A woman who was kicked out by her rich father at sixteen for taking up with a poor man ends up living on the streets with her four children after her husband died.
Steve Walton was far from thrilled when his butler told him that Pastor Morris was waiting to see him. He was tired after a long flight from Singapore and in no mood for the man’s lectures or pleas for support for the community.
He had the pastor shown in and waved an impatient hand at his greeting. “Get on with it, man!” he snapped. “What is it that you want this time?”
“Mr. Walton, I saw Susan,” the pastor said quietly, and Steve’s heart nearly stopped. His only daughter had left his house nearly fifteen years before, never to be seen again…
“Susan?” Steve cried anxiously. “Where? When? How is she?”
“I was in Los Angeles, helping out a friend who has a mission among the homeless and that’s where I saw her,” the pastor said.
“She was a volunteer? Did you tell her I’ve been looking for her?” asked Steve.
“No,” Pastor Morris said gently. “She wasn’t a volunteer, Mr. Walton. She’s homeless. She and her children are living in a car.”
Steve found himself so dizzy he had to sit down. “Homeless? My Susan? 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?” asked Steve angrily. “She’s not with that loser anymore, is she?”
“Her husband passed away three years ago, Mr. Walton,” the pastor explained. “And she told me she wouldn’t bring her children into a house where their father is despised.”
Steve Walton felt that old familiar wave of rage sweep through him. Fifteen years later, Susan was still defying him! He remembered the scene in his study, and Susan’s steady eyes looking into his as he ranted.
“Pregnant at sixteen, and by the GARDNER!” he’d screamed. “Well, 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 in a tremulous 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’d said. Then she turned around and walked away. Even though Steve had set detectives to find her, no one had been able to trace her.
“How many children?” he asked Pastor Morris.
“Four,” the pastor said. “Three girls and a boy. Beautiful children.”
Steve picked up his phone and spat out orders for his plane to be readied. “Pastor, would you come with me to Los Angeles, take me to my little girl?” he asked quietly.
The pastor nodded, and within two hours, the two men were on board Steve’s private jet winging their way south. There was a limo waiting for them, and the pastor directed them to a parking lot outside a large mall.
At the furthest end of the lot, a pickup truck was parked, with a tent set up at the back. Pastor Morris had told Steve that when Susan’s husband died in a work accident, the insurance company had refused to pay out and the bank foreclosed on the mortgage.
Susan had piled the children and their few belongings into the old pickup. She worked at the mall as a cleaner. She and the children used the mall’s facilities and bought whatever was leftover at the restaurants at the end of the night.
Still, she had managed to keep the four children fed, clean, and in school. As the two men approached the truck, they heard cheerful voices and laughter. Then two children tumbled out of the back.
The biggest girl, about fourteen, was laughing as she tickled a boy of about seven. The children stopped and gaped at Steve and Pastor Morris. “Mom!” the girl yelled. “That old preacher friend of yours is here!”
A well-remembered voice asked from inside the tent, “Preacher Morris?” Then Susan climbed out and Steve could see the shock in her face when she saw him standing next to the pastor.
“Daddy?” 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 suffering, her hands coarsened by 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?”
Susan shook her head and said, “He loved me, daddy, and he gave me 4 beautiful children. He died, and I had nowhere to go, but I’ve done what I can for my children. I will always love the father of my children, daddy, just like I’ve always loved you.”
Steve found that he had tears running 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!”
Steve found himself holding his weeping daughter and knew that everything was going to be alright. Susan introduced him to his three granddaughters, then she placed her hand on the boy’s shoulder. “And this,” she smiled, “is little Stevie!”
“You named him after me?” Steve asked, astounded. “After what I did?”
“I love you, daddy,” she said softly. “Don’t you know that?”
That afternoon, they all flew home 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 for loving a poor man and made the biggest mistake of his life by losing his daughter.
Don’t judge people for their wealth or influence. Steve hated his son-in-law because he was poor, but he was a loving husband to Susan and a dedicated dad.
Share this story with your friends. It might brighten their day and inspire them.
This newlywed couple looks really happy
Love is not just about romance, passion, or fleeting emotions—it’s about trust, loyalty, and commitment. A relationship without these essential elements is like a house built on shaky ground—vulnerable to collapse at the first sign of trouble.
In today’s world, where distractions and temptations are everywhere, staying loyal and trustworthy in a relationship is more important than ever. But what exactly does loyalty mean in love? And how does trust shape the strength of a marriage or long-term relationship? Let’s explore how these values help build a bond that stands the test of time.
Why Loyalty Is the Cornerstone of Love
Loyalty in a relationship means being committed to your partner through thick and thin. It’s about:
✔ Standing by each other during challenges.
✔ Being emotionally and physically faithful.
✔ Choosing your partner every day, even when things aren’t perfect.
A loyal partner prioritizes the relationship, ensuring that no external influences can break the bond. When loyalty is present, love becomes deeper, stronger, and more meaningful.
The Role of Trust in a Strong Relationship
While loyalty is about actions, trust is about belief. A couple that trusts each other can:
✔ Communicate openly without fear.
✔ Feel emotionally secure, knowing their partner won’t betray them.
✔ Overcome misunderstandings quickly and effectively.
Video : How to define loyalty in a relationship.
Without trust, even the strongest love can be filled with doubt, insecurity, and unnecessary conflict. When a partner constantly questions the other’s intentions, the relationship suffers. But when trust is nurtured, love flourishes.
How to Strengthen Loyalty in a Relationship
Loyalty isn’t just about avoiding betrayal; it’s about actively proving your commitment in everyday life. Here’s how to cultivate loyalty in your relationship:
1. Prioritize Your Partner
In a healthy relationship, your partner should always feel like a priority. Whether through small gestures of appreciation or standing up for them in difficult times, loyalty means making your partner feel safe and valued.
2. Stay Honest and Transparent
Loyalty thrives when there are no secrets. Open communication about your thoughts, feelings, and actions strengthens emotional intimacy. When both partners are transparent, doubts and misunderstandings have no room to grow.
3. Set Boundaries with Others
In today’s digital world, loyalty is often tested through social media, workplace relationships, or past connections. Setting clear boundaries with friends, colleagues, and ex-partners ensures that no third party can create tension in your relationship.
4. Support Each Other’s Growth
Loyalty isn’t just about staying together—it’s about growing together. Supporting your partner’s dreams, career, and personal growth shows that you are invested in their success and happiness, not just your own.
How to Build Unshakable Trust in Love
While loyalty is about actions, trust is about mindset. Here’s how to build and maintain deep trust in a relationship:
1. Keep Your Promises
Trust is built when words align with actions. If you say you’ll do something, follow through. Over time, this consistency reinforces confidence in your reliability.
2. Be Vulnerable and Open
True trust comes from sharing fears, dreams, and insecurities with your partner. When you allow yourself to be vulnerable, it encourages deeper emotional intimacy and strengthens the connection.
3. Assume the Best in Your Partner
Misunderstandings happen, but trust means giving your partner the benefit of the doubt. Instead of jumping to negative conclusions, ask for clarification and listen with an open heart.
4. Forgive and Move Forward
No relationship is perfect, and mistakes will happen. Learning to forgive and rebuild trust rather than holding onto resentment is key to a long-lasting love. Holding grudges weakens trust, while forgiveness strengthens it.
Video : LOYALTY means DIFFERENT things to MEN and WOMEN: working through the misunderstanding
Why Loyalty and Trust Lead to a Happy Marriage
A successful marriage isn’t just about love—it’s about respect, understanding, and long-term commitment. Couples who prioritize loyalty and trust experience:
✔ Less conflict – Arguments are resolved faster because both partners know they can depend on each other.
✔ More emotional security – A trusting relationship creates a stress-free and comforting home environment.
✔ Deeper connection – With loyalty and trust, couples can enjoy a love that continues to grow over the years.
When two people are truly loyal and trust each other, love becomes unshakable.
Final Thoughts: A Love That Stands the Test of Time
In a world where relationships are often tested, loyalty and trust are what separate fleeting romances from lifelong love stories. A strong relationship is built on choosing each other every day, being open and honest, and proving through actions that love is more than just words.
If you want a relationship that lasts a lifetime, focus on being a loyal partner and a trustworthy companion. When love is built on these foundations, it becomes unbreakable, fulfilling, and truly beautiful.
What do you think? Share your thoughts in the comments and let’s celebrate the power of loyalty and trust in love!
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