Evening Gentleman (2 page)

Oh that’s no problem. I was preparing for my sermon.

LESLIE

I know. Would you care for a fruit salad? You know how you love your fruit while you are studying.

NATHAN

Thanks that would be nice.

             
Leslie left the study to go to the kitchen. I wrote down a few notes until she returned. She placed the bowl on the desk, pulled a chair beside me, and took a seat.

NATHAN

Thanks.

LESLIE

It’s no problem. I love doing things for you because you are my husband. And when I serve you I am actually serving the Lord. So what are you going to minister about?

NATHAN

I think that you just gave me my message.

LESLIE
Great. Well I am going to leave you alone so that you can prepare. By the way what time did you get in?

NATHAN

Ah, about fifteen minutes ago.

LESLIE

Oh ok.

             
Leslie gave me a peck on the lips. She turned and walked back into the bedroom.

             
I was feeling so bothered inside. I wasn’t sure if I was going to be effective at church today but I had to persevere.

             
When we arrived at the church I walked straight to the Pastor’s study. Bishop Parnell was sitting there with his glasses on the tip of his nose reading through his Sunday School book. When he noticed me walking in he pulled his glasses off and gave me a brotherly hug.

             
Bishop Parnell was in his late sixties. He knew the Bible backwards and forwards. I always admired him for his years of knowledge and wisdom.

BISHOP PARNELL

How are you son?

NATHAN
I am good. How are you?

BISHOP PARNELL (slapping his leg)

I am doing good for an old man. Are you ready for today?

NATHAN
Yes sir. I was up to early this morning preparing.

BISHOP PARNELL

Ah son. No. Let the spirit lead you. Sometimes we can write out what we think is the best sermon and as soon as we open our mouth the whole thing will change.

NATHAN
I have experienced that before.

BISHOP PARNELL

Yes. I remember back…oh…some years ago…

             
I knew that anytime Bishop would sit back in his chair and say “I remember back” that this was going to be a long story. I hoped that he would make it quick because service was going to start in a few minutes.

             
I sat there obediently and listened. Words of wisdom comes in all of his stories. It may take a few days for me to process some of the things that he would say, but sooner or later it would make since.

             
Bishop Parnell wrapped up his story as we walked into the sanctuary. I took my seat and looked over the filled to capacity church. I don’t know why but my heart began to flutter. Sweat was popping off of my face. My hands were shaking. What was going on?

             
I looked out into the audience to find Leslie. Halfway through scanning I saw her sitting on the left side of the church in all of her glory. A beautiful woman. That complexion reminded me of Naomi Campbell. Her skin was silky smooth. Her hair was laid to the gods. The midnight blue dress that she had on looked as though it was painted on her with just enough cleavage showing to make you wonder.

             
Once I spotted her, all nervousness seemed to have vanished. When the choir completed their last selection I rose to the pulpit. I laid my notes and Bible on the top.

NATHAN

Good morning church.

             
I started my sermon. The part of it that really stood out to me was:

I think about this morning when my wife, Leslie, fixed me a fruit salad.

She know
s how much I love a fruit salad. She made a statement like

“
I love doing things for you because you are my husband. And when I serve you I am actually serving the Lord.”

Now I didn’t tell her to “Bow Down” as
Beyonce would put it and serve me. She

did
it out of the goodness of her heart.

I wonder how many marriages would be save
d from divorce if

husbands
and wives would just be willing to show love by serving one another.

It seems that everyone wants to be “free” and we have been set free.

He never intended for us to use that freedom selfishly. He wants us to serve our spouses in love.

I love my wife, and sometimes that love is best expressed through service.

Words are wonderful, but when you walk in love, your commitment will also be

shown
through your actions of love.

I urge you to put actions behind your love. Ask God to show you how you can serve your spouse and bless them today.

NATHAN

Repeat after me church. God, I don’t want to be selfish in my marriage. Help me to serve my spouse like You want me too, loving them with more than just words.

             
After service everyone greeted me with smiles, handshakes and hugs. I felt good about the reception of my sermon. Leslie was standing in front of me with the biggest smile on her face. She reached up and hugged me.

LESLIE

I have never heard you minister like that before.

NATHAN
Really? Are you sure?

LESLIE

Yes. I think that I love you more. I love my husband.

NATHAN
I love you to baby.

             
I gave her a kiss of love in front of the whole church.

Someone Like Me

             
Leslie was sitting in her classroom grading papers when there was a knock on the door. Aiden stuck in his head and gave her his usual smile. He walked into her room with his hands behind his back. She pushed her chair from the desk and smiled back.

LESLIE
What are you doing?

AIDEN

Nothing. Just came to see the birthday girl.

LESLIE
Oh you remembered!

AIDEN
Of course I did. You have been a great friend of mine for the last three years. Plus the students have been talking about it. You must have mentioned it to them.

LESLIE

They heard when Ms. Braggs came to wish me a happy birthday.

             
Aiden pulled his gift from behind his back and placed it on the desk. Leslie started to unwrap the gift.

AIDEN
You can’t read the card first? I tell you the truth…

             
Leslie pulled the card off of the box.

Count your life by
smiles, not tears.

Count your age by friends, not years.

May this year bring with it all the success and fulfillment, your heart desires.

Happy Birthday my dear
Leslie.

Love you – Aiden

LESLIE

Ahhhh
…that’s so sweet. You are such the poet.

AIDEN (smiling)

Girl, open the gift.

             
Leslie begins to unwrap the gift. She gasped when she pulled out the item.

LESLIE

Oh my gosh. No you didn’t. Boy do you know how much this cost.

AIDEN

I wasn’t thinking about price. When I saw it I knew that you would love it.

             
Leslie pulled out the J.Crew CLASSIC PAVÈ LINK BRACELET. She was in shock staring at the bracelet. Aiden reached out to help her put it on. Once he fastened it, Leslie turned her wrist amazed at its beauty.

             
Aiden stepped back and watched her. Leslie leaped from the desk and gave him a bear hug. When she released him she had tears in her eyes.

             
Suddenly there was a beep from the intercom. The secretary informed Leslie that an office worker was coming down to her classroom with a gift. Leslie waited in anticipation. Within a few minutes the young student knocked on the door.  Leslie walked to the door to open it. There stood five students – each carrying a bouquet of roses. One by one the students walked in and read a card.

FIRST STUDENT

In my heart lies a vase with five roses. Five roses all for you. With five different colors
all to show you what you mean to me. I bring to you the first rose - the yellow rose. The yellow rose is the rose for you from me to let you know you’re my friend, my best friend
that is a way to show you I’ll always be there for you.

             
The student walked to Leslie and passed her the bouquet. He bowed in front of her, gave her a card and stepped back.

SECOND STUDENT

I give to you the second rose –the blue rose. The blue rose is to show you with all my heart what you mean to me. With this rose I show you there is no battle that I won’t fight for you, there is no ocean big enough that can separate my love from you. There is no mountain high enough that I can’t climb for you. With this rose is the beginning of my love to you.

             
The second student walked to her and gave her the bouquet. She
curtseyed in front of Leslie and passed her a box.

THIRD STUDENT

I give you the third rose and this is the red rose. Within these roses lie all the love I have for you. All the caring, all the loving I will give to you. This rose shows you how you should be treated. I will always romance your heart just to see you smile like an Angel.

             
The third student walks over to Leslie and passes the roses. He knelt on one knee, lowered his head and raised his right hand to her. In his hand there was a ring. Once Leslie saw the ring more tears flowed from her eyes.

FOURTH STUDENT

I am the Fourth Rose. I am the White Rose. With this rose I show you all the passion that

lie
s in my heart, all the tenderness I have towards you, all the love that I will show you each time I have and can, with all my strength and love. My heart cries for you.

             
The fourth student danced to her like a little ballerina. She passed the bouquet to Leslie and twirled in front of her.

FIFTH STUDENT

I am the fifth rose. I am a rose that has no color. A rose that is undying.
A rose that you can see through and there is nothing to hide. A rose so pure and true, that all that lies in it is you. So perfect, so precious. A man that is so pure of heart like an angel. I am a Transparent Rose. With this rose I show you all that I am. With this rose I show you I have nothing to hide. Here you can see your reflection that lies in my heart. A love so deeply living in me - I love you with all my heart.

And there is no way that these roses will die
. Your love is the water to keep them alive.

             
The young man walks up to Leslie and passes her a bottle of water. Leslie instinctively opens it and takes a few sips. All five of the students gathered around her and begin to sing. There were several teachers standing the doorway watching the ceremony that was going on. Even a few of them were wiping their eyes from the emotional presentation.

             
When they finished their song Leslie’s eyes were swollen and red. She cried so much that Aiden was feeding her Kleenex. Leslie took her time to open each gift that was presented to her by the students. A few colleagues walked into the room to see the gifts. Her hands shook as she opened them.

MS. THOMAS

Girl what did you do to deserve all of this?

             
Aiden and Leslie turned to look at their colleague from down the hall.

LESLIE

Be a loving wife.

MS. THOMAS

You have never introduced us to your husband. Who is he?

AIDEN (interjecting)

Nope. Nope. Nope. The only thing that she is going to do is tell you that she is married. She will not introduce you to him for anything. I have known her for three years and have never met him.

LESLIE
Right. I feel that people have motives. I keep my professional life separate from my personal life.