This story is about Evie Smith, a 15 year old girl who has just become a Christian. It continues on from the 2 part story posted on the blog last month, called “Evie Has a New Father”. This story is also in two parts.
Fathers!
Part 1
It must have been getting quite late as Becca drove me home after the most eventful day of my life. It was the day that I became a Christian, a follower of Jesus Christ and the day I discovered my “new” Father, the one who runs the Kingdom of Heaven. And the evening had finished with me telling the rest of my Youth Group how I became a Christian – with my dad, straight out of prison, looking on and my new friend Ben giving his life to Jesus on the back of my story. What a day! But now I was wacked and looking forward to bed, little knowing my new heavenly Father had yet more in store for me. This is the story of what happened next!
Becca had promised to stay outside the house until I was safely in. I was happy but also rather confused – mainly about where my dad was now. He had disappeared without a word as soon as my testimony ended at the Youth Group. How had he found me in the first place and where was he now? I could do with some answers. Anyway the house was in darkness when we arrived. Quickly opening the front door, I soon worked out that he wasn’t there waiting for me. I returned to the front door and gave Becca the thumbs up. Now she felt safe to leave me and head back to her fiancé Charlie, who was waiting patiently back at the church hall.
So the house was empty as I headed upstairs to my bedroom – and apart from me, would stay like that until later tomorrow morning. It was only then that Mum would arrive home, having just collected my baby sister Lucy from my Gran’s.
Sometimes Gran came back with them. I hoped she would tomorrow, because I wanted to tell them both all that had happened in the last 24 hours. Gran would be pleased to hear about me and God, not so sure about Mum – and I had no idea how either of them would react to Dad turning up! But I was tired and it wasn’t long before I was tucking myself up in my bed. However it appeared that God had other ideas!
“Yes?”
It was as if God was gently asking me for a conversation. That questioning “Yes?” was real, I really heard it! But how do you talk to God? Has He really got time just to talk to Evie Smith?
Then I remembered what Becca had said as she drove me home.
She had said something like this:”Evie! This is the very beginning of a new relationship with your heavenly Father. At first you might find it difficult, but if you give yourself time to talk to Him He will always respond. You and He will have conversations and in the process and as you read more of His Word in the Bible you will get to know him better.”
Then she added: “But I have discovered how patient He is with us – I was 21 and had called myself a Christian for many years. Then, on top of a Scottish hill, I learned that He wanted a close intimate relationship with me and we had our first real conversation! You are in the enviable position of starting much younger – but He will still be patient with you and go at your pace. Because He wants to speak to you as a Father – to a daughter He loves and accepts just as you are, and to gently lead you in His ways and to guide you by His Spirit along the Way of Jesus Christ. And He knows that such a relationship may be difficult for a girl whose experience with her earthly father has been rather less than perfect! But seek Him out and don’t worry about silences, just being in His presence is such a blessing! Evie, that will be the start of a deep and intimate relationship that will last the rest of your life and on into eternity.”
That sounded good advice, so I kneeled by the side of my bed. I was now no longer sleepy but wide awake. I knelt there in silence for what seemed a long time but probably wasn’t. Then I heard His voice again: “Daughter!” Just that one word, but said in a way that I could hear was full of love and acceptance.
This time I replied. “Father, I am here, your new daughter, waiting and wanting to get to know You better!”
“You are not my new daughter! You have always been my daughter from the very day I conceived you in your mother’s womb. Though you did not know Me, I knew you and have been waiting patiently for this day to arrive – and now here we are, talking together as Father and child! And you need to know that you are so welcome here with me!”
“Father, I want to thank you for waiting for me so patiently; for not giving up on me, for not turning your back on me. And thank You for Jesus, for all He did on the Cross for me.”
In a way it seemed odd to be talking out loud to someone I could not see, but at the same time it seemed a perfectly normal conversation – and my Mum and my Gran had always taught me to say “Thank you”- though what my Mum would think of this conversation I could only guess!
And then I found a boldness that surprised me – but at this moment there did not seem to be anything I could not share with Him. I said:” Father, what is going on with my Dad? His behaviour seems so strange, so unlike him, so out of character!”
And my Father replied: “Come with me and I will show you.” And it was as if He took my hand and led me out of my bedroom. And I found myself once again on top of the hill I had seen in the vision that only yesterday had brought me to the Cross of Jesus. In the vision I had walked up a steep hill, carrying burdens that represented all my sins and one by one angels had helped me place them at the foot of the Cross. But as I glanced back down the hill I saw two figures – one was my Maths teacher Mr Philpott, the other was my Dad. And they both were carrying heavy burdens.
And then I turned to the Cross and saw a figure that could only be Jesus beckoning me onwards, beyond the Cross. And Mr Philpott and my dad were lost from my sight as I followed Jesus beyond the Cross.
All this I saw again as my Father showed me, but then He told me to look back down the hill. And I saw my dad being helped just like me to finish his journey to the foot of the Cross and there to leave his sins behind. But Mr Philpott was moving much more slowly and laboriously, as if he was unwell, weak and struggling. Then I heard my Father say: “Your dad is safe, but Mr Philpott needs your help. When you meet him tell him what you have seen”. What did that mean – my Dad was safe? And how could I possibly help Mr Philpott?
And then I found myself back in my bedroom. I was no longer kneeling. I was tucked in my bed, warm and snug and feeling a deep peace inside me. I fell asleep.
********
I woke up with a jolt thinking it was a school day and I should be waking the rest of the family up. But then I worked out it was Saturday, and school had finished for the summer anyway; then I remembered the events of the day before. Now I was a follower of the Lord Jesus Christ and in a new relationship with His Father who is also my Father. And then I remembered my own earthly dad who had unexpectedly turned up at my Youth Group and then just as quickly disappeared again. How on earth was this new day going to unfold!
I have to admit that usually Saturday mornings hardly exist. Normally I waste most if it lying in bed, half awake, half asleep, knowing that I will not be disturbed until Mum and Lucy arrive home from Gran’s at lunchtime. Usually I get up in time to pretend I am cleaning the house just as the front door opens.
But this Saturday morning was different. I found myself leaping (well almost!) out of bed, quickly washing my face and brushing my hair and then stuffing yesterday’s fashion statement clothes back into the wardrobe. I told myself there was no time to dilly dally over fashionable choices today. I put on yesterday’s clothes lying helpfully on the bedroom floor. Can you picture me rushing down the stairs, flinging bread in the toaster while I sort of cleaned the kitchen and then plumped up the sofa cushions in the living room, and then eating my burnt toast – which just added to the crumbs I was vainly trying to remove from the carpet with a noisy vacuum cleaner that was older than me! Chaotic or what!
And then my phone went. It was not a number either I or my phone recognised, but I answered it anyway.
“Hi Evie! It’s Ben here.” The posh sounding voice confirmed it was Ben, the boy I had somehow led to Jesus yesterday evening – and the son of my nemesis Mr Philpott, teacher of the hated Maths.
My heart missed a beat – I don’t know why. Perhaps it was because my new Father had asked me to talk to my least favourite teacher, who now needed my help, to hear my story and share with him the picture God had given me. So definitely nothing to do with the undeniably handsome Ben I had brought to Jesus last night! Nothing at all – I told myself. But it was this Ben who was now wanting to talk with me.
“Hi Ben, how’s things? I enquired. Then added:”Did you get any sleep last night?” For a moment there was silence, then:”Not a lot!” he said. “I had some explaining to do when I got home. My Dad was waiting for me – I had told him I was out with friends, but not the whole story. He has always been anti religion; “Life is just chance” is his favourite saying. But I spilled the beans, told him what had happened and waited for his violent reaction.”
Ben paused.
“What did he say, Ben?” I enquired.
“He didn’t say anything at first but as I looked across at him large tears started rolling down his cheeks – it was the first time I had ever seen my dad cry. Then, instead of the usual “Ben, life is just chance” he cried out “Life is so unfair!” That took me by surprise. But he continued through the tears:”Yes, life is unfair! I see you finding something new and exciting in your young life and all I have to show for mine is bitterness and disappointment! Ben Philpott – ever since your mother died as you were born everything since has gone wrong for me. I have never got over my Audrey’s death and never will!. And life without her has always sucked and always will!”
And with that he got up and left the room angrily banging the patio door behind him. He headed down the path to his office at the bottom of the garden, his private place where no one else was ever allowed – not even our cleaning lady. And I know he is still there now, he’s been there all night. I know he’s still there because I can see him pacing up and down, even now, through the window. He’s been there all night and I don’t know what to do next – or who to ask for help. We have no other family, and he has no friends, but I thought you might be able to suggest someone who might help.”
I thought quickly – who might be able to help?. Two names just sprang into my mind – Becca and Charlie. I had heard Charlie telling Ben he would get in touch today. “Ben give Charlie and Becca a ring – I’m sure they will want to help. Did Charlie give you his number last night?”
“Yes he did” Ben replied. “Your right, that’s what I will do!” And he was about to ring off when I found myself telling him about what God had told me to do.
“Ben, I need to talk to your Dad! God has given me a picture for him. Can you WhatsApp me your address, I need to come round too. Now even!”
“Yes”. Ben sounded a bit hesitant, but just a few seconds later the message arrived. I recognised the address – about a mile away but in a much posher area of town. I WhatsApped him back:”I’ll be with you in about half an hour – is that OK?”
There was a short pause, then: “OK! Looking forward to seeing you” That seemed quite positive!
There was a short delay in leaving home as I also tidied myself up a bit. But eventually I headed out of the house and across town to find the Philpott residence. I hadn’t gone very far, though I was walking pretty fast when a car drew up alongside me. As the window wound down I was startled to see the driver was my Dad.
“You look in a hurry! Can I drop you off somewhere?” I hesitated – I didn’t really want to see him or speak to him at that moment but then it was if I actually heard God telling me to say yes. I nodded ands clambered into the front passenger seat. Our eyes met properly for the first time really.
He spoke first:”So where can I take you?”
For a moment I wondered about getting him to drop me off on a corner near the Philpott’s house. But then I heard God again:”Tell him the whole story!” I gave him the address and then filled him in on all the details – missing nothing out, I included the second edition of the vision and everything God had said to me. I wondered how he would respond. He listened, smiled and then said:”I was so proud of you last night as you shared your story!”
I thought he would then grill me about it all, but it seemed somehow unimportant to him. I was almost cross – well I was cross! I realised I felt an antagonism towards him and that he had no right to intrude upon my new life. I was well ready to have my usual argument with him over anything and everything! And my new relationship with my new Heavenly Father seemed to me to be sufficiently contentious to set us going. But no, apparently not! But I still felt he had no right to keep breezing in and out of my life. I have a new father now. He’s too late. I don’t need him anymore!.
“Well here we are Evie- at the Philpotts and what a fine house it is too!”
Well actually there was not much of the house to be seen – just a gravelled drive behind a metal gate controlled electronically. “Off you go then!” Dad said, “I’ll catch up with you later, I’m off to find your mother!” I was still closing the car door when he already started off down the road, soon leaving me alone outside a closed gate. “What on earth was that all about?”
Alone now, I was just wondering how to get in, when the gates opened. Before I knew it an ambulance came rapidly down the drive, pulled out onto the road and, blue light flashing, hurried off in the direction of the town’s hospital. One thing after another! First the strange meeting and conversation with my Dad and then blue lights . At least they weren’t the sort of blue lights that might chase my dad! But what was going on?
*****
Next Monday: Evie learns more about fathers and finds a companion to continue her exploration with.
All references are from the NKJV unless specified otherwise.
John Partis
bearing-kingdom-fruit.com
Text copyright © John Partis 2026
John Partis asserts the moral right to be identified as the author of this work
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