Though None Go with Me by Jerry B. Jenkins Read Free Book Online Page B

Bible college in Grand Rapids. He had been invited to both sing and speak every night for a week, and his dark eyes and light hair captivated her nearly as much as his obvious devotion to God did. How strange to see a young person so bold and unashamed of his faith.
    But Benjamin Phillips seemed to have eyes for no one, even the classmates who came with him to help out. More than one mooned over him, but not even the girls Elisabeth’s age could detect favoritism. Art Childs tried vainly to best him on the baseball diamond, and Frances Crawford said she was convinced Benjamin had his eye on her. Elisabeth was certain his affections were set on things above.
    â€œI guarantee he’ll write to me,” Frances said more than once. “I may have to write him first, but you watch. I got his address.”
    Later it came out that she had copied the address of the school from a pamphlet. She wrote him twice before receiving a cordial reply. “He’s conceited after all,” she told Elisabeth.
    â€œWhy do you say that? Let me see his letter.”
    Frances handed it over with a knowing look. Ben had written, “Forgive me if I can’t immediately put a face to the name, Francine. I met so many wonderful kids at your church. I agree it was a refreshing time in the Lord, and thanks for your kind comments about my role in the program. God’s best to you. Warmly in Christ, Benjamin P.”
    â€œHe doesn’t sound conceited at all,” Elisabeth said. “He seems perfectly wonderful.”
    â€œHe didn’t even remember me!”
    â€œShould he have, Frances?”
    â€œWe shook hands after the service one night, and I told him I might come to his school.”
    â€œI’m surprised he didn’t propose on the spot.”
    â€œThat’s not funny, Elisabeth. He should have remembered. I told him my name.”
    â€œWe all did.”

CHAPTER FIVE
    T he pain of the loss of her father was never far from Elisabeth. She busied herself in church work, playing the piano, singing in the choir, teaching a Sunday school class—one year young girls, the next young boys. She joined the junior missionary society and took her turn writing to missionaries, though she soon found herself the only young person who stuck with that.
    Her lingering grief drove her closer to God. Her friends sympathized, but even Frances never seemed to know what to say. Elisabeth tried to be cordial and appreciated any attempt to comfort her, but mostly she found solace in prayer.
    Few wanted to hear that, she realized. Pastor Hill explained that “praying without ceasing” was actually attainable. He said Paul’s expression meant “keeping the line open all the time. But our connection to God is not a party line. Corporate prayer is one thing, but to pray without ceasing means to keep your private line open to God every waking moment. Keep him at the forefront of your mind. Know he is with you, watching, listening, available for counsel in the secret places of the heart.”
    Those secret places were where Elisabeth felt so needy, so fragile. She told Frances one day, “I sometimes feel apart from God for no reason.” Frances’s face showed sympathy as if she had heard Elisabeth, but she said nothing. “How about you, Fran?” Elisabeth pressed.
    Frances shrugged. “We are apart from God, aren’t we?” she said. “I mean, someday we’ll be with him in heaven, but that’s a long way from here. I don’t think God wants us walking around with our heads in the clouds all the time.”
    Elisabeth was astounded that Frances seemed content to, in essence, leave God out of her life outside of Sundays and Wednesday nights. Elisabeth found comfort in the Psalms and other passages, but still she felt alone. Aunt Agatha badgered her to get out more, to mingle, to start setting her sights on a life’s mate. That last surprised Elisabeth, and she