MORE THAN JUST A FARM HAND
MORE THAN JUST A FARM
HAND copyright Frances K. Van Mil
Published in The Upper Room (“Cherished”),
Jan.-Apr. & Earthkeeping Ontario, September, 2000.
“No! Not that way! You twirl them
like this, see?” Stifling the tears that sprang to my eyed, I tried again to
execute just the right twist of the wrist to twirl the cucumber vines onto the
strings to my stepson’s satisfaction.
When I, a kindergarten teacher, married a widowed market gardener, I had
to adjust to country life. I felt
incompetent in picking cucumbers and selling cauliflower. I sensed pressure from neighbours, customers,
church and family to be something that I was never meant to be: the perfect
farm wife. A well-meaning neighbor,
knowing money was in short supply, brought me a chicken and informed me that I
would have to pluck it myself because I had to learn to be a farm wife. The expectations of others overwhelmed me.
One day, my husband said, “I didn’t
marry you to be another farm hand, you know.”
What wonderful, healing words! My
husband had married me for a love relationship, not for what I could
accomplish. My status was that of a
wife, a cherished partner, far above that of a hired hand. What
others thought did not matter.
The Song of Songs depicts the
intimate covenant of love we have with our Lord. He sees us as a beautiful, loveable bride to
be esteemed and treasured. We see Him as
the loving bridegroom Who is worthy of our love, honour and praise. As we grow in this partnership, loving
service will follow. But, first and
foremost, God loves us for who we are, not for what we can accomplish for Him.
Prayer: Lord, help me to lay down all my striving and
bask in you love, knowing that I am your cherished bride.”
Beloved:
“I am a rose of Sharon, a lily of the valley.”
Lover:
“Like a lily among the
thorns is my darling among the maidens.”
Beloved:
“ Like an apple tree
among the trees of the forest is my lover among the young men. I delight to sit in his shade, and his fruit
is sweet to my taste. He has taken me to
the banquet hall, and his banner over me is love. Strengthen me with raisins, refresh me with
apples, for I am faint with love. His
left arm is under my head, and his right arm embraces me.”
Song of Songs 2; 1-6 (NIV)
“ All beautiful you are, my darling,
there is no flaw in you.”
Song
of Songs 4:7
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