Beneath a Prairie Moon Quotes

“Miss Grant, I don't know where you got the idea that men don't have deep feelings, but that's wrong. Oh, we might be better at hiding them. But we get sad and scared and doubtful, the same as anybody else. I can tell you I cried lots of sowing tears when my uncle died after I came to Spiveyville.~Mack Cleveland”
― Kim Vogel Sawyer, Beneath a Prairie Moon

“When we let accidents teach us things that help us make better decisions down the road, then somethin' good comes out o' the mistake.”
― Kim Vogel Sawyer, Beneath a Prairie Moon

“Girls matter. As do boys, whether big or little. Every person matters. Do you know why?"
They shook their heads in unison.
"We are all created in God's image. He crafted male and female, and He breathed His very own breath of life into them. He loves His creation. What God sees as valuable and important is valuable and important.”
― Kim Vogel Sawyer, Beneath a Prairie Moon

“Yes, I'm so sorry. I don't know what came over me."
"Sowing tears"
She met his solemn gaze. "What?"
"Sowing tears. That's what my ma called them when she got hit with a wave of crying she couldn't explain."
"Sewing...as in..." She pretended to stitch a seam.
He grinned. "No, sowing...as in..." He flipped imaginary seeds across the floor.
"Oh." She sniffed and pushed her hands into the now-tepid water. "Why did she call them sowing tears?"
He popped his hand on the washstand. "Psalm 126:5 says, 'They that sow in tears shall reap in joy.' Ma said when she got overwhelmed and needed to have a cry, she could be sure joy would follow the tears. That the tears watered seeds of joy. I've had some of those tears myself."
She paused in scrubbing a plate and gawked at him. "You...cry?"
He chuckled. 'Well, sure."
"But you're a man!" She'd never seen Father cry. Not even when they had led him from the courtroom in chains. If ever there was a time to cry, that was it. She and Mother had cried themselves to exhaustion.
His expression turned serious. “Miss Grant, I don't know where you got the idea that men don't have deep feelings, but that's wrong. Oh, we might be better at hiding them. But we get sad and scared and doubtful, the same as anybody else. I can tell you I cried lots of sowing tears when my uncle died after I came to Spiveyville. Here I was, far away from anybody I knew, and I was all alone."
Abigail understood that feeling far too well.
"But like Ma said, the tears sowed seeds of joy. I found a new home and people I call my friends." He took the plate and ran the cloth over it. "If you trust God and are patient, you'll find out. Those tears you just shed, there'll be healing behind them. Wait and see.”
― Kim Vogel Sawyer, Beneath a Prairie Moon

“A wife is a gift, Athol. Heaven's best gift, my pa always said. If you can't appreciate the gift, maybe you shouldn't ask for it.”
― Kim Vogel Sawyer, Beneath a Prairie Moon

“Mr. Patterson, a hired helper is much less costly than a wife. That is, if you truly love your wife and wish to please her. You needn't house and clothe and shower gifts upon an employee, but these are the things you'll be expected to do for a wife. Additionally, a man should seek companionship, compassion, and love above a clean house and mended socks. Life can be a dreary journey, but a warm, loving companion brightens the path.”
― Kim Vogel Sawyer, Beneath a Prairie Moon

“Mack to Abigail (pg. 257) "Psalm 126:5 says, 'They that sow in tears shall reap in joy.' Ma said when she got overwhelmed and needed to have a cry, she could be sure joy would follow the tears. That the tears watered seeds of joy. I've had some of those tears myself.”
― Kim Vogel Sawyer, Beneath a Prairie Moon

“Life is often unfair, and we cannot change it. We can only do our utmost to make the best of what we've been dealt and perhaps try to bring a little happiness into others' lives. Isn't that what the Bible advises--to love one's neighbor as oneself?”
― Kim Vogel Sawyer, Beneath a Prairie Moon