Love's unending legacy (Love Comes Softly #5) (29 page)

"Luke.
I'm thinkin' we chose his name well."

"Meanin'?"

"Luke. Luke the physician."

"Never thought on thet before. Guess we did name 'im well, didn't we?"

Belinda lifted her head and reached for Clark's nose with her wet little hand. He chuckled and adjusted her to better see her in the light.

"I'm afraid yer goin' to spoil her with all yer fussin'," scolded Marty.

"Spoil her?"

"She gits held an' rocked an' cuddled so much she'll git to think thet it's all thet her pa's got to do."

"I did it with all the others, too, an' you yerself just agreed there ain't a bad one in the whole bunch," Clark reminded her.

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Marty smiled. It was true. He had given a lot of love and attention to each one of the babies.

Clark turned serious. "What did we do right, Marty?" "Is it important?"

"I think so. We've got Belinda here. We can't afford to go wrong on this one, Marty." Clark kissed his baby on her forehead.

Marty thought in silence for a moment. "Fact is," she finally said, "I don't rightly know what we did right. We made mistakes--I know I did. Lots of 'em. God knows we tried to do what was right. Maybe thet's what He honored--our tryin'."

"Lots of parents try ... an' fail," Clark reminded her.

It was a sobering thought and one that Marty knew was true.

"We need faith, Clark," she said softly. "We need to really hang on in faith. God didn't fail us before--we need to trust 'im with Belinda, too."

"Trust 'im," echoed Clark. "Trust God--an' work an' spank an' train an' pray like we had it all to do on our own."

"Guess it all has somethin' to do with thet legacy ya were talkin 'bout. So much depends upon what we leave our children--not
to 'em,
but
within 'em."

"Wish it was as simple as passin' on the family heirlooms." "Meanin'?"

"Ya don't just pass on faith. Ya have to pass on a desire fer 'em to find a faith of their own. Ya have to show 'em daily in the way ya live thet what ya have is worth livin' an' fightin' an' workin' fer. A secondhand faith is no good to anyone. It has to be a faith of their own."

"Thet's the secret," Marty agreed with feeling. "A faith of their own. I am so thankful to God thet each one of our children made their own decision to let God be in charge in their life."

"An' it doesn't stop there--it goes on an' on. They teach an' train our grandchildren, an' with God's help, they can teach our great-grandchildren. It can go on an' on, an' never end till Jesus comes back," added Clark.

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Marty smiled. "It's a mighty big thought." she said. She reached out a hand to touch the head of the baby Clark was holding. Their baby. "An' to think it all starts with a little bundle thet God himself cares to trust us with."

"No," said Clark, and his words were carefully weighed. "It starts long 'fore thet. It starts with a Father who loved us enough to send His Son. It starts with a man an' a woman determined to follow His ways. It starts when two people are willin' to give a child back to the Lord. It starts with all thet--but there never needs to be an end to it. It's the kind of legacy thet truly lasts."

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A FAMILY LEGACY OF LOVE THAT LASTS

Love's Unending Legacy

Marty and Clark Davis arrive home from a visit out west with daughter Missie knowing there are changes ahead for them. But are they prepared for the changes that already have taken place while they were gone?

Clare and Kate are eagerly anticipating their new baby, but what lies ahead will test their faith in ways they never expected. Luke wants to become a doctor, but his studies will take him far from home. Ellie has blossomed into a lovely

young woman, but is there a young man around worthy of her hand? And then there's Nandry, who seems to be blaming God for Clark's accident.

And What Secret is Marty Keeping From Her Family?

BETHANY HOUSE

PUBLISHERS JANETTE OKE'S legacy reaches far beyond the four-dozen novels she has written or the Christy Award, Gold Medallion, and other accolades she has won or even the publishing trends influenced by her writing success. It is best represented by the thousands of letters she receives from readers all around the world whose hearts and minds have been profoundly affected by her stories.

US $12.99 Fiction/Historical

ISBN 10: 0-7642-2852-8

ISBN-13: 978-0-7642-2852-0

www.bethanyhouse.com