Favor, the Millennial Prayer Warrior: The Circle of Seven

EDWIN HORSLEY

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ISBN: 978-1-4497-9586-3 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4497-9585-6 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-4497-9587-0 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2013909089

WestBow Press rev. date: 08/16/2013

Contents

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 1

Dee, try to stay focused. You are doing good. Those words, soft and soothing, came from Walter Devine. Dee loved Walter very much. He was her husband, and he was the father of their first baby, which was being born at that moment. As she lay on the birthing table, Dee, short for Deedra, looked at her husband and smiled. In her mind, she momentarily escaped the aqua-blue hospital walls by remembering the miracle that allowed them to become parents.

Dee and Walter had been married for eight years. They wanted children but they could not conceive. They went to many doctors who specialized in reproduction. The doctors all said the same thing: Dee and Walter would probably never have their own biological children. Dee’s medical condition made it nearly impossible for her to become pregnant. Two doctors were willing to operate, but Dee’s life would be at risk. Walter refused to put Dee’s life in danger. Reluctantly, the young couple accepted the fact that unless they adopted, they would not have any children.

But Dee did not completely accept the prognosis that she and Walter would never have their own children. Dee believed in the Lord Jesus Christ. From the time she was a little girl in Northampton County, North Carolina, her mother always said, Dee Dee, you just remember that my God can do anything!

Years later on a snowy February night, Dee decided to put God to what she considered the ultimate test. She was home alone. Walter worked for a private prison during the day and attended night classes at the local community college. That night at 6:00 p.m., he left their small house before the snow began to fall. Now it was almost nine o’clock and Walter had not returned home. Dee began to worry. She remembered what her mother had told her about God and began to pray. Lord Jesus, Dee said, Momma always said You can do anything, and I believe in You. Please bring Walter home safely tonight. Dee paused and then continued. Jesus, I believe You can operate on my body without taking my life. Please give Walter and me the baby we want. And when the baby is born, Lord, we will dedicate its life to You. Thank You, Jesus! As soon as Dee said, Amen, she heard the door lock turning. Walter, covered with snow, walked in the house, smiled at his wife, and gave her a firm hug. As she stood wrapped in her husband’s arms, Dee felt warm tears rolling down her face.

Dr. Ceros’ voice brought Dee back to the present moment when he said, That’s it, Dee. You’re almost there! Dr. Ceros was the senior reproductive surgeon that Dee and Walter had met at a mutual friend’s birthday party. She looked into the gentle eyes of the older man. Then her mind slipped back into past memories of how God used Dr. Ceros to help change her life forever.

When they met, Dr. Ceros liked Walter’s straightforward personality, and conversely Walter liked Dr. Ceros’ soft-spoken, humble manner. Walter introduced Dee to Dr. Ceros, and she immediately asked what type of medicine he practiced. When he said he was a fertility doctor, Dee suddenly felt a warm sensation move over her entire body. In an instant, she grabbed Dr. Ceros with one hand and Walter with the other hand. Dee quickly pulled the men after her. She led them into the kitchen and sat them down at a table where they talked.

Dee poured out her heart to Dr. Ceros as she told him how she and Walter so desperately wanted a child but repeatedly had been told that she could not get pregnant without risking death. Walter did not know whether to be irritated or embarrassed at Dee’s impulsive behavior with this complete stranger. But Dr. Ceros gave Walter a reassuring smile that signaled he understood the young couple’s dilemma. He looked at Dee, took her by the hands, and asked her, Dee, do you believe in God? She nodded yes without speaking. So do I, Dr. Ceros continued, and if it is God’s will for you to be a mother, He will use me to help the two of you.

Walter was so moved by the doctor’s words that he felt moisture in his eyes.

Dee spoke softly to Dr. Ceros. I thank God for you.

Her second trip down memory lane came to a screeching halt as Dee suddenly realized that she was no longer pushing the baby out of her body. In fact, she was no longer aware of any sound or anyone hovering around her. Where was Walter? As she tried to lift up on the pillows supporting her lower back, she heard a faint, gentle sound. It was the sound of a baby whimpering. In a matter of seconds, the whimpering became louder and faster in repetition. Dee was able to focus her eyes enough to see Walter standing beside her at the birthing table. In his large hands was a baby wrapped in a cotton blanket.

Look, Dee! We have a boy! Walter’s smile was so wide that his face appeared to be stretching.

What will you call this perfect little boy, Ms. Dee? asked Dr. Ceros, also smiling from ear to ear.

Dee did not hesitate. She said, Favor. His name is Favor.

It seemed to Dee that the next several months passed by like a whirlwind as she tried to keep up with all the things she needed to do for Favor. She fed him, cleaned him, and washed him. To her surprised, Walter often volunteered to change Favor’s diapers. When Dee needed rest, Walter would stay awake with the baby and rock him to sleep. Walter found himself speaking baby talk to his firstborn child. And his son’s dancing eyes and smiling face only encouraged Walter to continue the baby talk. If Favor liked it, Walter did it. It was that simple.

When Dee watched her husband and child together, she would sometimes look up to heaven and whisper, Lord, thank You for this man.

She had loved Walter since they were teens in ninth grade. Even back then, she could tell that Walter was a loving boy who would grow up to be a loving husband and father. They dated through high school except for two weeks when they got mad and did not speak to each other. They were both so miserable about their breakup that when they got back together, they agreed to never let anything or anyone ever keep them apart. And for all the years since then, no one or nothing had been able to come between them. After graduation, Dee went to college and Walter joined the army. He was stationed at Fort Bragg.

Four years later, Dee had earned her degree in education. Walter had earned the rank of sergeant in the army. He came to her graduation on a muggy Saturday morning at North Carolina Central University. The next day, they were married in the gardens at Duke University. Three weeks after they married, Walter’s army enlistment was over. The couple moved to Greensboro, where they had mutual friends from high school. They found jobs and lived in an apartment.

The Devines had been in Greensboro almost two years when Walter’s mother, Louise, called one night and said his father, Wayne, was dying of cancer. The news was really hard for Walter to accept. His father had been Walter’s hero all his life. Dee also cherished her relationship with her parents and knew what she had to do.

The next day after work, Dee came home and found Walter sitting at the kitchen table. He looked very tired. After talking with his mother the night before, he had not slept well. Before she left home, Dee had made him promise to take the day off and go to sleep, but she knew he would not sleep. Okay, Mr. Devine, Dee began, get up from that table and go take a shower. I will have our dinner ready in thirty minutes. By the way, while you are in the back, call your mother and tell her we are coming home. Ask her if we can stay with them until we can find our own place.

Walter was not sure he had heard his wife correctly. Dee, what did you just say? Dee put her teacher’s workbag on the floor, walked over to him, and put her arms around his waist. She looked him in the eyes and said, Walter, I love you and I am willing to do whatever I can to make you happy. We need to go be with your parents. I know that’s what you want, and we’re a team. I’ve already given my letter of resignation at school. We can take some of our things home this weekend. And while we’re there, we can rent a storage bin for the things we will need to move. Now, kiss me and go call your mother.

Her husband, six feet tall, bent down to kiss his five-foot, six bride. He held her close and whispered softly into her ear, Thank you, Dee. He let her go and went down the hallway to do exactly what she had directed him to do.

Over the next month, they moved all their belongings back to Northampton County.

Walter’s father had an inoperable tumor in his right lung. The doctors said radiation was not an option, because it would make him so sick he might not be able to eat or drink for days at the time. The doctors told Walter his father’s cancer was likely caused by too many years of smoking combined with inhaling fumes in the textile factory’s chemical room, where he worked for twenty-seven years. Although