Read Online A Blessing for Miriam by Jerry S. Eicher - Free Book Online
Authors: Jerry S. Eicher
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will the scars be? I know something happened to my face.”
“Hush now.” Mamm ’s fingers tightened in hers. “The doctors aren’t saying much—at least the ones we’ve spoken with. They’ll be in soon. I’m sure they’ll tell us more. They may not know until the bandages can be removed.”
Daett ’s voice rose in volume. “Of all the things to think about at this moment, Shirley, it shouldn’t be your looks. What does that matter? Your soul is what’s important. Inward beauty transcends outer beauty. You should know that. ‘Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the L ORD , she shall be praised.’ ” Daett paused for a moment. “You should be thinking of repentance, Shirley. I believe this is a warning from the Lord. This is the result of lusting after Englisha cars and Englisha ways that are not right for our people. Humble yourself, Shirley, and seek forgiveness for the path you’ve taken these past few months.”
Tears stung Shirley’s eyes, and even Mamm ’s hand in hers didn’t provide much comfort. Daett was right. She should repent. Only shecouldn’t. She couldn’t repent from the way she felt about Jonas. She couldn’t be like Miriam, which was really what Daett was wanting.
Daett must have taken her silence as encouragement because he continued. “We love you, Shirley, your mamm and I. But we can’t approve of the way you’ve been conducting your life of late. And now when this warning from the Lord also knocks on your door, you must take it seriously. Open the door of your heart, Shirley. Let the Lord’s Spirit…”
“That’s enough now.” Mamm ’s quiet voice stopped Daett ’s. “Shirley must rest now.”
Shirley couldn’t see Daett ’s face through her tears, but he must have agreed with Mamm because his form faded from sight. Her hand tightened on Mamm ’s. “Tell me, Mamm. How bad is it?”
“I’m not sure.” Mamm hesitated. “There are bandages over most of your face. You were in surgery for a few hours.”
They both knew that meant it couldn’t be good.
Another question formed in Shirley’s mind. “Where’s Jonas? Is he all right?”
Mamm glanced in Daett ’s direction before she answered. “Jonas came in with his parents earlier while you were in surgery. He’s bruised and sore but all right. We asked them to leave.”
“It was best that way,” Daett spoke up. “That part of your life is over.”
“But it wasn’t Jonas’s fault,” Shirley choked out. “The deer ran across the road in front of the car. He couldn’t stop in time.”
Daett didn’t look at all sympathetic. “We will stand with you, and we’re all the family you need.” He reached over to his hat sitting on a table. “I have errands. The cows must be tended to. Mamm will stay with you until you’re released.”
“How will you get home? I was told a trooper would bring you here.”
Daett looked away. “Jonas had someone stay to take us home.One of their church people, I think. They’ll drive Mamm and you home too.”
You won’t let me see Jonas? Shirley managed to strangle the cry before it could be heard. Protests wouldn’t help right now.
Daett stopped by Shirley’s bedside for a moment, but he didn’t say anything more.
Shirley decided she must appear properly contrite under the bandages. Perhaps she’d feel repentant eventually. If she was indeed permanently scarred, maybe she would be able to straighten up her life. Besides, if she was no longer gut looking, Jonas wouldn’t want a relationship with her. Daett was correct on that part. It was over.
Shirley clung to Mamm ’s hand. She cried softly.
Mamm stroked her daughter’s hair.
“ Mamm , I don’t think I can handle looking…looking, well, looking not pretty. I don’t think I’ve been vain, Mamm , but looks were all I had . Will the Lord ask me to go through life ugly? Isn’t that too much to ask of any girl? And especially of me? I have no other redeeming
“Hush now.” Mamm ’s fingers tightened in hers. “The doctors aren’t saying much—at least the ones we’ve spoken with. They’ll be in soon. I’m sure they’ll tell us more. They may not know until the bandages can be removed.”
Daett ’s voice rose in volume. “Of all the things to think about at this moment, Shirley, it shouldn’t be your looks. What does that matter? Your soul is what’s important. Inward beauty transcends outer beauty. You should know that. ‘Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the L ORD , she shall be praised.’ ” Daett paused for a moment. “You should be thinking of repentance, Shirley. I believe this is a warning from the Lord. This is the result of lusting after Englisha cars and Englisha ways that are not right for our people. Humble yourself, Shirley, and seek forgiveness for the path you’ve taken these past few months.”
Tears stung Shirley’s eyes, and even Mamm ’s hand in hers didn’t provide much comfort. Daett was right. She should repent. Only shecouldn’t. She couldn’t repent from the way she felt about Jonas. She couldn’t be like Miriam, which was really what Daett was wanting.
Daett must have taken her silence as encouragement because he continued. “We love you, Shirley, your mamm and I. But we can’t approve of the way you’ve been conducting your life of late. And now when this warning from the Lord also knocks on your door, you must take it seriously. Open the door of your heart, Shirley. Let the Lord’s Spirit…”
“That’s enough now.” Mamm ’s quiet voice stopped Daett ’s. “Shirley must rest now.”
Shirley couldn’t see Daett ’s face through her tears, but he must have agreed with Mamm because his form faded from sight. Her hand tightened on Mamm ’s. “Tell me, Mamm. How bad is it?”
“I’m not sure.” Mamm hesitated. “There are bandages over most of your face. You were in surgery for a few hours.”
They both knew that meant it couldn’t be good.
Another question formed in Shirley’s mind. “Where’s Jonas? Is he all right?”
Mamm glanced in Daett ’s direction before she answered. “Jonas came in with his parents earlier while you were in surgery. He’s bruised and sore but all right. We asked them to leave.”
“It was best that way,” Daett spoke up. “That part of your life is over.”
“But it wasn’t Jonas’s fault,” Shirley choked out. “The deer ran across the road in front of the car. He couldn’t stop in time.”
Daett didn’t look at all sympathetic. “We will stand with you, and we’re all the family you need.” He reached over to his hat sitting on a table. “I have errands. The cows must be tended to. Mamm will stay with you until you’re released.”
“How will you get home? I was told a trooper would bring you here.”
Daett looked away. “Jonas had someone stay to take us home.One of their church people, I think. They’ll drive Mamm and you home too.”
You won’t let me see Jonas? Shirley managed to strangle the cry before it could be heard. Protests wouldn’t help right now.
Daett stopped by Shirley’s bedside for a moment, but he didn’t say anything more.
Shirley decided she must appear properly contrite under the bandages. Perhaps she’d feel repentant eventually. If she was indeed permanently scarred, maybe she would be able to straighten up her life. Besides, if she was no longer gut looking, Jonas wouldn’t want a relationship with her. Daett was correct on that part. It was over.
Shirley clung to Mamm ’s hand. She cried softly.
Mamm stroked her daughter’s hair.
“ Mamm , I don’t think I can handle looking…looking, well, looking not pretty. I don’t think I’ve been vain, Mamm , but looks were all I had . Will the Lord ask me to go through life ugly? Isn’t that too much to ask of any girl? And especially of me? I have no other redeeming
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