A woman who was thrown out by her rich father at sixteen for dating a poor man ended up living on the streets with her four children after her husband died.
Steve Walton was not at all pleased when his butler told him that Pastor Morris was waiting for him. He was tired after a long flight from Singapore and in no mood to listen to the man’s lectures or his pleas for community support.
He ushered the pastor in and waved impatiently in greeting. “Go ahead, man!” he snapped. “What do you want this time?”
“Mr. Walton, I saw Susan,” the pastor said softly, and Steve’s heart nearly stopped. His only daughter had left home nearly fifteen years ago, never to be seen again…
“Susan?” Steve called out anxiously. “Where? When? How is she?” »
“I was in Los Angeles helping a friend who has a mission to the homeless and that’s when I saw her,” the pastor said.
“She was a volunteer? Did you tell her I was looking for her?” Steve asked.
“No,” Pastor Morris replied quietly. “She wasn’t a volunteer, Mr. Walton. She’s homeless. She and her kids live in a car.”
Steve found himself so dizzy he had to sit up. “Homeless? My Susan? Kids?” he gasped.
“I’m afraid so,” the pastor said. “And she wouldn’t even listen to me when I told her to go home.”
“But why?” Steve asked angrily. “She’s not with that loser anymore, is she?” »
“Her husband died three years ago, Mr. Walton,” the pastor explained. “And she told me she wouldn’t bring her children into a home where their father was despised.”
Steve Walton felt that familiar wave of rage rush through him. Fifteen years later, Susan was still defying him! He remembered the scene in his office and Susan’s staring eyes as he ranted.
“Pregnant at sixteen, and by the GARDENER!” he had shouted. “Well, we’re going to take care of THAT, and HE’S fired! You’ll never see that man again!”
“That’s my baby, Daddy,” Susan had said in a trembling voice. “And HE’s the man I love. I’m going to marry him.”
“You marry that man and you’re all alone, Susan, do you hear?” Steve shouted furiously. “No more money, no more nothing! You marry him and get out of my house!”
Susan had looked at him with tears in her eyes. “I love you, Dad,” she had said. Then she had turned and walked away. Even though Steve had sent detectives to find her, no one had been able to find her.
“How many children?” he asked Pastor Morris.
“Four,” the pastor replied. “Three girls and a boy. Beautiful children.”
Steve picked up the phone and ordered his plane to be ready. “Pastor, will you come with me to Los Angeles, take me to see my little girl?” he asked softly.
The pastor nodded, and two hours later the two men were on Steve’s private jet heading south. A limousine was waiting for them, and the pastor directed them to a parking lot outside a large shopping center.
At the far end of the parking lot, a van was parked with a tent set up in the back. Pastor Morris had told Steve that when Susan’s husband died in a work accident, the insurance company had refused to pay and the bank had foreclosed on the mortgage.
Susan had packed the children and their few belongings into the old van. She worked as a cleaner at the mall. She and the children used the mall’s facilities and bought what was left at the restaurant at the end of the night.
Still, she had managed to feed the four children, clean them up, and send them to school. As the two men approached the van, they heard happy voices and laughter. Then two children came rushing out.
The oldest girl, about fourteen, was laughing as she tickled a boy about seven. The children stopped and gaped at Steve and Pastor Morris. “Mom!” the girl screamed. “Your old friend Pastor is here!”
A familiar voice asked from inside the tent, “Pastor Morris?” Then Susan came out, and Steve could see the shock on her face as she saw him standing next to the pastor.
“Dad?” she asked, and her eyes filled with tears.
Steve was shocked. His daughter was barely thirty-one, but she looked much older. Her face was worn and lined with worry and pain, her hands were rough from hard work.
“Susan,” Steve cried. “Look at you! Look at what HE did to my princess! I wanted so much for you! And you married that loser! What could he give you? Poverty?” »
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Unsplash
Susan shook her head and said, “He loved me, Dad, and he gave me 4 beautiful children. He died, and I had nowhere to go, but I did what I could for my children. I will always love the father of my children, Dad, just like I always loved you.”
Steve realized that he had tears in his eyes. “Forgive me, Susan,” he sobbed. “Please forgive me. Come home, I want you all to come home with me. Let me help you take care of the children!”
Steve found himself holding his crying daughter and knew that everything was going to be okay. Susan introduced him to her three granddaughters, then placed her hand on the boy’s shoulder. “And this,” she smiled, “is little Stevie!” »
“Did you name him after me?” Steve asked, stunned. “From what I did?”
“I love you, Dad,” she said softly. “Don’t you know?”
That afternoon, they all flew back to Texas. It was the beginning of a better life for all of them.
What can we learn from this story?
Love and accept your children unconditionally. Steve was furious with Susan because she loved a poor man and made the biggest mistake of his life by losing his daughter.
Don’t judge people by their wealth or influence. Steve hated his son-in-law because he was poor, but he was a loving husband to Susan and a devoted father.
Share this story with your friends. It might brighten their day and inspire them.