A Bridge Unbroken (A Miller's Creek Novel) (38 page)
Read A Bridge Unbroken (A Miller's Creek Novel) Online
Authors: Cathy Bryant
His handsome grin and stea
dy gaze drew her down the aisle where he stood waiting, Daisy at his side, their wedding rings dangling from a blue ribbon around her neck. He reached out a hand toward her as she neared, then leaned his head toward hers, his lips touching the top of her head. "You look beautiful."
"So do you."
He laughed and tucked her hand in the crook of his elbow. "Let's do this."
Together they stepped onto the bridge and toward the pastor. The rest was a blur, except for the vows, a part of the ceremony
she and Chance had decided to write themselves.
Chance faced her completely, his right hand cupping her face. "Amy, Dakota, A.K...."
Dakota couldn't help but laugh, and many others joined in.
"I don't care what your name is
or what color your hair is," continued Chance. "I don't care about what has happened in the past. At the moment, I don't even care about what the future holds, as long as I get to spend it with you."
She blinked back tears, her heart crying out prayers of gratitude to God for all He'd done for her, but especially for giving her this man.
"I promise to love you, to protect you, and to do all I can to make your life wonderful for the rest of forever."
Then came her turn, and s
he took a deep breath to still her racing heart. Though part of her rebelled at the idea of being so vulnerable in front of so many, another part of her wanted the world to know how she felt. Dakota smiled into the eyes of the man her heart had always loved. "Sometimes I think I've loved you forever, Chance Johnson. Our past has been rocky and sin-stained, but God, in His incredible love, grace, and mercy, has used it for our good. On our own, we never could've reached the place of forgiving each other. His ultimate example of forgiveness on the cross--the bridge He built to close the gap between Holy God and sinful man--enabled us to let go of old hurts and wounds. Now, together with Him, we have the privilege of living our lives together." A tear of gratitude trickled down her cheek.
Chance's eyes also flooded with tears as he brought a hand to her face to whisk away the tear.
Dakota swallowed against the lump in her throat. "I promise to love and care for you, with no running away, for the rest of my life. And I thank God that He, and you, have forgiven me."
The crowd erupted into applause and everyone jumped to their feet. Chance engulfed her in a hug and swung her up in the air, his lips near her ear. "Thank you for forgiving me, too." The husky words belied the tears on his own face.
A few minutes later, Matt and Gracie moved to one side of the bridge and began to sing the song they'd written especially for the occasion, while Chance and Dakota, both with smiles on their faces and hearts, together picked up a hammer and nail and knelt on the bridge.
The guitar strummed the opening bars while Dakota and Chance together landed the first blow to the nail.
Their voices in perfect harmony, Matt and Gracie began to sing:
"The ugly scars from a dark and painful past.
Broken promises, the hurt, so vast.
Forgiveness doesn't come because you're holding on, but
You must let go to build a bridge."
Tears flowed freely down Dakota's face and plopped to the weathered wood.
Chance clutched the hammer with one hand atop hers and reached up once more to wipe away her tears, just as his own tears began to flow.
Tentatively, she reached up to his scarred cheek--the scars she'd caused--and
caressed his face. "I love you."
"And I love you." He smiled, and together they landed another blow to the nail.
"There's a bridge that beckons you and me,
Made from rusty nails and an old rugged tree.
A bridge to cross from death unto life,
Where Jesus died for you and me."
The song ended just as they delivered the last strike to the nail.
The moment profound and sacred, everyone bowed their heads as the pastor delivered a final prayer. Other than his words, the only sounds were the gentle breeze rippling through the leaves of nearby trees and an occasional sniffle.
Just moments later, Chance and Dakota faced these people who had chosen to spend this day with them, and were introduced as Mr. and Mrs. Chance Johnson.
The party commenced moments later up at the farmhouse. Once the cake had been cut, with Daisy taking her bite before schedule
, the band from Morganville kicked off the music with
Sweet Home Alabama.
Chance swept her into his arms with a handsome grin. "Think you can two-step in a wedding dress?"
Dakota smiled back, her heart full. "I dare you or anybody else to stop me."
He leaned his head back and laughed, before twirling her around the floor of t
he barn. "That's my Irish girl.
THE END
* * *
Thanks for taking the time to read
A Bridge Unbroken.
If you enjoyed the story, would you take just a moment to leave your honest review on Amazon? Thank you so much!
Although a native daughter of Texas, Cathy currently resides in the lovely Sangre de Cristo mountains of northern New Mexico with her husband of over thirty years. She loves to spend time with her family, romp around in the great outdoors, and weave heart-stirring stories about God’s life-changing grace.
In addition to penning the Miller’s Creek novels, Cathy also has written devotional articles for The Upper Room magazine and collaborated with other authors on two devotional books. Her website blog includes devotional posts and interviews with everyday heroes.
To learn more about Cathy and her books, visit her website at
www.CatBryant.com
.
Besides her website, Cathy also loves to connect with readers in the following places.
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Reader friends on Facebook
may want to visit the following groups, the first for book bargains and the second to discuss all things Miller’s Creek.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/ChristianBooks.Giveaways/
https://www.facebook.com/groups/MillersCreekReaders/
I hope you enjoyed Chance and Dakota's story as much as I did. As is usually the case, this story was birthed through my own spiritual journey. After going through a particularly difficult time, I struggled with forgiving others the way Christ commands.
I searched the scriptures, hoping for an exception, but found none. As I researched the topic of forgiveness for the story, I especially became convicted by the fact that when I pray the Lord's prayer, I'm asking God to forgive me the same way I forgive others. Perish the thought! That's all it took for me relinquish the death grip I had on my current resentment and bitterness.
I wish I could say that I no longer struggle with forgiving, but I'm human. The enemy knows the chinks in my armor and directs his fiery darts likewise. Especially during the writing of this book, Satan seemed determined to trip me up with an unforgiving spirit.
Forgiveness is one of the most difficult things we'll ever be called to do, because it's so personal and often so devastating. But the truth is that we imprison ourselves and not our offender when we choose not to forgive.
C. S. Lewis put forgiveness in perspective when he said: "To be a Christian means to excuse the inexcusable because God has forgiven the inexcusable in you."
We live because He forgives,
Cathy
1. Forgiveness seems to be one of the least understood concepts in Christianity, yet it is central to our faith. Why do you think forgiveness is such a difficult concept to grasp?
2. Why do we sometimes feel we've forgiven someone, only to come face-to-face with the truth that we haven't?
3. What are some ways in which Chance and Dakota are holding on to unforgiveness in the first part of the story?
4.What are some of the other concepts tied closely to forgiveness? How are they related, and why are they important?
5. What are some of your favorite scriptures concerning forgiveness? Least favorite? Why?
6. What analogy can you think of for the idea of letting it go? What does it say about our relationship with God when we're able to let an offense go?
7. How do we know when we've truly forgiven someone? What brought Chance and Dakota to the place of forgiveness?
8. What steps are necessary to forgive someone? Why is it so difficult to actually do? What sin is at the root of an unforgiving spirit?
Every author will tell you that birthing a book is not a solitary effort, but the effort of many to make the story all that it can be. I couldn't agree more. Here are just a few examples, since there could never be enough space to personally thank everyone.
To my readers: You all will never know how much your encouragement means to me. Whether on the Facebook author page or the Miller's Creek Reader's group or in a personal e-mail, you push away my insecurities and doubts with your kind words. Please know that I pray for you often!
To the Miller's Creek Main Street Team and beta readers/editors: Only God could have ordained these two groups. He knew how much I would need your help. I couldn't dream of a better team of people as my support group. A mere word of thanks seems woefully inadequate.
To my family: How did this country gal get so blessed in the family department? Your love and support give me wings. Thank you all, and thank the Lord for the unparalleled blessings you bring to my life.
To my baby sister, Tessie Mayo, for her keen eye in the photography department. Her talent provided the perfect cover for this story on forgiveness, best demonstrated in the bridge God built for all of us through Christ. Love you, sis!
Last, yet first, I give praise, thanksgiving, honor, and glory to my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. His forgiveness makes life possible. Oh, Lord, may I be quick to forgive others the way You've forgiven me!
Crossroads
A bitter prodigal denies God's existence until faced with her own mortality. Can a struggling veteran, with his own demons to overcome, help her find the road back home?
Other Miller's Creek Novels
Available in Print and Digital Format at
Amazon.com
A hurting seeker longs for home in a back roads country town until malicious rumors propel her down a road she never expected to travel.
A widow with shaken faith is determined to blaze a trail for herself and her traumatized son, but must regain her faith to take a path less traveled.
Can a fallen perfectionist--especially in the face of life-altering circumstances--bestow on others the grace God has lavished on her?
A dusty stack of unopened love letters forces a betrayed woman to revisit a part of her past she’d rather leave buried–especially when confronted with her husband's impending death.
TEXAS ROADS
"Very good story with great characters and plot. A good lesson in following the path that you were meant to follow. I look forward to reading more of the Miller's Creek series." ~Amazon Reviewer
"Uplifting book, easy to read, engaging. Cathy Bryant is an excellent author. Her love and faith in God is evident in every word she writes." ~Amazon Reviewer
A PATH LESS TRAVELED
"I 'stumbled' across this book for free in the e-book section. I know I 'found' it for a reason. If anyone is looking for the path to God, this is a very important book. I found it very profound in exactly what I need at this time. Trust in God. That's all you need. I can't describe the way I feel about finding this book at