Faith

---

When Rick picked his daughter up from school, Ashlyn noticed how quiet he was the whole way home. Rick had a lot on his mind. He was thinking about how he was nervous about Joe coming over the next day to look at his invention. He hoped he'd like it. He also couldn't figure out why Mari had turned him down. When they got home, as Ashlyn put her backpack in her room and then went into the kitchen to get a snack, Rick went into the master bedroom and looked at himself in the mirror. Was it his glasses? He had been called "four eyes" as a kid and wondered if there were some adults who didn't find him all that attractive in his glasses. He didn't know what to think. To take his mind off of his hurt over being rejected and the stress involved in having his boss come over the next day, Rick decided what he needed was a nice, hot, soothing shower. He went into the bathroom and turned on the water to get it as hot as it could be, only to realize as he stepped inside that it was too hot. The steam made him cough a little, so he turned the handle on the faucet so the water would be cooler. When he was done with his shower, he put on his pajamas and a dark blue bathrobe. He then lay down on his bed. After being up almost all night and then having a long day at work, Rick felt like he needed to sleep.

He had to put that need on pause. A second after he lay down, Ashlyn came into the room. "Daddy, are you OK?" she asked. "You were quiet on the way home. Why are you lying down? Are you sick?"

"No, sweetheart, I'm just tired. Thought I'd take a nap."

"I'm tired, too. Can I take a nap with you?" Ashlyn asked.

"Sure, Ashlyn," Rick replied. He patted the space beside him, and Ashlyn climbed onto the bed and snuggled close to Rick, leaning her head on her father's shoulder.

"Tomorrow Mr. Dollar is coming over to look at Daddy's invention," Rick told his daughter. "I hope he likes it."

"I'm sure he will," Ashlyn said. "It is really cool!"

Rick gave Ashlyn a kiss on the top of her head. "Thanks." He sighed. "I'm also thinking about Emmy's mom. I like her and asked her out, but she said no."

"I'm sorry, Daddy. Maybe she'll change her mind," Ashlyn said, hoping she sounded encouraging.

"I hope so," Rick said, closing his eyes, which were having a hard time staying open.

"She should," Ashlyn said as she joined her father in a nap. "I'd love to have Emmy as my sister." Rick heard this, and he smiled. Moments later, he was out, and so was Ashlyn.

Meanwhile, at Mari and Emmy's house, Emmy and Mari were sitting in the living room, and Emmy was brushing Mari's hair. Emmy loved brushing her mother's long, brown hair. "Guess what, sweetie," Mari said, "Ashlyn's daddy asked me out today."

"Are you going on a date, Mommy?" Emmy asked excitedly.

"No, honey. I can't go out with Mari's daddy."

"Why not? He's nice," Emmy said.

Mari turned around and gave her daughter a hug. "Because, baby, he doesn't believe in Jesus like we do. The Bible says not to date or marry people if they don't believe in Jesus and you do," she explained. "This makes Him unhappy, and this makes the couple unhappy, too, and it makes it hard for the person who believes in Jesus to follow Him if the other person doesn't believe in Him."

"I'll pray that Ashlyn's daddy will believe in Jesus," Emmy said. "I'd love to have Ashlyn as my sister!"

---

PLEASE ENCOURAGE AUTHOR BELOW LEAVE COMMENT ON ARTICLE