Ever since my first wife passed away and I became the sole parent for three young girls, Sunday mornings weren't always the funnest for me. Trying to get them awake early, fed, dressed, and to church on time, all while trying to stay happy and positive, was not always easy. It became a little bit simpler when I married Taylor and she moved in and started to help get the girls ready.
But, this Sunday, up at the cabin with Taylor and her family, we finally got to sleep in. As Taylor and I started to slowly wake up, my kids came running into our room, yelling that breakfast was ready and, all of a sudden, the smell of waffles filled the room. Taylor and I quickly got up, threw some clothes on, and ran downstairs, alongside with Adam and Michelle, who were also just waking up.
The dining room table was soon surrounded by all of us, tossing waffles to each other, helping the kids with butter and syrup, and laughing as we ate and talked. After we were all done eating and had helped got everything all cleaned up, Mark invited us all to the living room, saying, "I know we're not going to Church today, but I would still love to share a message with everybody, if you would allow me to."
We all said that we would and we eagerly followed him into the living room.
"Alright, everyone, gather around," Mark said, as the kids settled on the carpet and Taylor, me, Adam, Michelle, and the girl's mom and brother found seats around the living room. He opened his scriptures, flipping to Genesis, then paused, looking up with a warm smile. "Tonight, I want to tell you the story of Leah and Rachel. It's not a fairy tale--but it is full of lessons the Lord wants us to understand about love, agency, and His divine timing."
He glanced at his daughters, Adam and myself. "You know the name Jacob--he was the grandson of Abraham and the father of the twelve tribes of Israel. But before that, he was just a young man, trying to follow God, trying to build a covenant family."
"When Jacob fled to the land of his uncle Laban, he met Rachel at a well. The scriptures say she was beautiful and well-favored. Jacob loved her immediately, and offered to work seven years for her hand in marriage. And this next line," Mark said, tapping the verse with his finger, "has always touched me: 'And they seemed unto him but a few days, for the love he had to her.' That's real devotion."
"But on the night of the wedding, Laban tricked Jacob and sent in Leah, the older sister. And that's hard for us to understand today--how such deception could happen in a covenant-making moment. But in ancient times, customs were different. Leah, though not the woman Jacob loved, became his wife first. Jacob worked another seven years to marry Rachel as well."
Adam raised an eyebrow and said, "So he was married to both?"
The father nodded slowly. "Yes. It was part of the Lord's allowance in those times, though we don't practice it today. It wasn't perfect. In fact, it caused great pain. Leah felt unloved, and Rachel, though loved deeply, couldn't bear children for many years. Both women struggled. They gave their handmaids to Jacob as well, to raise up children to the Lord."
He leaned forward a bit. "Now, here's the gospel principle: God saw them both. He saw Leah's loneliness and opened her womb. He heard Rachel's cries and, in time, blessed her with children. Each son born--Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Joseph, and others--would become part of the Lord's covenant people. Even out of a difficult, unequal situation, the Lord brought forth great blessings."
"Judah, Leah's son, would be the forefather of Jesus Christ. And Joseph, Rachel's son, would save nations through dreams and prophecy."
He closed his scriptures gently. "So what do we learn? That God is merciful. That He honors our righteous desires, even when things don't go the way we imagined. That He can sanctify imperfect relationships and turn sorrow into legacy."
He smiled at his children. "In your marriages, in your future and current families, remember Leah and Rachel. Love patiently. Trust God's timing. And know that He sees you, just like He saw them."
A peaceful spirit settled over the room, and no one rushed to speak--because sometimes, the Spirit teaches loudest in the quiet. Me and Taylor kept glancing at each other, thinking of the similarities between our relationship and the things going on with Michelle. While not quite the same, we couldn't help but wonder, did Michelle feel like one of the sisters in the story? Or was Taylor maybe feeling that way?
After Mark was done talking, we all kind of hung around the living room, until the kids started to beg to go outside. I went upstairs with them to get them dressed and ready to play outside. I sent them downstairs, meeting Michelle at the top of the stairs, who had just gotten Luke ready, handing him to Adam as they walked downstairs together.
"Did that story hit a little close home or was it just me?" Michelle asked me quietly.
I laughed and said, "Um, yes, totally."
"Does it make you want to stop?" She asked, glancing up at me with her pretty eyes, while standing right next to me.
"Does it make you want to?" I asked back.
Michelle looked around, making sure nobody else was around before she moved her arm between us, put her hand on my groin, and said, "Nah. Not until I feel this beast inside me, at least."
She leaned up like she was going to kiss me, rubbing my cock through the shorts I had put on, but had to pull away when she heard footsteps coming up the stairs. She turned and walked downstairs, saying hi and something else to Taylor as she walked up the stairs.
"And what were you two doing up here?" Taylor asked with a smile as she saw me standing in the middle of the hallway.
