Marcus Redding Settles Into A Routine

He had just thrown the last bag of V-28 Rangemaster Beef Feed into the back of his truck when his cell phone rang. Well, it didn’t actually “ring” but he heard his ringtone sound out loud, “I know I am loved by the King and it makes my heart want to sing.” He tapped the screen and said “Hello” as he jumped in the truck. “Hey, it’s me,” Lauren was calling to check on him, “Are you taking it easy?” She was worried he would push himself after his heat stroke episode last month. The macho side of him was a little annoyed that she was checking on him, but deep down he knew she only called because she cared. “Yeah, I am. I’m just coming back from the feed store right now. I’ll be in at 5:00.” Lauren said, “I’ve got fresh squash, purple hull peas, and porkchops tonight, sound good?” Marcus smiled, “Sounds great. Did you get the price on that PVC pipe to Mr. Johnson?” Lauren was on top of it, “Got it taken care of this morning. See you in a little bit.”

They were settling into a routine. Finally. They were all unpacked and moved in to their new place. Micah slept a little more during the night. Marcus had recovered from heat stroke and built up his endurance a little bit. Lauren started working a few hours with Lisa, learning how to keep the books and the website while Micah took a nap or bounced in his swing. It wasn’t every day they could count on a regular schedule, but more often than not he got in at 5:00 and they could have dinner and Bible study and spend the evening together.

Marcus rolled in at 5:02. He could smell the porkchops from the driveway. He kicked off his boots and opened the door and gave Lauren and Micah a kiss before he went to clean up. A few minutes later they sat down to eat and talked about their day. When they were done Marcus brought the dishes to Lauren and said, “That was delicious. Thank you for making dinner.” She said, “You’re welcome. Did you like the squash?” Marcus said, “Sure, I like everything you make, you are a good cook.” Lauren said, “I can do the dishes, go sit down with Micah.” Marcus thought that sounded good so he took Micah out of his little swing. Micah responded by spitting up on his dad’s shirt and laughing about it.

Ten minutes later the dishes and the shirts and the baby were cleaned up. Lauren got her Bible and sat down on the couch. Marcus said, “Go ahead and read John 16.” Marcus told Lauren he wanted them to have Bible study every night after dinner. They had been reading the gospel of John, a few chapters a night. Lauren opened her Bible and was about to begin reading when she looked up and saw Marcus holding Micah.

Maybe it was her still-unsettled hormones or maybe it was the negative memories of her own father that prompted her, but she laid the Bible down on the couch and walked over to Marcus and kissed him on the forehead and gave him a hug. Then she stood next to them, with one hand on Marcus’s shoulder and the other hand stroking Micah’s nearly bald head. Marcus didn’t say anything. After a while Lauren said, “I’m proud of you.” He kept looking at Micah and said, “Are you proud of me or him?” Lauren playfully slapped him on the shoulder, “I’m proud of you, silly.” She looked down at the tattoos that covered his arms: the flames, the crosses, the halcyon bird. “You’ve come a long way.”

Marcus kept looking at Micah, “The Lord has brought me a long way.” Lauren kept up the compliment, “He has. And you let him. I’m proud of you. And you’ve… umm…you’ve stepped up.” That was unexpected. Marcus looked up at her, “What do you mean?” Lauren kissed him on the forehead again and went back to the couch, “You made a tough call for us to move out here. And it’s worked out. You rolled the TV into the closet. You insisted we have Bible study every night. You’ve stepped up.”

Marcus looked down at Micah but spoke to Lauren, “Read John 16:33.” She turned the page and read the verse out loud.

Marcus kept looking at Micah but he was really looking at his past…and his future. He smiled a quiet smile, “Jesus has overcome the world.”

More about Marcus Redding’s journey of faith next week.