Galatians 4:4-5.
But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons.
Sarah Beachy bent through the reeds, staring at her reflection in the pond near the Millers’ haus. Not that the pond showed an accurate depiction of her face, for the wafting breeze caused gentle ripples to form on the water’s surface. Three happy ducklings splashed around, sending a water strider spider scuttling and distorting her reflection even further. The breeze grew in momentum, whipping her long, blonde hair out from under her prayer kapp and swirling it around her face.
Sarah sat back and smiled. She had found peace in Lancaster, with its rolling hills and green pastures, far away from her recent times of turmoil and strife. There were serious questions as yet unanswered, but for today, she was happy to spend time alone and enjoy the beauty of Gott’s creation.
Sarah watched some bluebirds on a far branch, idly thinking she was glad that her somewhat overweight, ginger cat, Tom, was not interested in catching birds. He’s too lazy to catch anything, she thought with a smile. The bluebirds were the same colors as the Spinning Star quilt Sarah was currently working on for Mrs. Hostetler’s store. The quilt, like the bluebirds, featured vivid blue contrasting with the rich, earthy tones of brown. There are no better colors than the ones that Gott has designed, she thought.
The small flock of bluebirds suddenly took to the skies, startling her. Sarah looked up to see what had put them to flight, wondering if it could be a fox, or even a horse grazing. She saw a figure advancing in the distance. It was not a fox, or a horse, but a mann, but not just any mann; even from a distance, Sarah could see that this mann was Benjamin Shetler.
Sarah hurried to repin her hair under the kapp. The wind was blowing wildly now, in keeping with her emotions. She stood and faced Benjamin’s approach.
As he came toward her, Sarah tried to tear her eyes away from him. Benjamin always made her heart thump wildly. Her gaze traveled over his arms bronzed from a lifetime of farm work, his broad shoulders, and mess of sandy colored hair poking out in all directions from under his straw hat. Benjamin had a commanding presence, even out here in the fields.
Benjamin was beautiful, perhaps not so much on the outside, for, despite his youth, he had a rugged look imparted by years of working in the sun, but there was an inner beauty that radiated from him. He was kind, gentle, and caring, and was truly a man of Gott.
Yet Sarah had to steel herself to deny the heart-wrenching attraction she felt for Benjamin, for she could not trust him; he had proven that, even though Sarah knew that he thought he was doing the right thing. Even more so, she had known him since they were children, but he had never asked her on a buggy ride. As Benjamin clearly did not want to court her, why hadn’t Gott taken away her feelings for him? Goodness knows she had asked Him to many a time. It hurt too much.
Sarah’s mouth ran dry and she licked her lips nervously. She knew why Benjamin was seeking her out, and she was far from pleased. She had known this day would come.