Growing in Love with Her Mail-Order Husband (3 page)

Life Together

“
To every
thing there is
a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:

A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up
that which is
planted;

A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up;

A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;
” Ecclesiastes 3:1-4

Maggie knelt down beside her late husband’s grave, placing a small bouquet of flowers by the marker. “It’s hard to believe you’ve been gone a year already.  So much has happened that at times I feel like our years together was a lifetime
ago, but other times it seems like just yesterday you kissed me goodbye and went out to the fields for the last time.”  She paused to wipe away a tear. “I want you to know that Matthew is a good man. He takes care of me and loves me, just like I love him. He even took me to see the Pacific Ocean. Can you believe it? I took the picture I have of you with me, so you could see it also. We are almost done planting our crops now. This year we are doing mainly corn.

I have to believe you’d be happy for me.  He’ll never replace the spot you have in my heart
, but has his own spot. I’ll always cherish the years the Lord gave us together. We were blessed to have the years of friendship before we were married. Goodbye for now, Aaron; I’ll always love you.”

Blowing a kiss to the grave, s
he stood up and turned around to see Matthew staring at her with understanding.  Slowly, she walked over to him, bittersweet emotions flooding through her.  Today marked the one year anniversary of Aaron’s death, but today she was certain there was a new life growing in her.

When she reached Matthew, he took her in his arms, sharing the strength she had come to rely on.

“He would be proud of you,” he told her.

“
Thank you,” she said with a slight smile.

He released her from his embrace then took her hand and led her back to the house for their noon meal.

“We might need to hire more help for the planting next spring,” she told her husband.

“Why is that?” he asked.

“I’ll be too busy with our newborn to be much help,” she told him.

“You mean it?  We’re going to have a child?” he asked enthusiastically.

“Yes, he should be around Christmas time.”

Her husband’s grin spread from ear to ear. He let out a loud whoop as he picked her up and swung her around. “
Thank you, God for all your blessings,” he prayed as he set her down.

Epilogue

“
Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights.” James 1:17A

Twenty-six years later

Matthew sat down on his rocking chair on the porch.  Maggie sat in the one next to him as they watched their many blessings.  Their eldest son, Matthew Jr. ran around chasing his three children- Timmy, Ruth and Micah, while his wife Sarah helped shuck corn.  Elizabeth, their second born, waddled towards them, pregnant with her first child.  The youngest children, twins Rachel and Samuel came barreling out of the front door laughing at a joke one of them made.  The only child not present was Luke, who had joined the army and was stationed in Utah at Fort Douglas.  The last letter received from him stated he had fallen in love with a Colonel’s daughter and hoped to soon marry her, prompting Matthew and Maggie to schedule a trip to Utah this autumn.

“Look at everything our love has grown,” Matthew said quietly to his wife.

“We have truly been blessed.  And to think had we not listened to God all those years ago, we may never have met,” Maggie replied.

“I can’t imagine missing out on all these wonderful gifts from God,” he said, nodding to the children and grandchildren. Even after almost thirty years, I still grow more in love with you every day,”
he told Maggie.

“And I with you,” she answered.

Matthew called his family together and they went inside the house and gathered around the long, rectangular table. The entire family from youngest to oldest joined hands as he prayed a blessing for their food.

“Dear Lord, thank you for this food you have provided us today. Please bless our bodies with it
, and accept our thanks for your bountiful blessings.  Let us always remember the many things you have done for us, and may we constantly grow in love. In your name, amen.”

The End

About the Author:

Mandy Wilson is an avid reader who grew up with her nose always in a book. Some of her favorite Christian authors are Tracie Peterson, Janette
Oke and Lorraine Snelling.  She often believes she was born in the wrong century and loves to dream of what life was like for the pioneers.