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Should we accept only good things from the hand of God and never anything bad?

Job’s wife was telling him he should curse God and die in the midst of his suffering, and he refused. While I am not at all comparing myself to Job, the last few days have certainly tested me in unexpected ways.

Years, really.

From losing my mom and grandma at the same time, then only a few years later, my grandfather. Only to learn that my other grandfather was right there under my nose the whole time, but now I’ve lost him, too.

Oh, and his lawyer is trying to murder me because I’m the sole heir to his fortune.

Yet, even through all of it, the only thing I can think to do is give thanks to the Father.

I mean, I’m alive.

And even if I hadn’t had the chance to know who he was to me, Mr. Prescott and I had a lot of wonderful memories. We played chess together every Sunday afternoon, and there were plenty of times we just sat and chatted about whatever book we were reading.

My eyes fill with tears.

Every single one of those memories has become treasured in my mind. Because I see them for what they were now: him wanting to get to know me.

My own father didn’t bother to do it, but once he knew I existed, he was right there, trying to get to know me.

Would he have eventually told me?

I know Mrs. Marooney said he hadn’t planned on it, but would he have changed his mind?

“Thank You, Lord. Thank You for the time I had with him.” There’s a soft knock on my door, so I quickly wipe my eyes. “Come in!” I call out.

The door opens, and Ryker comes in, wearing a pair of sweats and a tank top. “I just wanted to check—are you okay?”

“I’m fine.” I smile at him. “Just reminiscing.” When he hesitates at the doorway, I gesture for him to come inside, then I scoot to the right of the bed so he can sit beside me.

He moves slowly, hesitating every few seconds.

But I don’t push him.

When he does sit on the bed, it’s at the very edge. Then, he leans forward and studies the open bible. “The book of Job, huh? Some light reading.”

I laugh. “It’s actually one of my favorite books in the bible.”

“Really?”

I nod. “Job was tested in ways we can never fully relate to, yet he clung to his faith. To God. It’s inspiring.”

“Is this your favorite verse?” he asks, pointing to the highlighted Job 2:10.

“Actually, Job 6:10 is my favorite.” I turn a few pages, then read aloud, “‘At least I can take comfort in this: Despite the pain, I have not denied the words of the Holy One.’”

He smiles. “I like that one, too.”

I turn toward him, unable to hide my delight. “All of Job is such a humbling reminder that God is good and faithful. No matter what the enemy throws at us, God is always there, and He will always provide.”

“Amen.”

After a moment of silence, I turn toward him. “Why did you agree to help me?”

“You hired me.”

“Don’t pretend like you’re going to take my money. Though I would love to pay you, I can sense when someone is simply placating me until they can figure a way out of something.”