Hardy-Shaw - When Death Comes

Contents

I am a daughter of the Church of God In Christ. I dedicate this book to all the great women who imparted a spirit of excellence into my life. This spirit caused me not to settle for mediocrity, but instead, believe the written Word, I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me. Philippians 4:13 and in so doing, I can do it with excellence!

I am blessed, that for the last 26 years I have a man of faith and favor in my life and to our union we have two God-fearing children. Pastor Michael Shaw Sr. is my confidant, my friend, my lover, and my favorite prayer partner. My husband ensures, provision, protection, and providence as a man of God should. There is not much any of us have lacked down through the years. No, we have not always had the best of everything compared to mans viewpoint, but we have had the best of everything according to the Word. As a father to our son, he taught him the value and need of a good education in caring for a family. As a father, he shows him by example the importance and value of going to work every day, and the responsibilities that come with taking care of a family. As a father to our daughter, he showed her by example how a man is to love his wife and family, esteem them higher than himself. As a husband, he opens doors, carries bags, pays all my bills, and yes, he even goes shopping with me every now and again. He has a heart of gold found in few men today and so I take this time to recognize him for loving me and not leaving me. I love my man of God, my BMW (black man working) and my kingdom kids for always having my front, and both my sides because God has our backs.

After finally meeting and marrying Mr. Right, can Teresa break loose of the ungodly soul tie with Eric that has held her love captive for so long? Can she truthfully say no to the past and yes to the future?

Teresa is like many women in todays society. She is married, but doesnt fully understand the commitment that comes with marriage. As an independent woman, she still thinks life revolves around her.

When Death Comes is the sequel to Soul Ties, Unchain My Heart, and mirrors real-life decisions and consequences one woman faced on her journey to breaking free from the ungodly soul tie of an ex-lover.

Will she finally be able to break free of this ungodly soul tie she created with her ex-lover and move forward in her new life with her husband? Get ready for a journey full of, disappointments, drama, heartbreak, laughter, and love.

When I was 17 years old, for the first time in my life I was allowed to go to a classmates birthday party which happened to be a sleepover at her mothers home. I remember it like it was yesterday because growing up in a sanctified home; it was next to impossible to stay over at anyones home, relatives included. This particular friends mother was a single woman and that made things even worse in the eyes of my mother as she always thought the worst, and then to put the icing on the cake, my friends mother did not confess to being a Christian. So, do you see what I was working with? The odds were stacked greatly against the likelihood that I would be able to go to her sleepover.

It was a Thursday--I will never forget--a memory is embedded in my head. I had just finished doing dinner dishes and was sitting outside on the porch talking to a neighbor; we rarely left the steps of our porch. I saw what looked like my classmates mothers vehicle coming down the street and I started getting nervous. My mother hated for people to show up unexpected and uninvited and I knew not to invite anyone to my house without first getting her permission as that was grounds for a good beating. As the car came closer to the house I knew it was my friend Rochelles mother car, because she was the only black woman I knew that drove a Mercedes Benz. My friends mother was a doctor, she drove a fancy car, and lived in a big fancy house; at the time I was growing up, most black folks hadnt reached her status. As her car pulled up next to the house, my friend jumped out, as bubbly as only she could be, Teresa, I want you to be at my sleepover party so I asked my mother to stop by and talk with your mother. Maybe she can talk her into letting you come. After my friend told me the reason of their visit, I immediately started perspiring because I knew my mother was going to indict me for putting my friend up to inviting her mother to my house, but in all honesty I had no idea the doctor was going to do this. As she stepped out of the car, she had on her doctors scrubs and she walked up to me, Hello Teresa, is your mother home?

Yes maam, I said, Let me get her.

Oh no, she said, Ill go in. I want to talk to her in private please.

My knees began shaking as I yelled out, Just a minute, she doesnt like anyone to come in without first knowing whos at the door, which was the absolute truth. I ran in the house. I was out of breath, not from running, but from being scared.

"Momma, my friend Rochelles mother is here to see you

About what? my mother asked nervously.

I dont know. She said she wanted to talk to you privately.

OK, my mother said, Tell her, Ill be out in a minute My mother worked in a factory but because she was sanctified, she always wore skirts even to work. When I rattled her with my news, she got up and fancied herself up before she came to the door. I went outside and almost started crying because I knew my butt was going to be toast when Rochelles mother left the house. My mother came to the door and invited Rochelles mother in so they could talk.

Meanwhile my friend and I sat outside and waited what seemed like an eternity for her mother to come out the house. Suddenly, I heard the screen door open and her mother walked out with a smirk on her face. So many thoughts ran through my mind. I immediately wanted to take off running because I didnt know what fate held for me, but I stood in place. Actually, invisible cement had formed around my feet keeping me from moving, but otherwise, I would have taken off.

My friends mother walked by me and told Rochelle Lets go, and as Rochelle got in their car, she said, Goodbye, and I thought for sure it was our final farewell.

My mother called me into the house, as she was an expert at not disciplining us in public so neighbors would have nothing to report to the police. Teresa!

Yes maam, I said, as my entire body began shaking out of control.

Why did you tell that little girl to have her mother come ask me if you could go to her party? Now you know I dont believe in sleepovers and all that type of devilishness. Anything can happen.

I didnt tell her to come over, I didnt even know she was coming, I said. She didnt even tell me in school she was coming over, which was the Gods honest truth. I mustered up some tears as I was afraid of where this conversation was going because my mother was a no nonsense type of woman and what she said was law and her laws could not and would not be changed for anyone.

Now she told me her daughter done invited ten girls to this sleepover and she told me she gonna be home all night. So because she told me she gonna be home all night, Im going to let you go this time and this time only, do you hear me?

What? My momma letting me go somewhere other than around the corner to babysit for my Aunt? I cant believe it. Maybe there is a God, I thought to myself as I stood there in complete shock, still crying. The cement that was around my feet outside landed on my shoulders when I walked in the house.