Refining Fire Read Free

letting the sun go down on your anger. I’ll call Militine to join us.”
    â€œYes, ma’am.”
    When Militine returned with Aunt Miriam, she looked none too happy. Abrianna bolstered her courage. If she was ever going to be a godly woman who shared the gospel and helped the lost, then she would have to get over worrying about how to apologize and just do it.
    â€œI’m sorry, Militine.” She got to her feet quickly and extendedher hands toward her friend. “I was wrong to allow my enthusiasm to overrule my good sense. Your friendship is most dear to me, and I do not wish to act in such a way to suggest otherwise. Please say that you’ll forgive me.”
    Militine hesitated for a moment and then clasped Abrianna’s hands. “I do. I’m sorry, too.”
    â€œI forgive you.” Abrianna pulled Militine close, but she remained stiff and did not return Abrianna’s hug. “I never meant to hurt you.” The embrace lasted only a moment, but it was long enough to realize Militine was still guarding herself.
    Aunt Miriam gave them a smile. “It is never right to argue about God, girls. He loves you both and desires that you come to Him willingly. He only wants the best for you.”
    â€œWell, I don’t think God is the best for everyone.”
    Abrianna was surprised to hear Militine say such a thing in front of her aunt. She looked to Aunt Miriam for confirmation of this being the most scandalous thing a person could say, but the older woman only nodded.
    â€œThat is a decision that you must make for yourself.” Aunt Miriam did the unthinkable and excused herself to oversee supper.
    A protest rose in Abrianna’s throat, but Militine spoke before she could make her thoughts clear. “Aren’t you going to tell me how awful I am to think that way? Aren’t you going to try to force me to read the Bible and see where I will die for all eternity without accepting Jesus as my Savior?”
    It was exactly what Abrianna had hoped her aunt would do, although it was a shock to hear Militine state it so unequivocally.
    Aunt Miriam paused in the archway. “Child, Jesus came for all the world to be saved, but He already knew that many would reject Him. Even so, I cannot call to mind a single time when Jesus shared the love of His Father with someone and demanded they accept it. Even when a rich young man cameto Him and asked what he needed to do to be saved, Jesus told him to sell all he had and follow Him. When the man walked away unwilling . . . Jesus let him go.”
    It was true. Abrianna knew the story well. It vexed her to admit that perhaps she had caused more harm than good. It was clear that Militine was not nearly so offended by Aunt Miriam’s words as she had been with Abrianna’s.
    â€œI won’t demand you listen to me nor will I argue the points of what I believe to be true in God’s Word,” Aunt Miriam concluded, “but I will pray for you.”
    The two young women stood in silence for some time after Aunt Miriam’s departure. Militine seemed to be considering what the older woman had said, while Abrianna was dealing with her conscience. Would matters of spirit and heart ever be simple?

    Thane Patton marched his checker piece all over the board, cleaning Wade’s meager showing off the board. “I think that’s enough for tonight, don’t you?”
    Wade leaned back in his chair. “I suppose it better be, or I’ll owe you my entire stash of cookies. Thank goodness Miss Poisie thought to send me home with extra.”
    Laughing, Thane picked up another of the oatmeal cookies and popped the entire thing into his mouth. The buttery sweetness met with his approval. He washed the cookie down with the last of his coffee. However, cookies didn’t fix the fact that he was unhappy with his job of mending boats for Davidson Taylor. Nor did it give him the raise that Mr. Taylor had