them, not like the young-woman-who-should-listen-to-her-elders feeling she got from Mrs. Valders.
Kaaren began with Psalm 118. “ ‘This is the day that the Lord hath made, let us rejoice and be glad in it.’ ”
“Amen” came from several places.
As she continued moving from one Scripture verse to another and reading some that were requested, even the shouts and laughter from the children outside seemed to fade away at the beauty of the words and the power of the promises. “Fear not . . .”
While Kaaren was searching for another psalm just requested, one of the women confessed, “It is easy to say not to be afraid in the summer like this when we are all together, but sometimes in the winter when the wind and the wolves are howling at my door, I’m so frightened my teeth chatter. I will hold this day in my mind to comfort me when winter comes again.”
“That wind makes me think of Satan prowling around. It is him, not the wolves howling, I feel sure,” Ingeborg added with a shudder.
“Nevertheless, God says He will gather us under His wing as a hen does her chicks. That picture comes to me when I begin to be afraid,” Kaaren said softly. “And again, He says He will hold us in the palm of His hand.”
“And against His bosom.”
“He says He is always with us.” Mrs. Odell turned to Agnes. “Can you beat that?”
“Now, now, ladies, let us remember to be reverent. These aren’t words to be taken lightly,” Mrs. Valders scolded.
Penny felt her aunt nudge her knee. She ducked her chin so the smile that tickled the corners of her lips wouldn’t seem like sacrilege. Did God really expect them to go around with long faces all the time?
Kaaren must have read her mind, for next she read, “ ‘Praise the Lord. Let them praise his name in the dance; let them sing praises unto him with timbrel and harp.’ ”
After Kaaren finished reading Psalm 149, Mrs. Valders pushed her chair back. “We need to switch places now. Thank you, Kaaren, for your beautiful reading.”
“I think a prayer would be in order now.” Mrs. Magron brought on more surprised looks.
“Oh, well, I . . .” Mrs. Valders huffed before looking again to Kaaren. “If Kaaren is willing to lead us, I suppose we can take the time.”
Kaaren nodded gravely, but Penny saw the twinkle in her eyes before they all bowed their heads.
“I have an idea,” Kaaren said, her voice as gentle as the dawn. “I will begin the prayer, and then if any of you have something to add, speak up, and afterward, I will begin the Doxology, and we can close with that.”
“Well, I never . . .” Mrs. Valders muttered under her breath.
“Father in heaven, we come before thee with hearts full of praise for all the gifts thou hast bestowed upon us. Thou art our God and we are thy people, the sheep of thy pasture. We thank thee for this day and for the time we have together.” With that, Kaaren paused and a sigh slipped around the room. Silence reigned.
Mrs. Odell whispered into her clasped hands, “I . . . I thank thee for my family and my friends who help make living here on the prairie less of a burden.”
Penny bit her lip. Why was praying out loud with others present so difficult? She nearly sighed in relief when another voice began.
“Father, I thank thee for the new baby that will be coming to our house. I ask that thou keep thy hand upon me and the babe to keep us safe. Frank wants a son again, and if it be thy will, I will rejoice with another boy.”
Penny knew Mrs. Veiglun wanted a daughter. Her first had died in infancy. Why did men think boys were so much more important than girls? She corralled her wayward thoughts, knowing she needed to pray aloud to overcome the fear, if for no other reason.
“Father God, I . . .” Her mind acted like a blackboard wiped clean. She worried her lip again. The silence stretched. She could hear Agnes breathing beside her. “I pray for my tante Agnes that thy hand may bring strength and renewed
Kaaren began with Psalm 118. “ ‘This is the day that the Lord hath made, let us rejoice and be glad in it.’ ”
“Amen” came from several places.
As she continued moving from one Scripture verse to another and reading some that were requested, even the shouts and laughter from the children outside seemed to fade away at the beauty of the words and the power of the promises. “Fear not . . .”
While Kaaren was searching for another psalm just requested, one of the women confessed, “It is easy to say not to be afraid in the summer like this when we are all together, but sometimes in the winter when the wind and the wolves are howling at my door, I’m so frightened my teeth chatter. I will hold this day in my mind to comfort me when winter comes again.”
“That wind makes me think of Satan prowling around. It is him, not the wolves howling, I feel sure,” Ingeborg added with a shudder.
“Nevertheless, God says He will gather us under His wing as a hen does her chicks. That picture comes to me when I begin to be afraid,” Kaaren said softly. “And again, He says He will hold us in the palm of His hand.”
“And against His bosom.”
“He says He is always with us.” Mrs. Odell turned to Agnes. “Can you beat that?”
“Now, now, ladies, let us remember to be reverent. These aren’t words to be taken lightly,” Mrs. Valders scolded.
Penny felt her aunt nudge her knee. She ducked her chin so the smile that tickled the corners of her lips wouldn’t seem like sacrilege. Did God really expect them to go around with long faces all the time?
Kaaren must have read her mind, for next she read, “ ‘Praise the Lord. Let them praise his name in the dance; let them sing praises unto him with timbrel and harp.’ ”
After Kaaren finished reading Psalm 149, Mrs. Valders pushed her chair back. “We need to switch places now. Thank you, Kaaren, for your beautiful reading.”
“I think a prayer would be in order now.” Mrs. Magron brought on more surprised looks.
“Oh, well, I . . .” Mrs. Valders huffed before looking again to Kaaren. “If Kaaren is willing to lead us, I suppose we can take the time.”
Kaaren nodded gravely, but Penny saw the twinkle in her eyes before they all bowed their heads.
“I have an idea,” Kaaren said, her voice as gentle as the dawn. “I will begin the prayer, and then if any of you have something to add, speak up, and afterward, I will begin the Doxology, and we can close with that.”
“Well, I never . . .” Mrs. Valders muttered under her breath.
“Father in heaven, we come before thee with hearts full of praise for all the gifts thou hast bestowed upon us. Thou art our God and we are thy people, the sheep of thy pasture. We thank thee for this day and for the time we have together.” With that, Kaaren paused and a sigh slipped around the room. Silence reigned.
Mrs. Odell whispered into her clasped hands, “I . . . I thank thee for my family and my friends who help make living here on the prairie less of a burden.”
Penny bit her lip. Why was praying out loud with others present so difficult? She nearly sighed in relief when another voice began.
“Father, I thank thee for the new baby that will be coming to our house. I ask that thou keep thy hand upon me and the babe to keep us safe. Frank wants a son again, and if it be thy will, I will rejoice with another boy.”
Penny knew Mrs. Veiglun wanted a daughter. Her first had died in infancy. Why did men think boys were so much more important than girls? She corralled her wayward thoughts, knowing she needed to pray aloud to overcome the fear, if for no other reason.
“Father God, I . . .” Her mind acted like a blackboard wiped clean. She worried her lip again. The silence stretched. She could hear Agnes breathing beside her. “I pray for my tante Agnes that thy hand may bring strength and renewed
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