1 day Ago By By GLORIA YODER The Amish Cook
Six children are tucked in bed while I listen to the birds waking each other with their morning song. It’s Saturday morning in Knox County, Ohio. Yesterday, we enjoyed traveling as a family.
Today, we want to go see my widowed grandmother in Holmes County, Ohio. I pause and again listen to the birds; the moon is shining as the clouds pass over it as dawn begins to break. Isn’t it a picture of life? The goodness of God is there; the birds still sing.
However, clouds pass over us, casting a shadow over the things we face. My husband, Daniel, who went to be with Jesus three years ago, now had a cousin join him in that heavenly home. Miriam was a beautiful example of the tenderness of Jesus as she patiently battled cancer for over a year.
It is with sadness in our hearts as we bid her good-bye, yet deep within, our hearts leap for joy. She is safe with her Savior, whom she loved so dearly. Before her passing, she saw numerous touching scenes which she related to those with her.
One of which she saw Jesus. When asked how Jesus looked, she said, “His face was shining.” Glory hallelujah, may we live for Him no matter the cost, if our sins are under the blood we’ll see Him one day.
One of my favorite memories of Miriam was when their youth group came to our house last fall. The girls all slept at our house, never once complaining of piling into our basement. It was one of those times I relished every moment, and all too soon the trip was past, yet never to be forgotten.
Those girls were all so sweet and so fun to have around, even our children agreed that it was so perfect having them here. As we rejoice, knowing that Miriam’s body is healed in heaven, we know that as the oldest daughter, she will be missed by her dad, stepmom as well as her five sisters, five brothers and many friends. Then I think of the joyous reunion she and her mom (who had passed three years ago) must have had inside Heaven’s gates! When Miriam’s mother was called to go be with Jesus, Daniel and I were discussing whether or not we would take all the children to Ohio.
His perspective was, “I want to take them to show them what life is about.” He longed to impress on their young hearts how we want to live for God and one day go to be with Him. Up to that point, most of the children had not remembered ever being to a visitation before.
Less than two months later, it was their daddy who was called to Heaven. He knows what those little ones need. The night we found out that Miriam was relieved from her earthly discomforts, son Joshua who is 4, was in my bedroom.
When I entered the room, he excited told me, “I saw something! There was a was a light here in the bedroom. It was Miriam, yes, I think it was Miriam going to Heaven.” Later, he explained that this white beam came shining in from the north window.
As I attended the visitation last night, I was beyond blessed by all the love and support shown by friends on all sides. God uses many things to touch and encourage his own, whether it is a light shining from Heaven, or simply the support of others. In a sense the loss of Daniel came back raw and fresh, yet somehow it was even more precious than painful.
There is an awesome heart healer who is able to restore the crushing of hearts. This forenoon, the ladies from Miriam’s church are gathering to make potato casseroles for Sunday lunch after the funeral. They served almost 500 people; everyone was seated at long rows of folding tables.
The church there did amazing in serving, cooking, cleaning and all that goes with hosting and serving on both visitation days and the funeral. I am touched as I see many hands working together, and perhaps even better (yet harder) is grieving together. Difficult things have a profound way of drawing hearts in a way that nothing else seems to touch.
8 cups raw shredded potatoes 2 1/2 cups milk 2 tablespoons butter 1 teaspoon salt 2 tablespoons flour 1/2 teaspoon pepper 2 cups shredded cheese Mix milk, flour, salt, and pepper together. Set aside. Pour shredded potatoes into a 9-by-13-inch greased pan.
Dot with butter. Pour milk mixture on top and cover with foil and bake at 350 for 50 minutes. Remove from oven and top with cheese.
Bake an additional 10 minutes. Gloria Yoder is a young Amish mother, writer and homemaker in rural Illinois. Readers with culinary or culture questions or stories to share may write Gloria directly at: Gloria Yoder, 10510 E.
350th Ave., Flat Rock, IL 62427..
