P.O.W.E.R.* Girl IV - Ch. 06 - The Spirit of Adoption Free Reprint Article

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P.O.W.E.R.* Girl IV - Ch. 06 - The Spirit of Adoption

by Tonja Taylor
4/22/2023 / Short Stories

All but Queen Mother hid in the decorated dining room, with the light off, as Burt drove up with Ms. Sophia.

Watchman barked and Vivace too, as Burt helped the stately woman out of the car, then to the door.

Pearl’s mother hugged Ms. Sophia as she and Burt came in. Ms. Sophia sounded a bit disappointed, as she said, “Hello, my dear. Where is everyone?”

At that moment, Pearl flipped on the light, and the others jumped up and shouted, “Happy Birthday, Ms. Sophia!” then started singing the birthday song.

She laughed.

“Una sorpresa por mi compleanos!” she said. “Excellente!”

They all hugged her, and Pearl led her to her seat as the honored guest, at the head of the table.

“You sit here, as the Queen for tonight!” said Pearl. She handed her a plastic silver tiara with sparkling faux jewels. “Now, just rest, Ms. Sophia, and we’ll put all the food on the table, OK?”

“OK, but would you please put the crown on for me?”

“Of course!” Pearl said, positioning the tiara carefully in the older woman’s lovely dark hair. Help me do this right, LORD! she thought. To me, Ms. Sophia is very royal!

Robert came up and hugged Ms. Sophia. “Queen Sophia! I made Robert Specials just for you!” he said, and kissed her on the cheek.

She hugged him back. “Roberto, you are the more special than the cookies!”

He smiled. “Love you, Queen Sophia!” he said, then zipped to the kitchen.

Thank You, LORD, Pearl thought, as she gathered the salad and dressings, You are Love, and You are working through Ms. Sophia to heal Rob and Xi! Halleluljah!

They enjoyed the steaks, loaded baked potatoes, and salads, then it was time for dessert.

Pearl and Robin and Xi cleared the table, and then brought out the cake. Lucas helped Robert bring out the cookies.

“We didn’t put a candle on your Mexican chocolate cake,” Pearl’s mother said, “but we have a big one for you to blow out.” She moved a tall red candle in a lovely crystal holder close to Ms. Sophia.

“Hmm. My favorite cake! Very thoughtful of you, and so many things to wish for!” Ms. Sophia said, and smiled. She stared at the candle.

“Let’s sing ‘Feliz compleanos’ to her,” said Risa, and she led them all in the Spanish version of “Happy Birthday.”

Ms. Sophia thanked them, then shut her eyes and blew out the candle.

“Whadya wish for?” said Robert.

Ms. Sophia paused, then beamed. “I feel Dios put it in my heart to ask Him to become to be a foster parent to Xiomara!”

There was silence for a few moments, then Pearl said, “Yay!” She jumped up from her chair to hug Xi. Others clapped, and everyone turned to look at Xiomara.

Xi seemed frozen, and just stared at Ms. Sophia. Then, she pushed back her chair and ran to the bathroom. They heard the door lock.

Pearl said, “I’ll go talk to her!” Jesus, help her see this is You loving her!

Pearl’s mother shook her head. “No, Sweetie, let her have some private time.”

“Was I rude?” said Ms. Sophia, looking concerned.

Burt shook his head. “No ma’am, it’s just that all this was news to Miss Xi.”

“Oh, I’m not trying to adopt her, but I told you I was thinking of that around Christmas, remember?” Ms. Sophia said. “You didn’t tell her I wanted to be a second madre now?”

Burt looked a uncomfortable. “No ma’am,” he said. “I was praying for the perfect will of the LORD. I did not talk to her about it, because I thought that would be something you should discuss privately with her, and I didn’t want to interfere.”

In the silence, they heard Xiomara crying.

“That is a loving spirit of adoption you have, Ms. Sophia,” said Pearl’s mother. “It is the heart of God to cover and help and bless us.”

Ms. Sophia nodded, but looked sad. “Oh, no, I have hurt Xiomara’s heart! Dios forgive me!”

Risa got up and hugged the older woman. “You are so giving person! You meant no harm, dear. You only want to love her and help her know she is loved, Si?”

“Si, si!” said Ms. Sophia. She started to get up. “Let me go explain—”

“I’m going to talk to Xi,” Risa whispered to Pearl and Robin. “You guys enjoy the party, and if you hear us talking, just ignore it, OK?” She sighed. “Perhaps Xi will want to join us. If not, I’ll come back, and we will all pray for her. I’ll turn up KLOVE radio, to help clear the atmosphere.”

Pearl nodded. “Thank you, Ms. Risa!” she whispered.

"You guys enjoy the party, and if you hear us talking, just ignore it, OK?” She sighed. “Perhaps Xi will want to join us. If not, I’ll come back, and we will all pray for her. I’ll turn up KLOVE radio, to help clear the atmosphere.”

Pearl nodded. “Thank you, Ms. Risa!” she whispered.

“Ms. Sophia, you’ve done nothing wrong,” Burt said, lowering his voice. “I should have thought to tell you that Xi’s mother got out of jail, but got busted again on harder drug charge, and not just for possession—but for selling them. This time, she will go to prison for at least 5 years. If they discover someone got hurt taking drugs she sold, she will get at least 20 years.”

“That’s bad!” blurted Robert.

Lucas gently touched him, and put his finger to his lips. “Shhhhh, little brother, OK?”

“LORD, have mercy,” Pearl’s mother said. “Does Xi know?”

“Not yet,” Burt said, very low. “I was going to tell her tomorrow.”

Oh no! Comfort Xi, Daddy God! She needs You more than ever now! thought Pearl.

“What the enemy means for evil, I will work for good,” she heard the Holy Spirit say in her heart.

“You are so very kind, and brave, to want to be Xi’s foster parent,” said Burt. “However, while you are going through training—if you sure you want to do this—she will keep living here. She needs to finish homeschool, anyway. She just got started, and that’s been an adjustment…” He turned to look at his sister.

“Yes,” Pearl’s mother sighed. “We are all adjusting. But God is helping us.”

“So this is another major adjustment for Xi, and bless her heart, I think she just got overwhelmed a bit,” he said. “In fact, I don’t think we should say anything to her about her mom for at least a week or so!”

He shook his head, and looked grim. “You guys leave that news up to me—got it, Rob?” He said in a low, serious voice, raising his eyebrows as he spoke to Robert. “It’s a secret, until I share it with her!”

Ms. Sophia nodded, but didn’t say anything.

Robert looked a little scared. “Yes Sir, Uncle Burt!” He stared at him, and said, “I think I just heard your cop voice!”

Pearl wanted to laugh, but didn’t. At least something puts the fear in him! she thought, but then she saw Ms. Sophia, who looked as if she might cry. Oh, comfort her, Daddy God, please!

Pearl’s mother got up, smiled, and said, “Ms. Sophia, this is your celebration, and I think you are so very generous to even consider being a foster parent! I’ll be right back.”

She walked to the kitchen and got a knife, then handed it to Pearl. “Precious, you and Robin start serving this lovely cake you made. It looks delicious! Remember, the Queen gets the first and biggest piece!”

Pearl cut a big piece of cake, with chocolate swirls on it, and set it in front of Ms. Sophia. “We love you, and hope this is just right!” Pearl said.

“You are all so sweet to me!” she said. “Muchas gracias!” She took a bite.

“Esta es delicioso!”

They enjoyed the cake, and tried to have conversation.

Pearl could hear Xi’s crying in the background, even over the radio. She looked at Robin, who put her hands together to pray.

“Can we pray for Xi?” Pearl whispered to the group.

Her mother nodded, and they bowed their heads for a quiet prayer.

“Father God, heal Xi’s broken heart, and give her peace that only You can give, especially when she finds out about her mom,” he prayed. “Give her grace to forgive, as only You can. Help her to be glad that, when her father and mother forsake her, You LORD take her up—as You have ordained through Ms. Sophia. We bless You, LORD, and we thank You that You are always doing Genesis 50:20 and Romans 8:28! In Jesus’ Name, amen!”

As the group enjoyed the cake and tried to make small talk, Xi walked up to Ms. Sophia.

She hesitated, but Risa, behind her, patted her on the shoulder. “You can do it, Xi!” she whispered.

Everyone stopped eating and looked at them.

Help her, Jesus! thought Pearl.

Xi nodded, and said, “I’m sorry for acting weird, Ms. Sophia. You’ve been so good to me. Can I hug you?” and she leaned over to embrace the woman.

“Oh no, dear!” protested Ms. Sophia. “It is I who should apologize!” She hugged Xi warmly, and held her close, as she nodded at Risa over Xi’s head. “I love you, Xiomara—'battle queen’! Did you know that is what your lovely name means in Spanish, and also ‘daughter of God’, and ‘most beautiful star of the universe’? You are like the daughter I never had! Would you think about it, at least, chica?”

She released Xi, who nodded, then sat down and started digging into her cake. “This is so good!” she said.

Pearl got up. "What ice cream do you want? We have vanilla, chocolate, strawberry, cherry, pecan praline, peach, and mint."

"Uh, I don't care," said Xi. "Just choose for me--please."

O taste and see that the LORD our God is good! Pearl heard the sweet Holy Spirit say in her heart. "Sure!" she said, and giggled, then gave her mom a thumbs up. I'll give her a bit of all of them!

Robert jumped up and ran over to hug Xi. “I love ya too, Big Sissy!” he said, then zipped back to his chair. “More cake, please, and oh yeah, more ice cream!”

“OK, two helpings for today, since this is the birthday of your favorite person on earth!” said Pearl. "I'll surprise you!"

“Yes!” said Risa. “This is the time for the double reward for all of us!”

Jesus, I don’t understand what that means, thought Pearl, but we’ll take whatever You have, for You are always good, and twice the good from You can only be amazing!

Tonja and her husband live to exalt God. They lift Him up in books (P.O.W.E.R. Girl!; LEGACY; Visions of the King; Your Holy Health; more); presentations; service in church, community, and the world; and via the "River Rain Creative" (309 videos) and "POWERLight Learning" You Tube channels.

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