Will It Be Difficult?
Newly married, the young woman entered into the small community, not knowing. Not knowing anyone but the husband to whom she was now married, nary a thought went through her mind that the sky would not be the limit as to what was to come. Faith carried her half way around the world and back before marriage. Making friends came easy enough so why not here?
The pastor giving the marriage prep between them had asked point blank many months prior. “So how will it be for you to settle into pockets of isolation on the farm—away from family and travel as you’ve been accustomed to?” “No problem,” said the young woman. And it was with high hopes she did forward march.
The first years were interesting as isolation laid deep across her heart. None-the-less, life was good. With a house to fix up, a job she enjoyed, and a future and a hope, the years rolled on.
One child arrived, then two, three and more. She took it all in stride. After all, when one has little ones, you could have acres of rooms in a house and they would still be right under foot. Thus, the old farmhouse seemed perfect. She loved every minute—or at least most of them.
The kids grew and sooner than later were out making a life of their own. Retirement came with the realization she’d spent years with the same people in the same town—and she found herself grateful. She was grateful for the ties that did bind.
“If you have two cloaks, give one away,” says Luke 3:11. In small towns, they do just that. They give. They give their time, their money, and their talents to others. Life is lived close up and little did the young woman know just how difficult life would be. Now, she got it, and the longer she lived within the confines of the small town into which she’d moved so many years ago—it became increasingly so.
It was difficult to say good-bye to people as the Communion of Saints shift positions. It was difficult when businesses closed. It was difficult to see someone’s child derail for a season as the hearts of other mamas break along with their child. It was difficult to see health issues come and go amidst the people she’d grown to love. It was difficult alright to “love your neighbor as yourself” because when death do us part—it’s flat out hard (Mark 12:31)!
Yes, little did she know when she married and entered into life in a small town—just how difficult it would be. Heart transplants are not easy, and to transplant one’s heart into small town America not only helps pump newness of life into it—but it’s the lifeblood that carries us through from this side of the veil to the next.
Ezekiel 36:26 explains how transplants are even possible. “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you. I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.” Amen.
