Mercillia Ii: Redemptive Promise

By A. Lin. Thomas

Kellen McDaniel is a young man who sought Gods deliverance from vicious attacks against his family. But what he discovered through trials that tested his faith and endurance, was his strengths and his destiny. His purpose is revealed as he cries out to God for direction, and he is humbled by his calling.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Trafford Publishing
• Release date: Jul 19, 2012
• ISBN: 9781466943117

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© Copyright 2012, 2014 A. Lin. Thomas.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the written prior permission of the author.

Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved.

ISBN: 978-1-4669-4310-0 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4669-4312-4 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-4669-4311-7 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2012910700

Trafford rev. 03/10/2014

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Contents

Acknowledgments

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Prayer of Salvation

Bibliography

Acknowledgments

First and foremost, I want to thank and honor God. For it is by His Spirit and His grace that I have been given the gift of writing. I would also like to thank the following people for their unwavering support and encouragement: My parents; James, William, and Barbara, my daughter; LaToya, my sister: Barbara E, my dearest friends, Sheila McDougald and Sheila Nash and my Pastor and First Lady, Kevin and Sharon Webster. In addition, I would also like to thank Sisters Debra Ingram, Michelle Washington, and Delia Diaz for their special support and encouragement. And last but certainly not least, I want to thank my church family: Rooted Bible Fellowship Church. Your support means everything to me and inspires me to continue in the things of God.

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For I know the plans I have for you, declares the

LORD,

plans to prosper you and not harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

—Jeremiah 29:11

Chapter 1

Looking out of the window, gazing at the beautiful sunrise gave me an appreciation for the beauty in life. Above the clouds, you get a view of the world that is unlike anything that man can begin to explain. I realized at that moment that life was meant to be enjoyed, and every facet of it appreciated. Even the stuff that baffles the mind has meaningful purpose.

Being greeted with a sunrise salute from my heavenly father helped me to put everything into perspective. I had spent a good part of the night sitting in an airport, reflecting on all that had transpired in previous years. I hoped to discover where we had failed as a family, so as not to repeat the destructive behaviors in my own family.

There was a time when I thought that the McDaniel family was the epitome of holiness and grace. I was shocked to find out how wrong I was. I thought that life was good and all was well. I thought that their love was a permanent commitment and loyalty a given. I thought that we were unbreakable and untouchable. I thought I knew us, but I didn’t even know myself. And I thought that the Word of God was just an idea, not a lifestyle.

It’s been just about five years since our wedding, and I have learned that all I thought made no difference in the grand scheme of things called life. All that I thought was sacred was to crumble before my very eyes. All that I thought was secure left me more insecure than ever. And all that I thought was truthful turned into a pit of lies and deception. Even my thinking led me astray, and my family life led me to question everything, including my own sanity.

My world had been turned upside down, and the security of my earthly family failed to secure me. Moving to another state didn’t change the devil’s motives to utterly destroy my family. Darkness followed us, and peace was a temporary respite from the constant vicious attacks against my family and my life. I began to question everything and everyone around me. Life to me didn’t seem so fair. In fact, it seemed downright ruthless. My interpretation of a happy family was being redefined through heartaches and shame.

I had even stopped journaling for a while, simply because I wanted to avoid documenting all the drama. I had hoped that all that was taking place would simply resolve itself and let me rest. The thing that used to bring me comfort didn’t have the same effect on me. I couldn’t cry out on paper anymore; I had to kneel before God and seek his face for my strength. There was no time to seek a quiet place to write out my thoughts, the anguish in my soul needed to be dealt with immediately. I cried out to him when the pain was more than I could bear. I fasted to break the strongholds that had overtaken me. And I immersed myself in the bible and learned to depend completely and totally on God.

So many trials and so many tears have been shed, and now I simply look forward to moving on into the plan God had pre-established for us. Looking back, I don’t have any regrets, only questions. And I wonder if I could’ve done anything different that would have made a difference in the lives of my loved ones and friends. Because of our failure, I have become mindful that I am my brother’s and sister’s keeper.

*       *       *

After the wedding was over and we greeted our last guest, Merci and I retreated to the Hyatt Regency Hotel. The next evening, we went to her family’s home for dinner. After that, we flew to Hawaii for a week. Although her family and I had planned everything, I still wanted Merci to experience a sense that her life was beginning to get back to normal. She had her family back in her life and had a soft place to recover and heal.

The morning after the wedding night, I woke up to see her beautiful eyes gazing down at me. Wiping the sleep from my eyes and attempting to cover the morning breath, I covered my mouth with a fake yawn mouthing, Good morning, baby.

Smiling shyly back at me, she greeted softly, Good morning, Husband. And we immediately burst into laughter. Yeah, I was just that—her husband. Now let the games begin. I grabbed her and rolled her over to the other side of the bed, and we played kissy face for a while. My heart was filled; it felt like we had been married for years, but it was only hours. She was worth the wait.

Sitting at breakfast, she kept looking at me, then turning away. She did that numerous times until I finally asked, Baby, is there something wrong? Clearing her voice, she answered, No, Husband, hesitating, I was just wondering what is going to happen next?

Wow! I thought, she’s right, she doesn’t have a clue. I had planned our entire wedding around her, even the honeymoon. I’m so sorry, baby. I’ve spent so much time planning to surprise you that I completely forgot it’s your life too. But I just need you to bear with me just a little while longer. I still have one more surprise for you, I pleaded.

She blushed, Okay, Husband. It dawned on me, at that moment, that I had her complete trust. I got quiet when I thought about it; because I had to give her mine too! I’m going to be honest; I wasn’t sure I was ready to submit like that. She just yielded to my will, and I was impressed. But as soon as my ego attempted to rise up, I heard a voice in my spirit whisper, It’s not about you.

Okay, Lord, I got you, I answered, mumbling to myself.

Excuse me, Merci inquired.

I hadn’t realized I had answered out loud, and she was looking at me like, boy what have you done now?

Oh, I’m sorry, baby. Jesus was just checking me on something. It’s all good, I comforted her, grabbing her hand and placing a gentle kiss in her palm.

Are you sure? she responded not quite convinced.

All is well, baby, all is well.

*       *       *

It wasn’t long before we arrived at the house. As we were pulling up into the driveway, it hit me like a ton of bricks—this is home. Suddenly the fond and not-so-fond memories of Pall Mall Road came rushing back to my mind. What have I done? I thought to myself. But before I started sweating, Poppa B opened Merci’s door and escorted her out of the car. It would’ve been really disrespectful for me to just sit there like a lump on a log, but I really didn’t want to get out.

They hurried Merci into the house where you could hear cheers erupting, while I straggled along in no big hurry to get there. Don’t get me wrong; the place was beautiful, but it wasn’t mine. I put on a smile, hoping that my mood wouldn’t interfere with Merci’s joy. But truthfully, I didn’t know how long I would be able to pretend.

Entering the house was strange. I had never been treated so warmly while feeling so out of place. Merci enjoyed hugs and kisses as Poppa B took me to our room to drop off the luggage. The house was really beautiful; it was a two-story colonial with a wrap-around porch. Everything about the house was fine except the fact that it wasn’t mine. I began to feel like a kid again, living at home. I knew it wasn’t going to be easy, especially since I had a wife and we were newlyweds, if you get my drift?

As Poppa B left the room, Nat arrived. She entered slowly. I thought she was going to be sarcastic like she had always been, yet she was very quiet. She just stared at me. I didn’t know what to make of it at first, but then I remembered her condition. At first, we just stared at each other. She held her head low as she walked over to me. Without a word, she fell into my arms. I knew then what she needed—her big brother’s love and protection.

It touched my heart to see her so fragile when she had always been so strong. She seemed to be adjusting as well as a rape victim could, but it had changed her. She appeared very quiet and demure. She held on to me like she never wanted to let go. I struggled to know how to respond to her, and instinctively, I rubbed her belly. She flinched at first and never looked up at me and then her grasp around my neck tightened.

It’s okay. I’ve got you, I reassured.

She nodded silently in response. Looking down at my sister, who had been violated and left to put the pieces of her life back together, helped me to understand Merci’s fears. I couldn’t imagine the internal scars that had to be there; it made me want to hit something when I thought about it. As a man, I struggled with the violent thoughts that permeated my mind. Two women in my life had been violently stripped of their virginity, and nobody was paying for the crime. Deep hostility welled up in me, but I held back my emotions trying to comfort Nat. Eventually, she let go of me, gave me a quick peck on the cheek, then turned toward the door, and left the room.

I made my way downstairs with the family and was greeted by a barrage of family members. I got hugged so much that by the end of the night, I was sore and all hugged out. I’m all for affection, but that was way too much. I spent the rest of the evening avoiding all the women.

We partied for days. Did I say we partied nonstop? But it’s all good, it was a Christian celebration. By the time we left for our honeymoon, we were worn-out.

*       *       *

During our long walks on the beach in Hawaii, Merci reminisced over her past hoping that the changes that had taken place within her wouldn’t hinder her relationship with her family. At first, I didn’t understand because they seemed to be the type of people that would love you unconditionally. But Merci questioned if they could love who she had become. On one occasion, she seemed to drift off into a thought that sent tears rolling down her face. Investigating the source of her pain, I asked, Baby, what’s wrong?

Attempting to brush me off, she responded, Oh, it’s nothing.

Not buying her response, Baby, nothing doesn’t make you cry. What’s wrong?

Hesitantly she opened up to me and exposed her fears, I just don’t know if I will fit in with my family anymore.

What makes you feel that way? I questioned because in my sight the Bridgeforths were perfect.

She explained, They seemed to have stayed the same after all these years, but I am a completely different person.

Still not understanding, I probed more, So what’s wrong with that?

Raising her voice in frustration, she declared, Husband, you don’t understand. The last time they saw me I was so naive about life. I still had an innocence about me that was so pure. Now, I have experiences that I can’t begin to explain to them. How can we go back to the way we were? And I know they are going to want to know what happened.

Why do you feel you have to explain? Your parents love you. It’s not like they don’t know what happened.

Husband, that’s just it. They know what happened, but they don’t know what I’ve been through, and it’s those experiences that have changed me. I no longer think or act the way I once did. I’m afraid they won’t be able to relate to me anymore, and I’m even more afraid that I won’t be able to relate to them.

I had nothing more to say. I couldn’t give her counsel on something I myself was struggling with. I just held her. It made me recall how much I had changed, and how I felt like I couldn’t relate to some of my family members either. It’s funny how one moment you are closer than ever and the next you are acting like you don’t even know each other, or worse than that, you don’t care to know each other.

I changed the subject to bring our attention back to us. We spent hours discussing and visualizing our future. We had gone to Hawaii to get away from everything and everybody and to get into the presence of the Lord and become one. I wasn’t about to allow the stresses of home to overshadow our joy.

A couple of nights after that conversation when Merci had fallen off to sleep, the Lord lead me out onto the veranda. I sat quietly, listening as echoes of waves crashed against the shore. I made my way to the beach and walked the shores, while soft breezes wrapped themselves around me. I stood at the shoreline and admired his awesome wonder; how the ocean churned to a halt at my feet