Seasoned with Grace

By Essie Square

This book is a compacted novella of short fictional stories of the lives of different people of socioeconomic, ethnic, and religious backgrounds formed out of the imagination of the writer in her travels and experience.

This fictional novella of short stories is given a fresh, romantic, spiritual, and sometimes tragic look into the lives of our Westernized Christian society. It looks into and sometimes fantasizes about their lifes endeavors. It demonstrates a fight for survival in their passions for God, friendship, love, family, and personal travels, seeking fame and fortune and its permissive end. This novella is written for the enjoyment of its readers only.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Dec 28, 2016
• ISBN: 9781524571993

Essie Square

Essie Mae Square is a visually impaired disabled veteran of the United States Navy and an ordained Christian minister and retired business owner/entrepreneur. She is active in many social/spiritual community services. She believes in paying it forward. Miss Square is enthusiastic in her Christian faith and world travels. She still motivates others in challenging spiritual/physical and sometimes socio/economic difficulties in life. Despite her limitations, she now faces the health issues she writes and mentors with a passion for life. She resides in Prattville, Alabama.

Book preview

Copyright © 2017 by Essie Square.

Library of Congress Control Number:   2016921167

ISBN:      Hardcover      978-1-5245-7200-6

                Softcover        978-1-5245-7198-6

                eBook             978-1-5245-7199-3

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to any actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Thinkstock.

Rev. date: 12/22/2016

Xlibris

1-888-795-4274

www.Xlibris.com

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CONTENTS

Dedications

Introduction

Chapter 1 Troubles Trouble Comes When You Least Expect It

Chapter 2 A Tragic Situation

Chapter 3 The Toils of Death

Chapter 4 The Rollercoaster Ride

Chapter 5 The Presence of Grace Job’s Experience

Chapter 6 Pain and Suffering

Chapter 7 Wounds That Need Healing

Chapter 8 Appearances Can Be Deceiving

Chapter 9 The Burden of Pain

Chapter 10 Facing Your Demons The Process of Healing

Chapter 11 Secrets Kept

Short Story 1 A New Beginning Change

Short Story 2 Living Abroad in America Destiny

Short Story 3 Bittersweet Memories

Short Story 4 Hidden A Stranger in Town

Short Story 5 New Possibilities

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A novella. A series of fictions of bittersweet passion, shared by many in their quest for the pursuit of happiness and a fight for survival; in their passion for God, friendship, love, and family; in their personal travels, seeking fame and fortune with their permissive ends.

Followed soon by

Mercy Speaks

A riveting sequel to Seasoned with Grace which will take you deeper into this gut-wrenching and sometimes devastating rollercoaster ride of life.

Coming soon!

DEDICATIONS

In loving memory of my mother,

Maggie M. Square.

Because of her, I am here to do what I do best.

To my wonderful children,

Naomi Pettway,

Gregory Square,

Keyonna Square-Pettway,

Tray Pettway,

Justin Pettway,

who inspired me and keep me busy.

You are the love of my life.

To my spiritual child,

Samequa Houston,

who assists me, prays for me, and always has faith in all my adventures.

To my longtime friend and companion,

Deborah Cook,

who has unselfishly followed and prayed for me and my family.

To my late-night circle of online family/friends who stood by me as I birthed this work by reading my short stories, and enjoying and encouraging me along the way. Thanks for your prayers and dedication.

Special thanks to my online fans/readers/friends: Regina Newman Wesley, Square Hmj, Thomas Wilbert Nayo-Square, Rosetta Coleman, Anthony Square, Marcia Mickens, Casandra Fields, Nuk Battle, Elizabeth Spencer, Rosa Ross Williams, Geraldine Pettway, Minnie Williams, Eric Witherspoon, Lisa Irby, Sherry McMillion, Annie Pettway, Doreen Davis Scott, Kizzie Long, Shanetta Irby, Kendall Square, Patricia Giles Stewart, Coryna Houston, Doryan Houston, Deborahlyne January-Madison, Matthew Ighofose, and Deborah Tucker.

INTRODUCTION

R EMEMBER THAT GOD is greater than all the circumstances that lead you to your destinies in life. Many Christians walk away from good relationships, good jobs, successful businesses, good marriages, families, friends, communities, and the safety of their churches to follow the road that leads to destruction and the killing of their dreams and visions in life. These circumstances in life affect us all and bring pain and suffering, which lead us to walk through strife, rejection, turmoil, and isolation, thus separating us from the love