Page 107 of Skylar

Join with all nature in manifold witness

To thy great faithfulness, mercy, and love.

Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth,

Thine own dear presence to cheer and to guide;

Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow,

Blessings all mine and ten thousand beside.

Skylar knew all the words, but there was no way she could sing them because of the tightness of her throat. Her mom and dad sang along, and even Aiden chimed in on the last verse and chorus. Like she had with the prayers, Skylar found comfort in the words.

“I am so grateful for this congregation,” Pastor Kennedy said as he took his place behind the pulpit. “You have hearts full of God’s love for each other. Thank you for lifting Shiloh and her family up in prayer. Thank you for the times you’ve lifted others in this congregation before Him as well. For the times we’ve interceded for our brothers and sisters.”

Skylar wasn’t sure if he was preaching the sermon he’d planned to, or if he felt led to speak in a different direction. The sermon certainly seemed to line up with what had already transpired in the service. Praying. Trusting. Believing.

When the service was over, they all just sat there in silence for several minutes. She glanced over at Aiden and saw him staring at the blank screen with a contemplative look on his face.

“Well, that was good for the soul,” her dad said. “Not for the first time, I am so grateful for our church family.”

“It’s truly a blessing to have a Bible-teaching pastor and God-loving brothers and sisters,” her mom agreed.

Aiden shut off the television, then said, “Anyone want another cup of coffee?”

“I wouldn’t turn one down,” her dad said as he got to his feet.

“Are you okay, darling?” her mom asked when it was just the two of them.

Skylar gave her a small smile. “I’m okay. I just… I’ve cried more over the past couple of months than I have in a very long time. Every time I think I’m cried out, there are more tears to come.”

“There’s nothing wrong with tears,” her mom said. “We’ve all shed them during this time with Shiloh. I look at tears as silent prayers that God has no trouble understanding.”

“Do you think Charli and Blake watched the service?”

“They might have. I know when Shiloh was in the hospital for treatment, Charli mentioned watching on her phone.”

“I’m sure it will be encouraging for them to know that so many people are supporting and praying for them and Shiloh.”

When her mom’s phone chimed, Skylar picked up her own. There were no messages waiting for her, which wasn’t surprising, but it was a bit disappointing.

She’d told her co-workers why she had to quit, and the only one who had expressed any sort of sympathy for the situation was Jack, the one pilot that she always liked to fly with.

Denise had seemed to feel like Skylar should just let Charli and Blake parent Shiloh and keep her distance. She hadn’t understood why Skylar had felt so strongly about being there when she wasn’t even Shiloh’s mother.

But she was, whether she held the actual title. There was a physical tie from her to Shiloh that she couldn’t erase. Charli also had a tie to Shiloh as her adopted mom, one that Skylar would never dismiss. Just like Charli hadn’t dismissed Skylar’s role in Shiloh’s life.

“Here you go, my love,” her dad said as he held out a cup of coffee to her mom.

“Thank you.” She smiled at him as he sat down beside her with a mug of his own, then she leaned over to give him a kiss. “Love you.”

“Love you too.”

As a teen, Skylar hadn’t understood what the affectionate interactions between her parents had really meant. She’d rolled her eyes and gotten grossed out about it.

But now, she appreciated them because they were just one of the many ways her parents showed that things were rightbetween them. That their relationship was strong and able to weather the storms of life.

Aiden came from the kitchen with a tray that held two more mugs, as well as cream and sugar. He set the tray on the coffee table in front of the couch where Skylar sat.

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