A Quiet Strength (23 page)

“I was just telling Pa we ought to run on over and see how you’re doin’. But he hates the icy roads more each year. So here we sat—just thinkin’ of ya an’ prayin’ for ya but still wonderin’ about ya.”

Virginia removed her heavy coat and took her time hanging it on a peg. She couldn’t speak. Not yet.

“Pa’s out in the barn. Should I call—”

But Virginia stopped her with a hand on her arm. “Not yet, Grandma. I need to talk with you first.”

Later over hot cider she began pouring out her heart. Her feeling of loss. Her loneliness for the woman she had grown to love. Her concern that she might not get over it. Her difficulty in explaining it to Jonathan, who watched her with concern in his eyes. She knew he wanted to help, but didn’t know quite how.

Grandma Marty understood. She did not even have to say so. Virginia could see it in her eyes.

“It takes time. Time and God,” she told Virginia. “I was told that years ago when I lost someone. At the time, it wasn’t a’tall what I wanted to hear. But it happened—just that way. Oh, not that ya ever forget. Not ever. But life has a way of movin’ on. New things happen. New people come into our lives. God does not leave us stalled forever. He just nudges us forward. Pushes us on out. Urges us to look for new meanin’ in life. An’ it’s there. It’s always there. Somethin’ new to live for. Somethin’ to give life its zest again.”

Virginia listened carefully, sniffling and wiping tears.

“An’ it might happen even sooner than ya think. When least expected. You’ll wake up one mornin’ an’ the sun will be a little brighter. The sky a little bluer. Your heart a little lighter. And you’ll feel God. Comfortin’. Sort of like … smilin’ on ya. Then you’ll know. You’ll know right then that healin’ is on the way. That yer gonna make it. The darkest days are finally over.”

She patted Virginia’s hand, her own smile a little wobbly. She wiped her eyes with the lace-trimmed hankie tucked in her sleeve.

“The most beautiful part is, when ya do get to the other side of grief, ya suddenly realize that you’re stronger. You’ve learned and grown. You know how to hang on tighter. To lean on Him who holds us. That’s the beautiful part. But ya don’t see that right away. You have to stand back and look at it from a distance like.”

It was so good to just sit and listen to someone who understood her feelings, her thoughts, her desires. It gave her courage. She just had to hang on and let God do the rest. In time, He would bring about the renewing and healing of the heart she needed. In time. Virginia would lean on Him. And wait.

March and April meant that each day was a little warmer. A little longer. Buds began to swell on the tree limbs, and shrubs opened up new blossoms. A tulip bloomed. Another, joined by a hyacinth. A robin chose early mornings to perch in the cherry tree and sing as if its heart was overflowing. Martha begged to play outdoors, and the faithful Murphy greeted her with sloppy kisses. Virginia couldn’t help but laugh one afternoon as she watched the two of them standing as close as possible to a puddle without actually being in it. “Now, Mu’ph, you can’t go in there,” she admonished with a chubby finger in his face. The washing machine would be doing double duty this spring.

Virginia stood on the porch one morning, breathing in great draughts of fresh spring air. She thought of seeds and gardens and rows of fresh green vegetables and breeze-tossed flowers. She watched Martha pick up the dog dish and try to urge a reluctant Murphy to clean up his plate. She smiled. Her heart felt lighter. Almost whole again. And then it hit her—she was moving beyond her grief to joy again. Grandma Marty was right. God was right there. Beside her. No, even closer than that. Within her.

A month later Virginia moved into Jonathan’s arms after they had retired, and pressed her cheek up against his.

“I have a bit of news you might be interested in,” she whispered.

She felt his arms tighten. “And that would be?”

She smiled in the darkness. Eager to tell him, yet savoring the moment. “Can you guess?” she teased.

“Tell me,” he said.

“You are going to be a father again.”

She had more that she was going to say, but she couldn’t. Not just now. Not until Jonathan relaxed his embrace so she could catch her breath again.

M
ORE
T
IMELESS
S
TORIES
F
ROM

Janette Oke

The Series That Started It All

Janette Oke’s original bestselling series has drawn readers for decades with a reassuring look at how God’s love can deepen the affection shared by two people—during joy and times of suffering. Join the millions of readers who have enjoyed these sweet and spiritually enriching stories.

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OVE
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OMES
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OFTLY
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Love’s Long Journey

Love’s Abiding Joy

Love’s Unending Legacy

Love’s Unfolding Dream

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EART
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