Unresolved Issues by Wanda B. Campbell Page A

go.”
    â€œYou probably don’t want to eat, but I brought you some soup.”
    As she tied the belt to her robe, Staci’s eyes glanced at the clock above the sink. It was eight o’clock and still no word from Derrick. She wondered where he was and what he was having for dinner. Staci tried to contain her emotions, but couldn’t. When she slumped over the sink, Alaina put her arms around her and led her to the bed.
    â€œMama, this hurts so much,” Staci cried.
    â€œI know it does, baby.”
    â€œMommy, make it stop hurting, please. Make today go away. Please bring my husband back.”
    Alaina held her tightly. “Baby, the only one who can fix this is God,” she answered and wiped away tears of her own. “Let’s talk to Him about it.” Alaina closed her eyes and bowed her head. “Heavenly Father, I ask that you comfort my baby right now. Let your love consume her and overtake her. Give her your perfect peace and understanding. Help her to lean on you for strength and not faint. Lord, turn this pain into ministry.
    â€œGod, I ask that you help Derrick and heal him of his past hurts. Help him to see that you did not make a mistake when you created him. Help him to see that you love him and that Staci loves him and that we love him. Help him to realize that he can’t make it without you. Lord, turn his heart back toward you, then back toward his wife . . .” Alaina prayed and prayed until Staci fell asleep in her arms.

Chapter 11
    â€œOh, God, how did I get here?” Derrick cried with his face buried in his tear-saturated hands. He looked around the small hotel room, making sure he avoided the mirrors. He couldn’t look at himself. He was too ashamed.
    â€œI left my wife. I left my wife. How could I do that?” he asked in a barely audible voice.
    â€œYou left me,” the still small voice Derrick had been trying to ignore answered.
    Derrick’s horrific sobs echoed through the room. His world was crashing down on him, and he couldn’t do anything to stop it. It was happening too fast. This morning he was on top of the world, and now, the world was on top of him and crushing him with a vengeance. This morning he wanted to live; now at this moment, he wanted to die a quick death.
    He walked over to the second-story window and looked down into the parking lot. He shook his head, thinking the worst that would happen if he jumped would be a broken leg. Instead, he walked back to the bed and plopped down, then asked a question he didn’t have a reasonable answer to. “What am I going to do?”
    â€œCome back to me. It’s only in me that you live, move, and have your being.”
    Derrick shook his head, then hurried into the bathroom and started the shower. The steam released more tears.
    He didn’t sleep that night. Not feeling Staci’s warm body next to him underneath the stale covers depressed him more. Every time he managed to doze off, his mind would replay the scene from that afternoon and conclude with a picture of Staci sitting on the floor of their bedroom trying to make sense of his erratic behavior. He accepted defeat and threw back the covers. Finally, he picked up his cell phone and called for help.
    A few hours later, Derrick sat in the hotel’s restaurant sipping a cold cup of coffee with Pastor Reggie. They’d been in there since Derrick phoned his pastor before dawn. He began by apologizing for avoiding his phone calls. To Derrick’s surprise and relief, Reggie dismissed his behavior and agreed to meet him.
    After a few minutes of listening to Derrick, Reggie stopped being his pastor and uncle. He became his friend.
    â€œDerrick, you can’t keep holding on to this. You’ve got to turn this over to God and let Him work it out. You have to make Him head of your life again.”
    â€œIt’s not that easy. I’ve struggled with this all of my life.”
    â€œAnd now