19 Years Ago
It is said a man is happiest with an American house (because they are comparatively spacious and comfortable), a Japanese wife (because they are supposedly quiet and submissive), and a Chinese cook (because those who have had real Chinese food know it is the best in the world).
Late at night, she is sitting at the kitchen table with books and papers spread all around: a Japanese Bible, a Chinese Bible, various English translations, a Hebrew Old Testament, Greek New Testament, Septuagint, numerous lexicons, dictionaries, and commentaries, and stacks of pages with handwritten notes, charts, and schedules. As her husband walks in, they hold a discussion, the decibels rising and falling with their excitement as they go over iddiest biddiest word roots and stems, which somehow relate to themes overarching all of History and the Bible.
In the morning, she is still sitting there, still writing furiously. As husband and children start to wake up, everything on the table is put away and she cooks. While she cooks, the discussion from last night resumes.
But all that isn’t really the point. What she does is not all that she is. What is she really? “Eaten up with zeal,� perpetually on fire, but never burned up, absolutely uncompromising on the essentials.
A man can be happy with American … um … citizenship? … a Japanese apartment the size of your living room (no kidding!), and a valiant Chinese wife.
“19 Years Ago” has been splattered on 4 times.
All I know is no wife of mine will stay up all hours while I go to sleep in a cold bed. I mean, unless we’re on the skids. But that wouldn’t really fit the pitcher you set up, huh?
Daney, you don’t know my mom … she can stay up for a week with no sleep, and she still does that when she’s got a lot of work to do. My dad does that kind of thing all the time, too. I used to take it for granted, but now they worry me more and more.
*sends Sarah a big grin and a kiss*
Late at night, she is sitting at the kitchen table with books and papers spread all around: a Japanese Bible, a Chinese Bible, various English translations, a Hebrew Old Testament, Greek New Testament, Septuagint, numerous lexicons, dictionaries, and commentaries, and stacks of pages with handwritten notes, charts, and schedules.
Now, that’s my image of heaven…
emethhesed
emeth.hesed
SarahElizabeth | 9:54 AM, Thursday, November 17, 2005
I remember that, it was a good speech. It was something you really cared about.