A Blessing for Miriam

by Jerry S. Eicher

  “I’m so sorry,” he said again, rising to his feet. “I really am.”

  Miriam took a deep breath. “The Lord will give us both grace. He always has, it seems. Even in the darkest times of the night. Thank you again for being honest.”

  “Then we part in peace?”

  “In peace.” Miriam stood. “Goodbye, Ivan. I hope you find love again.”

  “And the same to you.” Ivan turned to go. He stopped halfway across the lawn for a quick wave. Miriam, still standing on the porch, waved back.

  With a final wave Ivan climbed into his buggy and drove Billy out of the Yoder lane. He turned toward his home. The visit to the widow Mary Troyer could wait. Miriam deserved that much respect. Mary would still be available on Sunday afternoon, and he would visit her then. They could be wed this fall, he was sure. Peace settled in his heart as Billy’s hooves beat on the pavement.

  “Comfort Miriam’s heart, Lord,” Ivan prayed out loud. “Give her a promise for tomorrow. Give her a future You bless, my Lord.”

  Chapter Forty-Two

  Two weeks had gone by since Ivan’s early morning visit to the Yoder farm. Miriam sat quietly on the couch as Daett read the Scriptures for the morning devotions. She caught only snatches of his words as her mind spun with thoughts. First there was the pain as she recalled that soon after Ivan’s visit he’d apparently turned to Mary Troyer for comfort. After their first date, Mary had still glowed with happiness at the next Sunday service. Once more Miriam had been passed over. Daett had refused to believe the news for a few days. He was ready to make a trip over to speak with Ivan until Mamm begged him to reconsider.

  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 R
ose’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.”

  Miriam looked up slowly and focused on the canvas Mamm was holding. There was a stream, a small bridge, a log, and water flowing, each ripple clearly seen. Miriam sat upright and gently took the painting from Mamm’s hand.

  “Do you know where this is?” Mamm asked.

  Tears blinded Miriam.

  “Do you?” Mamm repeated.

  “Yah,” Miriam choked. “It’s the place where Wayne asked me to wed him. The place where I gave him my heart. He’d said something about having it painted, but I thought he was teasing.”

  Miriam clutched the canvas tightly to her. “Even from heaven Wayne has blessed me.” She raised her eyes toward the heavens and whispered. “Thank you, Wayne. How I’ve loved you.”

  Discussion Questions

  1. The story opens with a letter from Miriam’s mamm. What advantage does this form of communication have over more modern forms? Does letter writing deepen relationships? Is slower better at times?

  2. How well did Miriam handle Esther Swartz’s return to Oklahoma and Esther’s attempt to renew her relationship with Wayne Yutzy?

  3. Do you think Miriam should have kept the secret of the two million dollar gift from her family?

  4. Wayne Yutzy returns to the site of their engagement with Miriam where they renew their relationship and plan their wedding date. How does this choice illuminate Wayne’s character?

  5. What are your feelings on the insistence of Miriam’s father that money is always evil and always corrupts? How well did Miriam deal with her father?

  6. What advice would you have for Shirley? Should she have renewed her friendship with Jonas Beachy? Would the
ir relationship have survived? Would you want Shirley to marry into the Beachy family?

  7. How well is Ivan Mast adjusting to his marriage with Laura? Was Laura wise to marry him? Do you think their marriage would have been happy?

  8. What are your feelings on Wayne’s dalliance with Esther while Miriam visited in Possum Valley? Was the incident inevitable? Could Esther have succeeded if she’d handled the matter differently? Do you sympathize with Esther?

  9. Does Miriam’s choice to forgive Wayne for kissing Esther raise your opinion of her? What would you have done in a similar situation?

  10. When Shirley ventured forth a new rumspringa adventure, she met Glen Weaver. What do you think of him? What do you think drew him to Shirley?

  11. When Wayne and his sister, Joy, are taken in the tornado, what do you think of the Amish’s unquestioning belief in the Lord’s will? Do you think this prevents bitterness? How does it help with the grieving process? Would you make similar choices?

  12. What do you think of the ending of the book? What do you think the future holds for Miriam?

  About the Author

  Jerry Eicher’s Amish fiction has sold more than 700,000 books. After a traditional Amish childhood, Jerry taught for two terms in Amish and Mennonite schools in Ohio and Illinois. Since then he’s been involved in church renewal, preaching, and teaching Bible studies. Jerry lives with his wife, Tina, and their four children in Virginia.

  A Checklist of Jerry Eicher’s Harvest House Books

  The Adams County Trilogy

  Rebecca’s Promise

  Rebecca’s Return

  Rebecca’s Choice

  Hannah’s Heart

  A Dream for Hannah

  A Hope for Hannah

  A Baby for Hannah

  Little Valley Series

  A Wedding Quilt for Ella

  Ella’s Wish

  Ella Finds Love Again

  Fields of Home Series