Ruth
"It's not practical, sis," Yeshua said, pulling weeds from brother Jacob's garden.
A frog jumped out from the protection of one of the plants and checked him out. He stroked the top of it's head. It made a chortling sound.
Ruth was down the row with a jug, carefully watering each plant.
"How long did you say Jacob will be gone to visit his in-laws?" Yeshua asked.
"A few days.
"Getting back to Magdalana and Caleb, that old couple I was telling you about. They were so sick. They're such nice people," Ruth said. "Their neighbors are so hateful. I thought if they moved here, it would be easier on them. They don't have any children. I'd hate to think it'll be that hard for me when I'm that age. Elizabeth and her husband are moving to his parents' place to take care of them. That'll leave their place vacant."
"They're in that village for a reason, sis. If you move them, it will rob the neighbors of the chance to learn."
"They don't want to learn, Magdalana told me."
"Seekers come one at a time, usually when they're not expected, "Yeshua said. "As I see it, the best you can do is to be their friend."
"Magdalana told me I'm the granddaughter she never had."
"Then be that granddaughter."
"I'd move Grandma in with me."
"Did you ask her if she wants to move?"
"We haven't gotten that far," Ruth said.
"Choice is primary in everything and even more so when one is old, infirm and has lost so much already," Yeshua said.
His knees cramping he sat on the dry earth. He loved the soil, the sky, the wind as it brushed his face.
Their brother, James, approached the garden patch, sat down on a rock and continued carving a design into a table leg.
"You can't save the whole world, sis," James said.
"Isn't that the point?" she said. Her back ached, a deep abiding ache. She ignored it.
Yeshua's frog hopped back under a plant.
"The point is to provide options," James said. "Bring up things people haven't thought about or in ways they haven't thought of them before."
"The decision to save oneself, the process, the entire issue is up to each person," Yeshua said. "We've discussed this lots of times."
"I know. I know. And I'm okay with that until I meet someone so in need of help. I just want to lift them out of the mess and set them on a new path," Ruth said.
"That's because you have a cuddly heart," James said, grinning. He loved that about his sister. "But they have to be ready for it to work."
"The seeker seeks the path," Yeshua said. "The path does not seek the seeker."
"Yes, but sometimes the right solution appears when I'm not looking," Ruth said.
"That's because your heart is ready, even if your mind hasn't acknowledged it," Yeshua said.
"It's so complicated," Ruth said. "It's hard for me to figure out when it's time to do something, and when it's time to sit tight."
"That's part of what makes life interesting," Yeshua said. "If it was too easy we'd be bored."
When the garden was weed free Yeshua returned to the compound. Ruth made frequent trips to a nearby trough for more water. James continued to carve.
"Don't let it upset you, sis," James said. "Things have a way of working out--in time and for a purpose."
"Yes, but I can't shake the awful feeling that everything's about to go bad, and there's something I need to do, that I'm not doing."
"I feel it, too. But I don't know what more we can do."
"Do you ever regret not being one of the men of the rose?"
"No, it wouldn't work for me. I see things more rigidly. And with this temper of mine, I wouldn't be much of an example."
"I've almost never seen you lose your temper."
"You don't do anything to piss me off," he said.
"There was that fight you and Sarah had last week. I couldn't help but hear."
"I'm afraid the whole compound knows our business now. She can be so...I know she's good with the kids. I do respect her for that. But she's so picky. It all has to be done exactly her way on her terms, like what she thinks is all that matters. I get fed up. Sometimes I think I need to take up a job that keep me away from home more. If I didn't have children, I'd do that.
"Sis, I'd like you to tell me something."
"What's that?"
"Are you pregnant again?"
Ruth blushed. "I'm not sure."
"That husband of yours makes me so mad. He leaves you with child and takes off, again."
"He's tending God's garden."
"Huh! What he needs to do is tend the garden at home. What he needs to do is put action into his words of love for you. What he needs to do...."
"James, please."
He scowled. "Sis, when a man loves a woman, he stands by her, no matter what."
"So you're saying that love stifles the gifts we have and what we are born to do?"
"No, I'm saying first things first. Take care of your responsibilities, then tend your dreams."
"That's not the way I see it. Without dreams there is nothing, no life, no purpose at all. Survival for survival's sake is pointless."
"Sis?" He gave her quizzical look.
"I mean it." Sweat dripped from her face. She felt dizzy, nauseous.
They moved out of the sun and sat in the grass under a nearby tree.
"So you're going to be taking care of two babies while he's off traipsing around."
"In this family we help each other."
"And he won't be part of that."
"Yes, he will, in his way. His folks' vineyard provides some income. Between that and my weaving, Daniel and I are fine."
"What about emotional support and helping care for the little ones? Look, Sis, I love you. I can't stand to see someone take advantage of you."
"He's not."
"Yes, he is, sis."
~~~***~~~