A woman who was kicked out of her wealthy father’s house at sixteen for marrying a poor man ended up living on the streets with her four children after her husband passed away.
Steve Walton was not happy when his butler informed him that Pastor Morris was waiting to see him. After a long flight from Singapore, he was tired and not interested in hearing the pastor’s lectures or requests for community support.
He had the pastor brought in and, showing his impatience, said, “Get on with it, man! What do you want this time?”
Unsplash
Mr. Walton, I saw Susan,” the pastor said quietly. Steve’s heart nearly stopped. His only daughter had left his house nearly fifteen years ago, and he hadn’t seen her since.
“Susan?” Steve asked anxiously. “Where? When? How is she?”
“I was in Los Angeles, helping out a friend with a mission for the homeless, and that’s where I saw her,” the pastor explained.
“Was she volunteering? Did you tell her I’ve been looking for her?” Steve asked.
“No,” Pastor Morris replied gently. “She wasn’t a volunteer, Mr. Walton. She’s homeless. She and her children are living in a car.”
Steve felt so dizzy he had to sit down. “Homeless? My Susan? With children?” he gasped.
“I’m afraid so,” the pastor said. “And she wouldn’t even listen to me when I told her to come home.”
“But why?” Steve asked angrily. “She’s not still with that loser, is she?”
“Her husband passed away three years ago, Mr. Walton,” the pastor explained. “She told me she wouldn’t bring her children into a house where their father was hated.”
Steve Walton felt a wave of old rage sweep over him. Even fifteen years later, Susan was still defying him! He remembered the scene in his study, and how Susan had looked him in the eyes as he ranted.
“Pregnant at sixteen, and by the GARDENER!” he had screamed. “We are going to have THAT taken care of, and HE’S fired! You will never see that man again!”
“THAT is my baby, daddy,” Susan had said with a trembling voice. “And HE is the man I love. I’m going to marry him.”
“You marry that man and you’re on your own, Susan, do you hear?” Steve shouted furiously. “No more money, nothing! You marry him and you get out of my house!”
Susan had looked at him with tears in her eyes. “I love you, daddy,” she said. Then she turned and walked away. Despite hiring detectives to find her, no one had been able to trace her.
“How many children?” Steve asked Pastor Morris.
“Four,” the pastor replied. “Three girls and a boy. Beautiful children.”
Steve picked up his phone and demanded that his plane be prepared. “Pastor, would you come with me to Los Angeles and take me to my little girl?” he asked quietly.
The pastor nodded, and within two hours, he and Steve were on Steve’s private jet heading south. When they landed, a limo was waiting to take them to a parking lot outside a large mall.
At the far end of the lot, they found a pickup truck with a tent set up in the back. Pastor Morris had told Steve that after Susan’s husband died in a work accident, the insurance company refused to pay out, and the bank foreclosed on their home.
Susan had packed her children and their few belongings into the old pickup. She worked as a cleaner at the mall and used the mall’s facilities. She also bought leftover food from the restaurants at the end of the day.
Despite everything, Susan managed to keep her four children fed, clean, and in school. As Steve and the pastor approached the truck, they heard cheerful voices and laughter. Two children tumbled out of the back, excited to see them.
The oldest girl, around fourteen, was laughing as she tickled a boy of about seven. When Steve and Pastor Morris approached, the children stopped and stared.
“Mom!” the girl shouted. “That old preacher friend of yours is here!”
From inside the tent, a familiar voice asked, “Preacher Morris?” Susan then emerged, and Steve saw the shock on her face when she saw him standing next to the pastor.
“Daddy?” she asked, tears welling up in her eyes.
Steve was taken aback. His daughter was only thirty-one, but she looked much older. Her face was lined with worry and hardship, and 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 more for you! And you married that loser! What could he have given you? Poverty?”
Susan shook her head and said, “He loved me, Daddy, and he gave me four beautiful children. He passed away, and I had nowhere to go, but I’ve done my best for my kids. I will always love their father, just like I’ve always loved you.”
Steve found tears streaming down his face. “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!”
As Steve held his weeping daughter, he knew that everything would be alright. Susan introduced him to his three granddaughters and then placed her hand on the boy’s shoulder. “And this,” she smiled, “is little Stevie!”
“You named him after me?” Steve asked, amazed. “After what I did?”
Susan looked at her father and said softly, “I love you, Daddy. Don’t you know that?”
That afternoon, they all flew back to Texas together. It marked the start of a new, better life for the whole family.
What can we learn from this story?
– **Love Your Children Unconditionally:** Steve’s anger at Susan for loving someone poor led him to lose his daughter. Accept your children no matter who they love.
– **Don’t Judge People by Wealth:** Steve didn’t like Susan’s husband because he was poor, but he was a loving and dedicated father. Don’t judge people by their money or status.
Share this story with your friends. It might bring them hope and inspiration.
Never-before-seen pictures of Princess Diana
Individuals globally embraced Princess Diana, a cherished icon of her time. Join us on a nostalgic journey as we delve into unique and captivating photographs that unveil a more profound understanding of her extraordinary life. These are the instances that will undoubtedly bring joy and warmth to your heart.
Captured in this image is Diana during a skiing escapade to Austria accompanied by her children, Harry and William. The snapshot was taken in the aftermath of Harry’s ninth birthday celebration. The charm of the young prince is undeniable, and the entire family exudes a captivating allure!
Frequently hailed as “The People’s Princess”, Diana actively engaged in various humanitarian endeavors, serving as a beacon of kindness and love. Here, we witness Princess Diana during her visit to an orthopedic workshop in Luanda, Angola, where she compassionately interacts with victims of landmines.
The treasury of Diana’s enchanting photographs seems boundless. This particular snapshot captures a moment from 1971 when she was enjoying a vacation in Itchenor, West Sussex. Additionally, a charming image was taken outside Diana’s residence at Coleherne Court, London, before her engagement to Charles.
In this candid moment, Harry playfully sticks out his tongue to the crowd gathered around Buckingham Palace, eliciting a surprised reaction from Diana. The spontaneous display of youthful exuberance is a delightful glimpse into their dynamic.
The enduring appeal of the royal apparel brand Barbour is exemplified in Princess Diana’s fondness for it. Her choice to wear a Barbour-style waxed cotton jacket during her 1985 journey to the Outer Hebrides in Scotland showcased her impeccable taste. The renowned royal photographer Jayne Fincher, known for capturing some of Princess Diana’s most iconic images, accompanied the royal couple on their official engagements to the Outer Hebrides. Despite the challenging weather conditions of wind and rain, Diana looked remarkably happy in the images from the trip. Jayne Fincher, reflecting on the experience, noted Diana’s uncommonly joyful appearance, even in adverse weather, emphasizing the contrast with her own disheveled state.
The photograph capturing a moment from Diana’s last summer alive portrays her alongside boyfriend Dodi Al Fayed on a boat in St. Tropez, France, joyfully jumping into the water. It serves as a poignant reminder of Diana’s enduring legacy as a truly great and loving human being.
The photograph capturing a moment from Diana’s last summer alive portrays her alongside boyfriend Dodi Al Fayed on a boat in St. Tropez, France, joyfully jumping into the water. It serves as a poignant reminder of Diana’s enduring legacy as a truly great and loving human being.
Leave a Reply