September 11, 2012
Dear Diary:
Chapter Twenty-Two of Stepping Heavenward begins by describing Katy's struggle to find a good person to help her in caring for her family, and how she deals with each situation of disappointment. Her visit to Mrs. Campbell refreshes her spirit and soothes her frustration, though, and we learn that a new addition is about to arrive in Katherine's household. Her baby daughter Ethel arrives around the same time she and her loving husband celebrate their tenth anniversary. Miss Clifford has gotten saved and is under the guidance of Katherine's mother, and Ernest's sweet sister Helen is a joy to Katy, both to learn from and to teach by her everyday reactions. Katherine and Helen discuss the differences of the treatment of women in their respective childhood homes, and Katy explains how she learned to expect gentleness and chivalry from men because of how beautifully her father treated her mother. She also talks about how God's love is the foundation of her (and any good) marriage, because human love is so unstable but His is steadfast and pure. At the end of this chapter, we learn that Helen believes she has found the kind of love Katherine and Ernest share....and that she has found it in James. Katy and the people around her are so delighted by this news that they can even overlook the age difference between Lucy and her recent fiance.
Chapter Twenty-Three brings about the bitter dregs of a pleasant time of life, as James is taken home to heaven suddenly and Katherine's mother leaves soon afterward. At this point of Katy's life, I know that it is only by faith and the endless grace of God she could bear to part with her child, brother, and mother, and still say "God is good and they are His to take" and believe it. When Katherine described how brightly her mother's crown, gained by so much patience and love, must be shining in heaven, I admit that I did get slightly misty-eyed. Helen comes to live at Katherine and Ernest's home permanently, and amidst the sorry we learn that Katy is now the mother of four lovely little ones. Six years go by, and Helen is still struggling with the sorrow of James' death; but Katherine gives her Dr. Cabot's letter from years ago to read, and encourages her to see Mrs. Campbell for a glimpse of God's comfort through others.
Chapter Twenty-Four delves into the hustle and bustle of Katherine's life as a doctor's wife and mother of four, and explains her trials of trying to balance daily tasks with a healthy spiritual life. But while she finds some of the more mediocre things of life, like socializing and feeding callers, Ernest encourages her that she is demonstrating His graciousness even through little things. Dr. Cabot dies in this chapter, and his wife follows soon after, but Katherine is at peace over how they are both now rejoicing eternally.
No comments:
Post a Comment