Page 8 of Look for Me

Going in the opposite direction now, she walked down a small lane leading to the public beach access. She crossed the boardwalk, took off her shoes, and stepped on the soft sand. The sand felt summery hot as she had expected on this June afternoon, but Corinne didn’t want to wear her shoes. She didn’t want to get sand in her only pair of work shoes she had bought from the thrift shop two years ago.

Corinne walked along the ocean’s edge, cooling down her feet as she sloshed her way along the beach. Praying, thinking, praying, mulling over her life.

When she didn’t get a ride home from Erika or Hardin, this was her usual walking route to and from work, day in and day out, rain or shine—every day except Sunday when Pete from church gave them a ride to the morning service.

One Sunday afternoon, after a potluck lunch at a church member’s house, Corinne heard the salvation message. That evening, she asked Wanda what that was all about.

Wanda explained what Jesus had done for Corinne on the cross of Calvary, how He carried Corinne’s sins on His shoulders, and sacrificed Himself to set her free from the guilt and shame of her sins.

Weeping on Wanda’s shoulder, Corinne saw the intensity of God’s love for her.

That night, Corinne accepted Jesus as her personal Lord and Savior. The next morning, she woke up to the surprise of her life.

The weight of all her life’s burdens were gone from her shoulders.

Life was still hard, but now she had hope in Christ.

She still had to face the difficulties of her life as it was, but she no longer felt the heavy weight and the stress of that burden pressing down on her shoulders.

She was free.

Just like what Wanda said God would do for her.

If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.

For the next few weeks after her salvation, Corinne joined a Bible study with the other mothers in her preschool group. She memorized that verse from John 8:36, along with several other verses for new believers in Christ.

Still, it would be a couple of months later at the Christmas Eve service when it all sank in for her. The entire weight of her sins was still gone. “Jesus had paid it all, and carried it all.”

That was the most peaceful Christmas in her entire life.

I still can’t believe that You saved me, Lord.

She smiled to no one on the open space. Somewhere along the shoreline, visitors here and there played at the water’s edge. Local residents knew better than to come out here at two o’clock in the afternoon.

Air conditioning would be nice about now.

Then again, this was Key Largo. If she wanted to live here, she’d have to get used to how warm it was going to be all year round.

This wasn’t like Savannah…

Oh, she wished she hadn’t thought of Savannah. That always brought back memories of a past she wished she could forget forever, memories like…

Martin.

Back at the chocolate shop, he had clearly stated his case. He had a reason for tracking her down.

I came here to ask you to forgive me.

After four years.

Shouldn’t it go both ways?

Corinne didn’t want to know. In fact, she decided there and then to call in sick the next day. It would be a lie, but she could not face Martin.

Not with all these problems swirling around her.

Why did God bring him back into my life?

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