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36 - Lemonade out of Lemons
Kirk Reflections 25th June 2023.
Rev. Erick du Toit brings today's reflection from Kirkliston Parish Church, Scotland.
LEMONADE OUT OF LEMONS (Genesis 21: 8-21)
In Chicken Soup for the Couple’s Soul there is a story that is very
poignant. It is about a man named Edward Wellman, who left his home country and went to America. Times were desperate and his father gave
him the family savings so that he could be successful. He had an opportunity to shovel coal in the Colorado Rocky Mountains and hopefully strike gold.
Edward worked hard, obtaining a moderate income. But he was lonely as he yearned for his sweetheart, Ingrid, whom he left behind. Their two families were good friends and he secretly hoped to make her his wife. A
year passed and Mr. Henderson agreed to send one of his two daughters
to America. She had a good mind for business and with her help, the two
of them could begin a business to enable both families to come to America.
Edward prepared for the arrival of his beloved Ingrid. The day came, and when the train arrived Edward’s heart beat with eager anticipation. When the train stopped and the passengers disembarked, his heart stopped with a sinking thud. It wasn’t Ingrid who got off the train but Marta, her older sister. Dumfounded and perplexed Edward managed to say the words,
“Welcome.”
Mr. Henderson, Marta’s and Ingrid’s father was right. Marta did have a
great sense for business. She was a wonderful cook too. She had a quiet
smile, but she was the wrong woman. Together, Edward and Marta worked
for a whole year. One spring afternoon, torrential rains washed down the
hillside, eroding the entrance to their mine. Edward and Marta worked
furiously, bagging sand and stacking them along the entrance. They
worked for hours, shovelling sand, bagging it and hurling them on the
pile. The rains diminished and they had saved the mine.
A few days later , a telegraph came announcing the arrival of the two
families from the old country. The thought of seeing Ingrid was almost
too much to handle for Edward. When the train arrived and Ingrid
appeared, Marta said, “Go to her.” Edward was astonished. But, Marta
said that she knew that Edward always loved his sister and it was her he
longed for.
Marta then told Edward that she loved him but all she wanted was his
happiness. At that moment, Edward saw a beauty in Marta he had never
seen before. He remembered all they had done together in the last year.
Edward replied to Marta, “No, Marta, it is you I want.” He then swept
her into his arms and kissed her. The two families gathered around them
and announced that they had come for the wedding.
I do not believe in forced marriages, nor am I saying we always do the
right things when it comes to love. This is simply a story about a man
who also forged ahead in life with a painful loss. Like Abraham who sent his son away, Edward went into a foreign country leaving everything he
loved behind. He, however was their only hope of building a life for the future of their families. Like Abraham, he too acted in faith.
None of us has any idea what the future can bring. We do, however have the assurance of God that when we act in faith, we will be blessed.
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By Kirkliston ParishKirk Reflections 25th June 2023.
Rev. Erick du Toit brings today's reflection from Kirkliston Parish Church, Scotland.
LEMONADE OUT OF LEMONS (Genesis 21: 8-21)
In Chicken Soup for the Couple’s Soul there is a story that is very
poignant. It is about a man named Edward Wellman, who left his home country and went to America. Times were desperate and his father gave
him the family savings so that he could be successful. He had an opportunity to shovel coal in the Colorado Rocky Mountains and hopefully strike gold.
Edward worked hard, obtaining a moderate income. But he was lonely as he yearned for his sweetheart, Ingrid, whom he left behind. Their two families were good friends and he secretly hoped to make her his wife. A
year passed and Mr. Henderson agreed to send one of his two daughters
to America. She had a good mind for business and with her help, the two
of them could begin a business to enable both families to come to America.
Edward prepared for the arrival of his beloved Ingrid. The day came, and when the train arrived Edward’s heart beat with eager anticipation. When the train stopped and the passengers disembarked, his heart stopped with a sinking thud. It wasn’t Ingrid who got off the train but Marta, her older sister. Dumfounded and perplexed Edward managed to say the words,
“Welcome.”
Mr. Henderson, Marta’s and Ingrid’s father was right. Marta did have a
great sense for business. She was a wonderful cook too. She had a quiet
smile, but she was the wrong woman. Together, Edward and Marta worked
for a whole year. One spring afternoon, torrential rains washed down the
hillside, eroding the entrance to their mine. Edward and Marta worked
furiously, bagging sand and stacking them along the entrance. They
worked for hours, shovelling sand, bagging it and hurling them on the
pile. The rains diminished and they had saved the mine.
A few days later , a telegraph came announcing the arrival of the two
families from the old country. The thought of seeing Ingrid was almost
too much to handle for Edward. When the train arrived and Ingrid
appeared, Marta said, “Go to her.” Edward was astonished. But, Marta
said that she knew that Edward always loved his sister and it was her he
longed for.
Marta then told Edward that she loved him but all she wanted was his
happiness. At that moment, Edward saw a beauty in Marta he had never
seen before. He remembered all they had done together in the last year.
Edward replied to Marta, “No, Marta, it is you I want.” He then swept
her into his arms and kissed her. The two families gathered around them
and announced that they had come for the wedding.
I do not believe in forced marriages, nor am I saying we always do the
right things when it comes to love. This is simply a story about a man
who also forged ahead in life with a painful loss. Like Abraham who sent his son away, Edward went into a foreign country leaving everything he
loved behind. He, however was their only hope of building a life for the future of their families. Like Abraham, he too acted in faith.
None of us has any idea what the future can bring. We do, however have the assurance of God that when we act in faith, we will be blessed.