English world. Judith hadn’t mentioned again getting her GED and going away to college. She decided teaching in the Amish school was the only place she wanted to be, and he’d been relieved when she’d talked to Bishop Amos about joining the church. Fortunately, Peter hadn’t given them any problems before he was baptized. He’d never gotten drunk like some of the boys his age during rumschpringe . His English friend, Fred Maddox, said that all teenagers rebel sometimes, but his Peter had done little to worry him and Irene.
Before removing his suspenders, he glanced at the bed again. He couldn’t imagine sharing it with another wife. That morning, his friend, Amos had visited to talk to him about getting married again. His sister Barbara had lost her husband, and Amos told him, “You still have young children. You should think about getting a wife to help raise Matthew and Noah.”
“I’m sorry your sister lost her spouse. Rachel has done a fine job with helping me with the boys. Also Judith’s close to them and gives them extra attention too. We’re doing as well as can be expected after losing Irene.”
Amos said, “Apparently, Rachel has felt the pressure of taking care of them since she’s not here. Judith will take on more teaching responsibilities after she joins the church. Rachel might have her own home soon. She won’t be able to take care of the house and the boys as much if she marries. My sister’s going to visit soon. You remember her…she used to follow us around. Barbara doesn’t have children but she’d make a fine mother to yours. It’s been a year now, David. Everyone’s out of mourning. It’s time to think about your family’s future.”
“I’ll think about what you said. Danki , for stopping by to see me.” He noticed his friend’s thinning white hair. They were the same age but Amos looked older. Amos made a good leader for their district, but right now he wished Amos wasn’t his bishop.
He didn’t want to court Barbara. He didn’t want a new mother for his boys. They’d already had the best mamm in the world, and she couldn’t be replaced by someone else.
I’d feel like I’m betraying Irene if I courted and married someone else. She’ll always be in my heart.
Listening to Bishop Amos was a bit hard because of their past. They’d been childhood friends and gotten into trouble together. Nothing terrible but enough scrapes to give their parents a few gray hairs. As young adults, Amos came to him whenever he had any questions or needed help with any problem. Amos had even followed him to Fields Corner when he left their childhood community. He felt uneasy sometimes with the reversal of roles. But he had remind himself that Amos’s selection was based on “divine appointment” through the drawing of lots, as shown in Acts.
It was difficult seeing the stern look in his old friend’s eyes. Amos, of all people, should realize he wasn’t ready to marry again. Especially Barbara. She’d gotten under his skin a few times while they were growing up. She’d been like an itch that could never be scratched enough. Even Amos had said how they needed to pray for her husband when she married, and they had moved to Indiana.
Although it’d been a long work day, he didn’t feel like going to bed. I’ll go talk with Judith. She’s in the kitchen grading papers. He had a special bond with his youngest daughter. When she’d been eight years old, Judith came down with double pneumonia. Because Irene was busy taking care of their baby boys, he’d spent the most time at the hospital with Judith.
As he walked down the stairs, he grinned when he thought of a way he could escape seeing Amos’s sister. He could take the boys and Judith to visit Carrie in Kentucky. Going to see his parents wouldn’t work because they’d suggested a month ago he should remarry. But Carrie wouldn’t bother him with marriage suggestions. She was a good listener.
When he entered the kitchen, he
Before removing his suspenders, he glanced at the bed again. He couldn’t imagine sharing it with another wife. That morning, his friend, Amos had visited to talk to him about getting married again. His sister Barbara had lost her husband, and Amos told him, “You still have young children. You should think about getting a wife to help raise Matthew and Noah.”
“I’m sorry your sister lost her spouse. Rachel has done a fine job with helping me with the boys. Also Judith’s close to them and gives them extra attention too. We’re doing as well as can be expected after losing Irene.”
Amos said, “Apparently, Rachel has felt the pressure of taking care of them since she’s not here. Judith will take on more teaching responsibilities after she joins the church. Rachel might have her own home soon. She won’t be able to take care of the house and the boys as much if she marries. My sister’s going to visit soon. You remember her…she used to follow us around. Barbara doesn’t have children but she’d make a fine mother to yours. It’s been a year now, David. Everyone’s out of mourning. It’s time to think about your family’s future.”
“I’ll think about what you said. Danki , for stopping by to see me.” He noticed his friend’s thinning white hair. They were the same age but Amos looked older. Amos made a good leader for their district, but right now he wished Amos wasn’t his bishop.
He didn’t want to court Barbara. He didn’t want a new mother for his boys. They’d already had the best mamm in the world, and she couldn’t be replaced by someone else.
I’d feel like I’m betraying Irene if I courted and married someone else. She’ll always be in my heart.
Listening to Bishop Amos was a bit hard because of their past. They’d been childhood friends and gotten into trouble together. Nothing terrible but enough scrapes to give their parents a few gray hairs. As young adults, Amos came to him whenever he had any questions or needed help with any problem. Amos had even followed him to Fields Corner when he left their childhood community. He felt uneasy sometimes with the reversal of roles. But he had remind himself that Amos’s selection was based on “divine appointment” through the drawing of lots, as shown in Acts.
It was difficult seeing the stern look in his old friend’s eyes. Amos, of all people, should realize he wasn’t ready to marry again. Especially Barbara. She’d gotten under his skin a few times while they were growing up. She’d been like an itch that could never be scratched enough. Even Amos had said how they needed to pray for her husband when she married, and they had moved to Indiana.
Although it’d been a long work day, he didn’t feel like going to bed. I’ll go talk with Judith. She’s in the kitchen grading papers. He had a special bond with his youngest daughter. When she’d been eight years old, Judith came down with double pneumonia. Because Irene was busy taking care of their baby boys, he’d spent the most time at the hospital with Judith.
As he walked down the stairs, he grinned when he thought of a way he could escape seeing Amos’s sister. He could take the boys and Judith to visit Carrie in Kentucky. Going to see his parents wouldn’t work because they’d suggested a month ago he should remarry. But Carrie wouldn’t bother him with marriage suggestions. She was a good listener.
When he entered the kitchen, he
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