Strength From Adversity
Stories
Lectionary Tales For The Pulpit
Series III, Cycle C
When Beth was a student nurse during World War II, she was chubby. Food rations were limited in Holland and they assumed she was getting a little extra food somewhere. They cut her ration in half.
When Dirk landed in New York, on his way from Holland to California, he spoke English with a heavy accent. The 500 dollars he saved up for the rest of the trip was promptly stolen from him by a pickpocket.
They met and fell in love. Dirk worked with migrant workers in southern California, picking grapes and oranges. On Sundays he was the relief milker and enjoyed a hearty meal with the dairy family. Beth came with her four children in tow.
They married and lived in a two-bedroom home. They drove an old sedan. Dirk had saved enough for a five-acre farm. Three years later, they had a son together.
Dirk worked hard on the farm, as did the children, helping him feed the calves. Life improved enough so they were able to buy a ten-acre farm. A home was moved onto the property, with Dirk doing much of the finishing work himself. Beth organized the household and Dirk built up the farm.
The calf population grew until one day a disease struck. Most of the calves died within a day or two. Dirk and Beth were devastated. Slowly, they worked to overcome their loss. Slowly, they proceeded to start again.
This time, Dirk had a partner, a friend from church, who helped him buy calves. Business was once again thriving. Then one day coming home after church, they noticed heavy tracks in the yard. An eerie quiet hung over the farm. All the healthy calves had been stolen. It took a few years until they could prove that Dirk's partner had arranged for the calves to be taken to another state.
But Dirk and Beth focused on their blessings: five healthy children, a good job for Beth in town, and love in the family. The oldest son and daughter were married off within a year of each other. The next two daughters went off to college and life for them took on a different kind of busyness.
Life has not always been easy for Dirk and Beth, but these days they are able to live peacefully on a golf course. It is in a beautiful gated community for senior citizens. Dirk works as a financial consultant; Beth heads up an army of volunteers at the hospital.
They have come a long way since World War II. They maintain that that difficult experience, and the setbacks they experienced with their family farm, have helped them to be strong. Setbacks are taken in perspective.
Their faith helped sustain them during times of adversity. Instead of reflecting on the negative, they focus on the many, many blessings they have had in their lives. They are grateful!
When Dirk landed in New York, on his way from Holland to California, he spoke English with a heavy accent. The 500 dollars he saved up for the rest of the trip was promptly stolen from him by a pickpocket.
They met and fell in love. Dirk worked with migrant workers in southern California, picking grapes and oranges. On Sundays he was the relief milker and enjoyed a hearty meal with the dairy family. Beth came with her four children in tow.
They married and lived in a two-bedroom home. They drove an old sedan. Dirk had saved enough for a five-acre farm. Three years later, they had a son together.
Dirk worked hard on the farm, as did the children, helping him feed the calves. Life improved enough so they were able to buy a ten-acre farm. A home was moved onto the property, with Dirk doing much of the finishing work himself. Beth organized the household and Dirk built up the farm.
The calf population grew until one day a disease struck. Most of the calves died within a day or two. Dirk and Beth were devastated. Slowly, they worked to overcome their loss. Slowly, they proceeded to start again.
This time, Dirk had a partner, a friend from church, who helped him buy calves. Business was once again thriving. Then one day coming home after church, they noticed heavy tracks in the yard. An eerie quiet hung over the farm. All the healthy calves had been stolen. It took a few years until they could prove that Dirk's partner had arranged for the calves to be taken to another state.
But Dirk and Beth focused on their blessings: five healthy children, a good job for Beth in town, and love in the family. The oldest son and daughter were married off within a year of each other. The next two daughters went off to college and life for them took on a different kind of busyness.
Life has not always been easy for Dirk and Beth, but these days they are able to live peacefully on a golf course. It is in a beautiful gated community for senior citizens. Dirk works as a financial consultant; Beth heads up an army of volunteers at the hospital.
They have come a long way since World War II. They maintain that that difficult experience, and the setbacks they experienced with their family farm, have helped them to be strong. Setbacks are taken in perspective.
Their faith helped sustain them during times of adversity. Instead of reflecting on the negative, they focus on the many, many blessings they have had in their lives. They are grateful!
