Twist of Faith

By Isabella Carmona

Jeremy is born and raised by two Christians named Penny and Payton James. They teach their son morals and values until things start to happen. His faith turns around and hits rock bottom until he meets his guardian angel and things start to turn around.

• Language: English
• Publisher: WestBow Press
• Release date: Jun 3, 2016
• ISBN: 9781512744620

Isabella Carmona

My name is Isabella Carmona. I live in a small town in Illinois, with my four beautiful children. I have been a writer since I was in high school. I might not be a perfect Mom, but I do teach my children good morals and values. I have faith in the Lord. And, I teach my children, that no matter if they have a lot of faith or a little, the Lord will never forsake you. I decided that I want to share these thoughts and values in hopes that others will find value in them, as well.

Book preview

CHAPTER 1

O KAY, MY NAME IS JEREMY, and here I am a Christian, a man of God, and I have a beautiful wife and four children. I manage a restaurant in the city of Chicago, close to the loop, near Clark Street. Now that sounds amazing, doesn’t it? What a life! Well, my life did not end up this way without any reason. I had a guardian angel visit me. Let me tell you the story of my life.

When I was 10 years old, I lived in the suburbs of Chicago, in a place called Rolling Meadows. It was a cute family neighborhood. I lived with my mom and dad. They were amazing parents, hard workers, and good people. My mother was a lawyer and my dad was a business man. They brought me up with Christian morals and values. We went to church every Sunday and celebrated almost every holy day there was in the year. My life was great. I also had a great school and great friends, including my two best friends Zayden and Zander. They were twin brothers, who were like brothers to me since we spent so much time together. They lived a block over and came over to play every day. Of course, my mom would get tired and send me over to their house so she could have her break now and then. We used to get in trouble sometimes, playing outside. The boys’ lives were different than mine. Though they didn’t come from churchgoing parents like I did, that was okay by me. I still liked them, and we were close.

There I was in my bed, waking up as I heard my mom calling my name, Jeremy! Five minutes later, I was awake but not out of bed, I heard her again. Jeremy, it’s time to wake up. It’s a school day, and you need to get dressed and get ready.

Most typical kids—like me—do not like getting up to get ready for school or pretty much anything that doesn’t sound like fun. But I got up and got ready for school. I went downstairs, and there was my dad, wearing a suit and tie and getting ready for work. My mom placed three plates of breakfast on the table to eat before we started our day. Ten minutes later, there was Zayden and Zander, running to the door and knocking so hard that the door rattled.

Jeremy, let’s go! Zander whined. We are going to miss the bus, slowpoke.

We got on the bus and went to school. School was a lot of fun. I had interesting teachers, and I got along with my classmates. I never got bullied or hurt, and I think it was because of Zayden and Zander. They were like my bodyguards because I was the oddball of the bunch. I kept to myself and always preached about God and how that if we believe in Him, good and awesome things can and will happen to you. I don’t know how I got so blessed to have Zayden and Zander as friends.

After school we went to their house and had fun till I had to go to Bible study, which I go to once a week. Don’t get me wrong, I had fun going, and there were other kids who go with their parents. My mom and dad went with me all the time. I was their only kid, so they were superglued to me wherever I might go since I was young and all. I’m pretty sure they could have had more, but I was content and happy with what I had, and they seemed to be pretty busy people anyway. My theory is God only gives you what you can handle, so I consider myself blessed. Bible study ran about an hour. That might be a long time for a Bible study, but it was a lot of fun to me. The parents kept it interesting all the time. We did crafts and, of course, read scriptures from the Bible. That day we learned about the power of the tongue and how the tongue can be a powerful weapon.

We came home right after Bible study, and I went to bed; it was a little past 8 o’clock. I fell right asleep. The next morning I got up and went straight downstairs. Dad wasn’t there, because he had a day off, so he slept in. The Z bros were already pounding on the door.

Jeremy, let’s go. Hi, ma’am. How are you doing today? Zander asked.

Yes, how are you doing this fine day? Zayden enquired.

Boys, you don’t have to call me ma’am, you know. You can call me either Mom or just Penny, Mom replied with a nice, warm smile that always lit up the room.

Okay, Penny, they both answered in unison. To them, it sounded weird to call her that because she was a grown-up, and they respected my parents. We all went to school.

My teacher asked, Jeremy, can you go to the blackboard and figure out what is wrong with both of these sentences? It was Language Arts class and was one of my favorite subjects all through grade school. One of my other favorites was Math. I loved to solve math problems.

Lunch came, and the three of us had the same lunch and sat together. Lunch was fun and crazy. Someone was always trying to have a food fight or start trouble. One thing was for sure; we always had each other’s back.

Right after school, we didn’t go home. Zander wanted to play at the park, so we did. We had lots of fun, got dirty, and we played some more. Then our mothers came looking for us. That was the day that I got in trouble for the first time. Oh, boy, lucky me.

Jeremy, you get over here right now, my mom shouted across the park.

You, too, boys. Zander and Zayden, you get your butts over here, the boys’ mom said. From the way that my two best friends’ mom sounded, I was truly blessed not to have my mom talk to me in that tone of voice. My mom had a way of handling things in different situations. My mom grabbed my hand and took me home. You’re grounded, Jeremy, my love, my mom said.

I understand, Mom. I’m sorry. It won’t happen again. I should have told you were I was. Sorry we stayed out so late without permission.

Jeremy, yes, I know it will not happen again for a long time. Jeremy, I’m sorry to say, but it will happen again. Well, you’re grounded for a week. No playing outside, my mom said, giving me that horrible punishment.

My mom gave out a lot of discipline when I was a kid. Kids need discipline; they crave it. I know that may seem off to you, but we as kids need it. As the Bible says, Spare the rod, spoil the child. Yes, every kid needs to be disciplined. If parents didn’t discipline their kids, the kids would be unruly.

The week that I was grounded I helped Mom out around the house and came straight home from school. Of course, Bible study was still on, so I was happy. I looked forward to hanging out with the kids who went there. Too bad Zayden and Zander didn’t go- I would’ve liked to see them after being grounded all week.

That week in Bible study we learned about table manners and to treat others the way we wanted to be treated. Yes, it’s hard to imagine table manners are in the Bible, but they are. We studied and practiced table manners in Bible study. We also had dinner there. Some of the kids were vegetarians, so eating meat was out of the question. We had to respect their beliefs as the Bible says. If one doesn’t eat certain things, we should not eat what they don’t in front of them. We learned to respect each other.

The next day, when my grounding was over, the boys didn’t come over to come get me. I was worried, so I hurried over to get them so we could go to school. Their mom came to the door, all messy looking, like something had happened. She told me that the boys were not going to school ever again. I was pretty sad. I hoped they were ok.

I went to school on the bus, and I was all alone. School was not the same without Zander and Zayden. They were the kind of kids you looked forward to seeing when you went to school. Everyone looked up to them.

Right after school, I came home with a frown on my face. Mom looked at me and told me to come sit with her because she wanted to talk to me. Zayden and Zander didn’t come over this morning, because something happened to them.

What Mom? What happen to them? Tell me now. I was shaking.

Well, calm down, and don’t use that tone of voice with me. She chided.

Dad came downstairs, and they both sat with me. They explained what happen to Zayden and Zander the week I was grounded. My dad, Peter, told me they were hurt pretty badly. Their mother had hurt them, and it wasn’t the first time. When I heard what happened, I didn’t know what to say or do. I was shocked, stunned, by what I heard.

Well we should go do something! We should say something! I cried.