Gertrude kneeled to pray. No words came to her in the walnut-bedecked church she’d known since Father Martin had first started serving at St. Bede’s in 1968. In more than forty years, she’d not once come to the church with a grievance against God. But today she had a long list – and why was God always a man? Perhaps that’s why he made so many mistakes.
Number one, God. You took four babies from me. I had six children and you only let me keep two of them.
Number two, God. You took my husband when I was barely forty. You made me a widow with two young children, living in a big Pittsburgh mansion.
Number three, God. You presented a low-class son-of-a-bitch to my dear sweet Eileen and allowed her to fall in love with him. She committed carnal sin and gave birth to my only grandchild three months after her wedding. And you allowed her to leave the Church.
Number four, God. When the steel industry collapsed, you took our fortune away from us, our security, and you almost took away our home. We had to sell it and now we’re moving to a small three-room apartment in Point Breeze because that’s the only place my son can afford.
Number five, God. You made my only son different and because of this, he will never marry. He’ll probably have an unhappy life because his nature goes against what you taught. And yet I know in my heart he feels this way only because that’s how you made him to be.
I still believe in you, God, and I know you never made me any promises. I just want you to know that, even if I still believe in you, I’m keeping a close eye on you.
No comments:
Post a Comment