A Blessing for Miriam (43 page)

Second, there was her decision to schedule a meeting with Mr. Bland’s sister, Rose, to end this whole affair about the inheritance. Mr. Bland had meant only the best when he’d left her the farm and the money, but she’d been unable to handle the matter properly. Perhaps Mr. Bland had misjudged her character. Well, at least the money had gone to good use after the tornado in Oklahoma. But the farm would forever be a source of contention in the Yoder family. Perhaps it was best that Rose take it.

Miriam forced herself to tune in to
Daett
’s words: “…and being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sara’s womb: he staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; and being fully persuaded…”

Miriam sat up straighter on the couch. That was what she needed! The promise of the Lord. She needed to believe that He would be with her always. Then she could be like Abraham, trusting that everything would turn out okay.

Miriam listened to
Daett
’s words from the book of Romans again. “Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him; but for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead…” She did believe, Miriam told herself. But that seemed a little too easy. The last time she’d faced troubles, she had fled to Oklahoma to find a fresh promise for the future. Now she would return there this fall, but Oklahoma was no longer the land of promise she had once imagined it to be. Apparently wherever she lived could be the land of promise if she had faith. Christ was her Lord, and a lord took care of his subjects.

A faint stir of hope moved in her heart. Ivan had wished them both peace when he’d spoken that morning on the porch weeks ago. He likely found that easy in his new relationship with Mary Troyer. She, though, had to walk alone. And she would…by faith. By faith she would begin today by making the trip in to Sugarcreek and signing away the farm. The Yoder household income would be sparse as a result, but perhaps that was why
Daett
had read the Scripture on faith and promises. When Lee and Mark had been told last week that Mr. Bland’s farm would no longer be in the family, they’d walked around with glum faces ever since.
Yah
, the Yoder family had difficult financial times ahead of them.

Daett
closed the Bible. As he laid it down, he said, “May the Lord give us His promises, and may we believe.”

Mamm
reached for
Daett
’s arm. “Do you really think this is the right course about the farm? There’s still time to change your mind, Eli.”

Daett
didn’t hesitate. “There has been nothing but trouble for Miriam since that money came into our family. I’m ashamed of myself that I even let it happen to begin with.”

Mamm
fell silent, and Miriam didn’t add anything. She couldn’t agree completely with
Daett
. The Lord had made
gut
to come out of the money. Look how many people had been helped after the tornado damage in Oklahoma, including her own aunt and uncle.
Daett
might fail to see that, but she didn’t.

“Let us pray.”
Daett
got down on his knees and the others followed. Miriam prayed her own prayer while
Daett
prayed his: “Help us all, dear Lord, to believe and hear Your promises wherever we are.” Long moments later
Daett
called out, “Amen.”

Miriam quickly sent another short prayer heavenward. “Help me walk in faith both here in Possum Valley as well as Oklahoma when I return this fall.”

When they all stood, Shirley slipped into the kitchen. Miriam followed her. “Are you okay?” Miriam asked.

Shirley shrugged. “I guess so. All this talk about the farm going back to the Blands doesn’t really affect me. I’ll be gone and married in a few years.” A smile flashed across her face.

This too was also the grace of the Lord, Miriam thought. If her relationship with Ivan had ended a few weeks ago, Shirley might have despaired. But her love for Glen had grown in leaps and bounds of late. Just in time, as usual, to save the day. Bitterness could easily have overwhelmed Shirley over the failure of
daett
’s advice for Ivan and Miriam.

“How are
you
doing?” Shirley reached over to squeeze Miriam’s arm. “I don’t know how you hold up under all this.”

“I don’t know myself sometimes,” Miriam admitted. “The Lord helps me, I guess.”

“I’ll be praying for you,” Shirley whispered.

That was something new, Miriam thought. Shirley didn’t often mention prayer. Tears stung Miriam’s eyes. “Thank you. I appreciate that.”

Shirley looked up as
Mamm
appeared in the kitchen and wrapped both of them in a tight hug. “My heart just breaks over this situation,”
Mamm
whispered.

“We must pray about everything,” Shirley said.

Miriam couldn’t believe Shirley was the strong one this morning. What
wunderbah
things the Lord’s grace had accomplished.

“We will make it with His help.”
Mamm
let go of the girls and sat down on a kitchen chair. She sighed but hope was in her voice. “When I see how much faith Miriam has, I know anything is possible.”

“That’s not totally true,” Miriam protested. “I’m faithless at times.”

“You would say that,” Shirley countered. “You have no idea how much of an example you are to me and to the rest of the family. Isn’t that true,
Mamm
?”

Mamm
nodded, her eyes now filled with tears.

“But—no, don’t say that,”

Miriam struggled for words.
Mamm
reached out to touch Miriam’s arm. “The Lord’s grace is best accepted with a thankful heart. And I know you do that.”

“Mr. Bland’s sister, Rose, is here!” Naomi called from the living room.

Miriam took a deep breath and left
Mamm
seated on the kitchen chair with her face still damp with tears—as was hers. Miriam smiled to think that Rose would ascribe her tears to the loss of the farm, but the tears were because of the Lord’s grace to her in all that had happened. She’d come to understand she’d been given much more than she’d realized. That would explain how she had
gone through the past weeks without a breakdown or some such thing. Ivan didn’t have her heart like Wayne had, but the sight of Mary on her way out to Ivan’s buggy on Sunday evening had still been humbling. Ivan had chosen another woman over her again. Yet she’d been able to continue the conversation with the other unmarried women until Lee had been ready to leave.

Miriam wiped her eyes as she walked out to Rose’s car. “
Gut
morning,” she greeted. “Thank you for coming to pick me up.”

Rose regarded Miriam with skepticism. “Is everything okay, young woman?”

“
Yah
, it’s fine.” Miriam walked around to climb into the passenger side.

Rose still looked at her after Miriam had snapped on her seat belt. “Is your father behind this decision to not keep the farm?”

Miriam shrugged. “Some. But this was my choice in the end. I want to give the farm back to your family. It would be for the best.”

Rose sighed. “Well, I assume you at least still have the money. That’s something anyway.”

Miriam felt blood rush into her cheeks. “Actually I gave that away…for tornado relief in Oklahoma.”

Rose’s hand paused on the steering wheel. “You did
what
?”

Miriam looked out the side window and remained silent.

“Well, that’s nothing to be ashamed of, I guess,” Rose finally stated. “Maybe we’d all be better off living that way. Is that why you did it? Because of your Amish beliefs?”

“It’s a little more complicated than that,” Miriam said. Thankfully Rose seemed to accept the explanation and didn’t ask any more questions on the drive into Sugarcreek.

Rose was sober faced as she parked the car and led the way into Mr. Rosenberg’s office.

The smell in the legal office was familiar from Miriam’s previous visits. Here she had come as a scared, young Amish woman about to be told she’d been given a farm and two million dollars. How far
the road had led since then. Miriam couldn’t begin to put the experience into words. The grace of the Lord had been with her all the way. That was the only response that came to her mind.

When they were seated in Mr. Rosenberg’s office, Rose said, “Miriam wants to give the farm to me.”

Mr. Rosenberg appeared surprised, but he didn’t protest. He glanced at Miriam and then at Rose. “Very well. I’ll draw the papers up and have them ready to sign next week.”

And that was that. The meeting was over quickly, and the two women left the office and headed back to Rose’s car.

Once they were beyond the town limits, Rose glanced at Miriam, “I’ve made a decision, and I don’t want any argument. You’re surrendering the farm, but that leaves me with a farm that needs working. Do I look like a farmer? Of course not. I will need someone to manage the farm for me, and I’d like it to be your father. I want him to manage it and to keep the net profits.”

“
Daett
will object,” Miriam said.

“Then I will speak with him.” Rose was firm. “I need someone to take care of the place for me. Besides, maybe I want to lay up some treasures myself in heaven. When I’m gone I’ll leave the farm to your oldest brother, but don’t tell your father. He doesn’t need to know. I’ll speak to the lawyer, and we’ll settle that next week too.”

“Okay,” Miriam said. She settled back in the seat and didn’t say anything for the rest of the ride home.

When Rose dropped her off and headed out of the lane, Miriam turned toward the barn. She had best tell this news to
Daett
at once. He wouldn’t like it if she waited. The barn door was ajar, and Miriam pushed it open the rest of the way.

Daett
looked up from his work near the hay. “
Yah
, you’re back already.”

“The papers will be ready for me to sign next week,” Miriam said, moving closer.

Daett
seemed intent on the harness he was mending. “That’s okay. I understand.”

Miriam waited a few seconds. “
Daett
, Rose wants you to continue farming the place like before and keep any profits.”

Daett
looked up and the harness slid from his hands. “How can this be? Did you beg, Miriam, for charity?”

Miriam shook her head. “I wouldn’t do that,
Daett.
You know that. This was Rose’s idea. She said she’s not a farmer and can’t manage a farm. She needs someone to do it for her. Besides, she said she wants to lay up treasures in heaven like we are.”

Tears formed in
Daett
’s eyes. After a moment, he surprised Miriam by saying, “Then I will humble myself and accept this gift when it is offered.” He walked over to his daughter. “You are a woman of great virtue, Miriam. You influence the world around you for
gut
, even an
Englisha
woman like Rose. And who knows what would have happened after the accident if Shirley hadn’t had your example to follow.”

Miriam lowered her gaze to the floor. “You shouldn’t say such things,
Daett
.”

Daett
’s arms reached around Miriam’s shoulders.

Not since she was a little girl had he hugged her like this. Miriam hugged him back, feeling his strength and smelling the leather on his hands.

Daett
loosened his hug. His voice rumbled, “You are a woman among a thousand, Miriam, full of the grace and the glory of the Lord. Blessed may your days be on this earth, and may a thousand see the light of heaven in your life. May you live fully and walk the fruitful path that has been chosen for you. May you remember that your
mamm
and I will always love you.”

“Oh,
Daett
,” Miriam whispered, unable to move, “I am undeserving of such a blessing.”

“Go now.”
Daett
grinned and turned back to his work.

Miriam slipped away and closed the barn door behind her. On
the walk to the house the tears finally came—great floods of them. Miriam felt her way to a porch rocker. She let the sobs overwhelm her.
Mamm
must have heard because she came out to sit beside her. Shirley and Naomi stuck their heads out once but wisely retreated.

“It’s okay,”
Mamm
comforted, gently stroking Miriam’s arm.

“I know,” Miriam said once she could speak. “That’s why I’m crying.”

Mamm
smiled and seemed to understand as she wrapped her eldest daughter in a tight hug.

“I have something for you,”
Mamm
said after long moments of silence. She stood and disappeared into the house. The front door closed softly behind her but soon opened again. “This came a couple of weeks ago,”
Mamm
said, when Miriam didn’t look up. “Rosemary, Wayne’s
mamm
, sent it. In her letter, she said they found this painting when the family cleaned out Wayne’s room after his passing. At first, they couldn’t figure out why he had a painting. Rosemary eventually visited the local
Englisha
artist whose name is written on the lower corner. He told them that Wayne had commissioned the work for his beloved. They think you should have it. Wayne meant it for you, Miriam.”