A Promise Kept

By Byron Kennedy

A Promise Kept is the story of Cole Jenkins and Hannah Harper, two very different people whose paths seemed destined to intertwine. Cole is a newly born again Christian trying to find his calling. Hannah is a drug addict looking for hope in an unforgiving world. A friendship is formed in spite of their differences. They struggle to realize what bonds them together and what to do about it. Hannah recounts their story to Pastor Taylor, a man with a secret of his own. Cole makes a promise to Hannah that he is determined to keep. A mission trip to Haiti changes everything, however. Can Cole prove that two imperfect people can have a love that conquers all, even death?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Christian Faith Publishing, Inc.
• Release date: Mar 24, 2022
• ISBN: 9781640285330

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A Promise Kept

Byron Kennedy

ISBN 978-1-64028-532-3 (paperback)

ISBN 978-1-64028-533-0 (digital)

Copyright © 2022 by Byron Kennedy

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods without the prior written permission of the publisher. For permission requests, solicit the publisher via the address below.

Christian Faith Publishing

832 Park Avenue

Meadville, PA 16335

www.christianfaithpublishing.com

Printed in the United States of America

Table of Contents

Chapter 1

Chapter 1

About the Author

"W e are gathered here today to celebrate the life of Lucas Cole Jenkins. We are here because Cole has impacted our life in some way, whether that’s as a son, friend, or mentor. Some of us are even here because of Cole’s bravery and that he laid down his life so that we might live. John 15:13 states, ‘Greater love hath no man than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.’ Cole demonstrated this to the utmost extent. Cole was a giving man. Cole loved helping others. He was a man after God’s own heart. Do not let his life be wasted in vain. Keep him in your heart and live in a way that would make him proud. At this time, Hannah Harper, Cole’s best friend, has a few words to say, said Pastor Frank Taylor. Thank you, Pastor. Cole Jenkins was my best friend. He was there for me when no one else was. He made those around him happy just by being him. He always knew what to say and how to say it. His smile was infectious. That grin…he was something else. He was one of a kind, that’s for sure. In fact, he was the greatest man I’ve ever met. If he gave you his word on something, there was no doubt it would be done. Cole always told me that’s not a good excuse because there is no such thing as an excuse, said Hannah. She starts sobbing. I’m ashamed to say I’ve failed him many times but he never failed me. I’ll never forget the last time I talked to him. He was about to get on the plane to leave the country. Oh my gosh, she exclaimed. I can’t do this, Pastor! He’s not gone! He can’t be gone! she cried out. Pastor Taylor got back up to try to console her. She wouldn’t stop screaming. He’s not gone! He’s alive! I know he is!" she tried to explain.

You’re right, Hannah. Cole’s spirit will never be gone. He is alive in our hearts, the pastor said. He said a prayer and dismissed everyone from the proceedings. Hannah was still sobbing on the front row when Pastor Taylor got ready to lock the church and head home. Hannah, I know you and Cole were close and I know you don’t want to believe he is gone, but he is. He’s in a better place. God needed some help up there and Cole was the man for the job. We will see him again one day. We have to have faith, the pastor explained.

"He is not gone! she exclaimed. I wish you would quit saying that. He is alive! I can prove it to you!" Hannah demanded.

Okay, Hannah, I’m listening, said the pastor.

He made a promise when I last talked to him. He has never went back on a promise, she proclaimed.

Sometimes people make promises they can’t keep. That doesn’t mean he didn’t want to. I’m sure whatever it was, Cole intended to do it. That doesn’t mean he let you down. Sometimes things happen that are out of our control. When God calls us home, it is our time, the pastor said.

Nope, not Cole. He’s not like everyone else. He hasn’t ever let me down and he will not this time either, Hannah said.

It’ll just take some time, Hannah. We are never ready for things like this, he explained.

He’s not gone! I don’t see how you can have a funeral without someone’s body being here anyways! she said at a fever pitch.

These are extenuating circumstances. You know that, he said.

He’s on his way here right now, I know he is! she said.

I don’t understand why you believe that, he questioned.

Do you know what today is? Today marks one month since the day Cole left the country. Today is the day that he is supposed to be back, she said.

I understand but you do know that we looked for weeks for his body. I would be right there with you if I hadn’t witnessed it with my own eyes, Hannah, he said with a broken heart. Cole did a very brave and noble thing. Not many people would do what he did. He was special, he continued.

Did you check his pulse? Did you watch him take his final breath? she interrupted.

You know I didn’t. I was the last one there with him. I heard the shot. I saw him fall. I wish it had of been me! I’d give anything if I could go back in time and change what happened but I can’t and neither can you. We just have to try to remember the good times and honor him with the way we move forward. He would want you to move on, the pastor cried.

You just don’t understand. You have no idea what we’ve been through. If you could see things through my eyes, you would know he is on his way, she pleaded.

I wish there was something I could do, he begged.

There’s no way you could understand! You don’t know our story! she proclaimed.

Why don’t you tell it to me? he said softly.

The story of Cole and I? There ain’t enough hours in the day for our story… She laughed.

Start at the beginning and we will go from there, he added.

Oh, wow, me and Cole…the day I met Cole…, she

pondered.

I guess it all started one day when my car ran out of gas. Cole’s best friend had just started dating my cousin, Sadie. He stopped by to see her one afternoon and Cole was with him. I just happened to be there. While they were acting all young and in love, Cole and I went outside. We walked and talked a little but nothing major. We were more or less stuck together. I could tell we were very different people. He seemed happy to be alive. I, most definitely, was not. There was nothing we really had in common at all, honestly. He seemed like a good guy even though I knew there was no such thing. He was old fashioned, but in a good way. As he was getting ready to leave, he asked if I needed a ride. I explained to him that my mother was coming to pick me up. My car was fine. I just didn’t have any money to fill it up. It was a nice gesture but I doubted I’d ever see him again as his truck pulled out of the driveway. Haha, boy was I wrong! Hannah laughed.

"My mom and I argued the whole drive to my car. Stuff just hadn’t been the same since Daddy passed away. She was a single mother trying to make ends meet and I was a teenager who had lost my dad and a big part of my mom. Life had hit us hard and once it knocked us down it wouldn’t let us back up. When we got there, I saw a piece of paper under the windshield wiper. Knowing our luck, we assumed it was from a cop who had left me a ticket. We were shocked to read what it said. It was a note from Cole. It read ‘sometimes we all need a little help.’ He didn’t sign his name. Cole was never like that. He didn’t like recognition. When I got in and cranked the car up, it was completely full of gas. Mama asked who in the world did this. I told her that I had only told one person and I barely knew the guy. It was kind of strange. Why would