Esther sat fuming, suds all around as she wiggled her stiff left hand. Why had her juvenile arthritis decided to act up on washday? She had finally slid up into the number three spot, and she had hoped to be number two today. Of course, with the washboard working her wrists so much, she knew that she would never beat Lilly Miller out of first place: she was the champion of her close-knit community.
She consoled herself, “At least you’re not in Hannah’s community!” Her stiff back loosened a little, but her wrist still pounded. Holmes County, Ohio had lots of different Amish and Mennonite communities, and Hannah’s community bordered Sugarcreek, where the newspaper for the Plain people was printed: The Budget.
She only needed one thing, so she sent a prayer up to the Master: Gott, please just give me one thing: grant my hands to do better next Monday so that I can get second place.
Mr. Bender came walking through her front yard. He crossed over, around the newly planted lavender mums and orange-yellow pansies, and stepped up the front entrance concrete steps to the front porch where she was washing. “I am just coming over to let you all know that I ordered a pallet of apples for Levi and you. Do you all need anything else? I have plenty of work next door.” He smiled and tilted his brown straw-covered head, and she looked confused.
How would I have time to put up a pallet of apples when I can’t even make it to second place on washdays? What was he thinking? “Are you sure that you don’t need the apples?” She had tried to be polite at his nice gesture, but she needed to be truthful, too, so she put the washboard down and looked up at him. “I have way too much to do around here; I can barely keep up with the laundry. That was a nice offer, though, but I can’t accept the apples.”
He was amazed at how well they were doing in the early stages of housekeeping, so he said, “Great! Looks like Levi and yourself were raised well.” He remembered his early days and said, “Linda and I had some hard times, especially during the year the hail got the wheat, but the good Lord helped us through it. Tell Levi to come by our place when he gets time. I’d like to show him my new version of rockers for the feed store.”
The sun beat down on her face, her mind still preoccupied with getting the wash out late. “I will tell him. Thank you for coming by our place.” She forced a smile, and he returned one with a nod, turned and walked down the concrete steps.
~~~~~~~~
Linda sat on the back porch, watching the Mennonite movers move her new neighbors out. Word had it that they were selling the farm and moving in with her family because they couldn’t live off farming in Holmes County.
The unusually warm January morning was enjoyed by everyone, except Esther, who had fallen the Monday before, at midnight, when she tiptoed up too far to hang a heavy quilt. She had her laundry out thirty minutes after Hannah, the Grand Holmes County Champion, and all the ladies in their community, except Linda: who really didn’t care much about competition, had bragged on her.
The soft, cool breeze blew Linda’s kapp strings around as the fresh smell of cloves ran out the back door of the kitchen. Live was good for her and Earl, and she wished that it had been good for Levi and Esther. Even if, they didn’t need the extra work, maybe it would have been good to at least take the pallet of apples. Who knows maybe Esther had too much pride to accept work from her neighbor?
AMISH FRIENDSHIP BREAD
Starter:
2 cups unbleached flour
2 cups warm water
1 package of yeast
2 cups milk
2 cups unbleached flour
2 cups sugar
On the first day, mix the first three ingredients together. Leave on the counter, uncovered. DO NOT refrigerate. You will add the remaining ingredients later.
Days 2, 3, and 4- stir well with a wooden spoon (has to be wooden.)
Day 5- feed the starter with 1 cup milk, 1 cup flour, and 1 cup sugar. Make sure to stir well.
Day 6, 7 and 8-stir well.
Day9- feed the starter with 1 cup milk, 1 cup sugar, and 1 cup flour.
Day 10- stir well.
Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Take out three cups to save as a starter for other breads, or to share with friends. With the remaining starter mix: 1 cup oil, ½ cup milk, 3 eggs, and 2 teaspoons of vanilla. Mix well, then add 2 cups flour, 1 cup chopped pecans, and 1 cup sugar. Sprinkle cinnamon and sugar in tops of lightly greased loaf pans. Pour batter in and bake at 325 degrees for 1 hour.
BISCUITS
2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon baking powder
¼ teaspoon salt
½ cup mayo
1 cup milk
1 ½ teaspoons sugar
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Sift together the baking powder, salt, and flour. Add the mayo, milk, and sugar. Be sure to blend well, but do not over blend: the dough should be smooth. Drop on a greased 13 X 9 baking pan and bake at 350 degrees for 20-25 minutes.
CLOVE APPLES
4 cups chopped apples, uncooked
1 tablespoon ground cloves
1 tablespoon vanilla
1 cup chopped pecans
1 cup green onion whites, chopped
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
½ cup butter, salted and softened
1 tablespoon corn starch
½ cup hot water
1 cup packed brown sugar
2 cups cracker crumbs, buttered
1 teaspoon ground cloves for cracker crumbs
1 tablespoon brown sugar for cracker crumbs
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray a 13 X 9 casserole dish and set aside. In a heavy pot, over medium-high heat, mix the cornstarch and hot water, stirring constantly. Add in the 1 cup packed brown sugar, stirring until dissolved. Add ½ tablespoon ground cloves, turn down heat to medium low and let cook ten minutes. Add in ½ tablespoon of ground cloves, chopped onions, vanilla, and ½ cup softened butter. Pour into the sprayed casserole pan and top with buttered cracker crumbs and pecans. Mix the 1 tablespoon brown sugar, 1 teaspoon ground cloves, 1 teaspoon cinnamon, and chopped pecans. Sprinkle over apples and cook, covered for 25 to 30 minutes.
SWEET SUMMER SAUSAGE WITH FRIED POTATOES
½ cup cooking oil
4 cups potatoes, peeled and diced in ½-inch cubes
1 quart summer sausage, chopped
1 large sweet onion, peeled and chopped in ½-inch cubes
1 teaspoon sage
1 teaspoon ground black pepper
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon seasoned salt
1 teaspoon dry mustard
1 teaspoon dried parsle1/2 cup butter, unsalted
Heat oil and butter in a heavy skillet over medium-high heat. Add remaining ingredients and turn heat down to medium-low. Let simmer, turning occasionally, for half an hour.
FRIED ZUCCHINI BITES
2 cups peeled and grated zucchini
½ cup grated purple onion
1 cup toasted sourdough bread crumbs
1 jalapeno, seeded and chopped
½ cup chopped fresh parsley
1 teaspoon oregano
1 tablespoon dried sweet basil
2 teaspoons ground black pepper
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon crushed red pepper
2 cups oil for frying
¼ cup butter, unsalted, softened
4 eggs, beaten
1 ½ cups of flour for coating
Heat oil in a very heavy pot to 360 degrees before frying. Add all ingredients, except the flour and 2 of the eggs. Mix well. Form in a tablespoon-size ball. Dip into flour, then 2-egg mixture, then flour again. Drop in oil and fry until a deep brown. Drain on paper towels before serving.
STUDY QUESTIONS
1. Esther Yoder had gotten caught up in trying to make it in the top spots of a competition. Have you caught yourself in getting all caught up in trying to beat others? How did the competition affect you? What did you learn from it?
2. Have you gotten hurt, physically or emotionally, while trying to beat someone else’s record? Was the competition worth it? If so, why? If not, why?
3. Have you prayed for things that you want but don’t need, shoving the things that really matter aside? How did you realize this?
4. Esther Yoder suffered a great loss from not realizing her family’s needs when work was offered. As the story ends, it is clear that her husband wasn’t told about the work as they lost the farm. In quick, opportune moments, God sometimes sends a big break our way. Have you missed a big break by forgetting about the offer because you were preoccupied with small stuff? How did this affect your life?
FROM THE AUTHOR
I have been guilty of becoming preoccupied with little competitions, and even spending too much time mentally, on things that really aren’t at the top of my family’s priority list. I wish that I could say that I’ve overcome the obstacle of time-wasters, but I have not as I catch myself doing it, at times, and I have to repent.
Like Linda Bender, who was praising God while hanging the laundry out, the Bible talks about shouting for joy and rejoicing in Psalms 5:7. If we stay focused on Him, praising Him, instead of ourselves, we will avoid the temptation of the time-waster trap.