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We can ignore even pleasure. But pain insists upon being attended to. God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks in our conscience, but shouts in our pains: it is his megaphone to rouse a deaf world. —C. S. Lewis
“That’s love? Candy?” She looked at the stack of letters, wishing she could read them. Surely, they had a simpler explanation. “Yes. That and so much more. Love’s . . . well, love is candy and walks underneath a starlit sky. It’s babies and . . . it’s trying to make the other person’s life better. It’s many things.” Her father tapped the tip of her nose, which made her smile. Was that love too? “You should believe in love. It’s real. It’s all around you, just in different forms. You’ll see as you grow. You’ll realize that not all love looks like the love I have for your mother. Don’t you
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“You don’t want to miss the love that’s perfect for you just because you’re too busy searching for a fairy tale.”
What it must be like to have a man so in love that he’d shed tears for you.
But your outward appearance can at times shout to the world what it is you’ve got going on inside. And right now, I see a man who doesn’t care.” She scrunched up her nose. “Or perhaps you do but don’t want anyone to know it. Is that what you want us all to think—that you’re a man past caring?”
“I’ve got burdens I’m going to be carrying my whole life. And you think something like my hair matters or that a few more days of hammering nails will fix it? All that hammering did was cover my hands with blisters. You don’t know a thing.” Hurt and anger boiled through his veins. His pain was so real that it tore at him. “You’re right, I don’t. I can tell you where a barber is and to get down for dinner. I can introduce you to fine folks and point the way to the church. I can beg you to let go of your troubles and reach out to someone. But I can’t fix it at all.” Margaret’s voice was just
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Margaret patted his arm. “Thank you for stopping him. For defending me and for defending all women. We don’t need his poison. We need honorable men like you.” “I’m not honorable.” With his knees shaking, he stepped away from her. “I’m not.” “I’ve watched you.” Her voice followed him as he walked away. “You’re better than you believe. Your true colors shined through the gloom when you were building that barn. And now, tonight, I’ve seen it again.” “You’re wrong about me.” “No,” she said as he turned the corner. “One day you’ll see it too. You’re just a man still finding his way. But I believe
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He could hear his own voice from the past. The voice of who he’d been—a man who got what he wanted. He looked up and met Jeb’s eyes. He realized he knew Jeb’s kind. He knew about wanting more. About never being satisfied. Deep down they were both shrewd businessmen, or at least that’s what Thomas had been. Men who cared more about their own wallets than anything or anyone else.
Is your mother upset?” Dinah asked as they walked together. “She’s not speaking to me,” Penny said. “I don’t know what to do about it. When I told her I was going to go to Azure Springs so I could have some time to figure out what was next for me, she yelled and accused me again of not caring.” “I’m sure you’ll be glad to be free of her.” Penny shook her head. “No. She’s my mother. If I had my way, we’d be making plans together. I hate leaving her like this, but when I kneel beside my bed each night, I feel nothing but peace about going. I wish she could understand. Leaving would be easier if
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In her hands she held the first letter she’d ever received. So often she’d imagined tearing open a seal and devouring words written just for her. She turned the letter over in her hand.
I’ve never had someone pray for me before. I thank you for that gift.
The train bumped along the rickety track, and as it went, the only world she had known shrank until it was far behind her.
The constant praise during his childhood had only made him want more of it as he grew up and became an adult.
Thomas knew Abraham wasn’t like his own father, but he couldn’t help remembering the many times he’d been rebuked in public. The way his father had spoken and belittled him had been more painful than any physical beating.
Those twins are mighty well connected for being only nine.
think God knows we need reminders from time to time. He wraps up a little blessing in a sound or a smell. A testament of his love. That smell, that memory is a gift for just you.”
Be true to yourself and have a loving heart and somehow it all will be made right.
“No, I’m not always happy. I allow myself to feel the pain too. When I need to and when I believe it will help me. Otherwise, I choose happy because I prefer it.”
I came here to see for myself how he was faring and to have time to decide my fate. Truly, that was my intention, but I find myself wishing I would cross paths with him every day. Every moment of every day, if I could.
Someone was out to get him. He could feel it. Here in Azure Springs, living off the soil and the sunlight, he had hoped he’d be able to sleep at night without watching his back. Maybe peace was something people dream of but never really have.
“I don’t like it either,” he said in a soft voice. “I was done fighting. I ran away from all that. It eats a man up. Changes him when he’s always worried about who’s out to get him or how to stay ahead of everyone else.” He reached out his hand again. “What do I do though? Do I let whoever it is just come and take what is rightfully mine?”
“I believe you are a rather saintly man,” she said as she took his arm. “I don’t imagine I’ll ever be able to repay you for your kindness.” “I’m anything but saintly. But I’ve decided I would like to be a good man.”
“I like it here. I like how people are friends because of their shared goodness, not because of their shared status.
“There is no shame in kindness. There is no shame in thoughtfulness. Remember that. Anyone can be angry and forceful. Takes a humble man to rise above that.”
The apprehension he’d had was gone. This was the woman who had written him. She’d known his heartache and she still sought him out. She was beautiful. Now and always.
But tonight, sitting beside a man as he bared his soul, I realized there is more to giving your heart to someone than I ever knew.
Love can be quiet and simple and beautiful all at the same time. Love can be many things. It can be born in grief and pain.
“That, my friend, is one of the great secrets to a happy life. Face it. Whatever it is. Day after day. Face it and decide you won’t let it knock you down.
