The Long Road Home by James Chaisson

Entry 4: 

Samuel continued to work hard, to provided spiritual guidance for his sons, and to express his love for them. Around town, Samuel was known as a wise, generous, and well-respected man of God. On one occasion he donated uniforms for the local school football team. He even volunteered for the Spring Fling as the dunk tank guy. All the kids lined up to try and dunk the cheerful Mr. Samuel.

It wasn't long after his wife's death that Samuel began to notice a change in his boys. Nathan seemed to be a bit more hardened in his outlook on life and with the way he interacted with people. Sometimes being outright harsh and rude when he saw what he considered ungodly behavior. Joshua on the other hand seemed to become distant and a bit loose in his morals preferring to push the boundaries as far as he could. 

After staying out all night, partying with his friends, Joshua came home reeking of alcohol and peppermint. Joshua had only recently turned 21 and was testing out his manhood and freedom, even though he still lived under his father's roof. His brother Nathan, on the other hand, had moved out a few years earlier but only lived two houses down. 

Samuel heard his son come in. Truth be told Samuel had been up all night praying for his son and worrying himself sick. Samuel opened his bedroom door and saw his son staggering towards his room. 

"Where were you?" asked his father in a stern yet loving voice. "None of your business!" came the reply. "Son, you can't live like this and remain in my house. You can't go out and get drunk, come home and sleep the day away just to go out and do the same thing the next night." "I've never liked living here with you anyways! You don't love me, you never loved me! The only one who loved me was mom and she's dead!" screamed Joshua. 

"Go to bed, I'll talk to you later," said Samuel as he walked back into his bedroom and slowly closed the door. 

 The Long Road Home by James Chaisson

Entry 3:

Twenty years of marriage sailed by like a child’s dream in the night. During those twenty years, Samuel and Rose celebrated life together. They had their ups and downs like we all do. But with each passing year their love grew stronger and stronger and that love found expression in two boys, Nathan and Joshua. The boys were 7 years apart with Nathan being the older and Joshua being the younger.

Rose stayed home in order to take care of her boys while Samuel was able to find a good-paying job working for a wonderful company that he eventually purchased. As the years continued to march on, Samuel and Rose were able to lay aside a fair amount of money that they planned to give to their boys as an inheritance once they passed on from this world.

After thirty years of marriage, the unthinkable happened. Samuel and Rose’s magical life was interrupted. Rose had gotten sick. At first, no one knew that anything was wrong. Rose was simply getting tired in the middle of the day and before long she was taking naps. After some time had passed without her getting better, Samuel began to be concerned for his wife’s health and he convinced her to see the doctor.

“What seems to be the problem?” asked Dr. Moriane. “Samuel is worried. I’m just a little tired taking care of the house and my boys, it really wears on me. That’s all” said Rose. Dr. Moriane said, “We’ll run some tests and go from there.” A week later the doctor called Rose and Samuel back to his office to read the results. Rose was sick, she was really sick. Rose was a strong, yet quiet woman who had a deep faith in God. She and Samuel were devout Christians who not only went to worship on Sunday mornings but also lived out their faith day-to-day.

Some might wonder how a loving God could allow this to happen to one so faithful, but Rose never did. Day after day, in spite of her sickness, she thanked God for the good in her life.

After a short uphill battle, Rose quietly stole away early one morning with her husband and two boys by her side. Her fight, over and her victory gained, but those she left behind had their own battles to face.

To Be Continued...

 The Long Road Home by James Chaisson

Entry 2:

When Samuel was 20 and Rose was 19, they got married. Their wedding took place in an open field in Western Massachusetts, it was close to where they had grown up and always held a special place in Rose’s heart. Whenever she drove past that field she would stare off into the distance and get lost in the beauty. That place, that field was almost magical for Rose. Although she knew that pixies and fairies weren’t real, she always had a faint feeling that that place housed such creatures.

On their wedding day as guests looked out over that field, they could see some small green trees lining the horizon and a bright green grass that covered the field which made it look like an emerald garden. The warm wind along with the crystal blue sky made the whole event feel enchanted.

Rose's family was all there, her mother, six sisters and her one older brother. Her father had passed away only three years earlier but his presence could still be felt by Rose. Samuel's family was there as well, his father and mother, and his younger brother. Beyond the immediate members of each ones family were extended members, aunts and uncles, cousins, and even grandparents. Friends of both the bride and groom were there as well. It was a day like no other for Samuel and even more so for Rose.

She often spoke about that day with such nostalgia that those listening were transported in time to that very moment. I was privileged to hear the story of their wedding day on a number of occasions and I’m certainly glad to have had that pleasure.

To Be Continued...

 The Long Road Home: A Story of Redemption 

by James Chaisson

I guess it’s only proper to start at the beginning, although I imagine a more gifted poet might begin where the trouble first started, but alas, I’m not a very gifted poet so let me start by telling you about Samuel and Rose’s early years.

When Samuel was a young man his heart burned with a pure kind of passion for a girl named Rose. I’m told it all started the day he noticed her sitting at her desk in Mrs. Lawson’s class. The first day of 5th grade and Samuel was already nervous but when he saw Rose, his face turned bright red and his hands began to sweat. Although Samuel didn’t understand what he was feeling, it was a moment of magic like the first day of Spring with its promise of something wonderful. He took his seat next to her and with all the courage he could muster said “Hey, I’m Sam, what’s your name?” “Rose” was the tender and soft reply. That was it, that was the start of it all.

Time seemed to leap forward as it often does when you’re young and it wasn’t long before Rose was a beautiful young lady and Samuel was a handsome young man... 

To Be Continued...