Zealotry – (zel-uh-tree)
Uncompromising devotion to a certain religious, political, or other ideological belief
Justin stared lovingly at the picture of his deceased mother. Memories of her warm, gentle smile and soothing manner formed a layer of shimmering tears across his bright blue eyes. He needed her now more than ever, but her passing seven years ago made that impossible, at least in the flesh. Justin knew she was watching him from Heaven, with Lord Jesus by her side, and he felt the Holy Spirit guiding his hands and giving him the will to carry on. The days he would come home from school, bruised both mentally and physically from the constant taunts and tortures of the bullies and jocks, were far behind him. Yet he could still hear the nurturing and understanding voice of his mother as she reassured him that everything would be alright.
Mrs. Harlowe’s last will and testament had left her entire estate to Justin, including the house in which he was currently standing. Justin was an only child, and Mrs. Harlowe had been a single mother since her husband left his family for a man named William Cooper when Justin was only four years old. Over the years father figures came and went, but none of them were able to heal the emotional wounds that had cut Mrs. Harlowe’s heart so deeply. Justin never had the opportunity to reconcile with his father. Mr. Harlowe died from AIDS when Justin was still in middle school. And the paternal replacements of his mother’s dating life were tainted with such brevity and turmoil that Justin gave up on being someone’s son long before he had become a man of his own.
