized that it meant He had something even bigger and better for me. And the fact is, he could take everything away—and though it might be tougher to swallow, I know it would be the best thing for me.”

He could take everything away and it would be okay. Not just ‘okay’ but ‘the best thing’.

“I want contentment. Peace. Joy. I want to trust that even when my plans don’t work out God has better ones in store. I want to be as sure about my purpose in life as you are. I want to not care that I got fired. I want to not care that my friend betrayed me. I want it to stop hurting. I want to trust people again.”

God can give you contentment, and peace and joy and purpose. Trusting him won’t make you not care, though. Hurts will still sting. Betrayals will still cut you open. It will still be painful when your dreams don’t come true. But you’ll have the best healer to mend the scars. And you’ll have something bigger than all of those to lean on when it does hurt.”

He walked her through asking God into her heart and life and felt the Spirit move as though it was his own redemptive prayer again. This is the coolest thing I’ve ever been a part of. Thank you for choosing me, Father.

“You can do it too, Charlotte. Just talk to God. He loves you. He wants to hear from you. Just talk to him. Most of my prayers aren’t out loud, and a few of them are even written down. There is no right way or wrong way to do it. We are told to ‘pray without ceasing.’ Treat God like your best friend, and talk to him whenever you want.”

She let her cry die, and released a loud laugh in its place. Her wide smile took his breath away. Now isn’t that a most beautiful sound?

Then, he added something and Charlotte saw his heart in the words. “God has blessed it and made it successful.”

“It’ll be worth it, I promise.” Luke gave her a wink and she knew she’d follow him until the soles of her shoes wore out.

It was entertaining to see Charlotte out of her element. But he was also proud of her. The woman wasn’t afraid of anything.

A thousand times, he quickly tapped out a message on his phone to Charlotte before deleting it slowly, one letter at a time. They were all various drafts of the same message. Where are you? Come back, please. You aren’t ready to be on your own.

Philippians1:3. She read it out loud to the empty space. “I thank my God every time I remember you.” Charlotte grinned. Leave it to Luke to find a Bible verse that is actually a personal message.

She flipped the cover open, remembering how she had loved choosing her new planner in December every year. It was her gift to herself each Christmas.

same!

I’m so sorry you felt you had no option but to knock me down in order to rise yourself.”

Relishing the closeness after her time of exile, Charlotte felt more than heard him mumbling, “You came back. Thank God, you came back. Charlotte, honey. You came back.”

“You are home to me and so is Minden. Absolutely nothing would make me happier than being your wife.”