The Selfless Act

by Wanda E. Brunstetter

  “I showed Uncle John and my cousins the tricks I’ve taught my hund, and I want Aunt Elsie to see what he can do.”

  Elsie rose from her chair. “I’ll go out to the living room, and you can show me in there.”

  Scott’s face lit up. “Okay! After that, I’m gonna play a song I learned on the harmonica Uncle Joel gave me.” He looked up at Arlene. “Are ya comin’, Mom?”

  She nodded. “I’ll be there as soon as I put our tea cups in the sink.”

  Scott headed for the living room with the dog at his heels, and Elsie followed.

  Arlene smiled as she cleared the dishes from the table and placed them in the sink. Joel had done a good thing by giving Scott the mutt, but it really wasn’t enough. He needed to do something sacrificial without trying to get anything in return. Unless her brother had a complete change of heart, it wasn’t likely he’d ever do a good deed for anyone without expecting something back.

  Elsie had felt uptight most of the day, but after laughing at Bristleface’s antics as he did several tricks, she relaxed a bit. Laughter was good medicine. She remembered her mother had often quoted Proverbs 17:22: “A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones.” Her bones had certainly felt dry since they’d lost their house. She’d struggled to find any joy at all, but she still tried to hide her frustrations and despondency from the children. If they knew how disheartened their mother felt, it would upset them. Even John didn’t know the extent of her depression. She’d shared a few of her thoughts with him, but most things she kept hidden in her heart. There was nothing her husband could do about their situation, so what was the point in saying anything? Truth was, John probably held in his thoughts and feelings, too. Some days Elsie wondered if anything in their lives would ever feel right again.

  Thunder sounded in the distance, causing Elsie to rise from her seat in the rocking chair. She went to the living-room window and looked out. “It’s snowing—really hard!”

  Arlene and both of the men joined her at the window.

  “You don’t hear dunner when it’s snowing very often,” Larry commented. “I have a feeling we might be in for another storm.”

  “Could turn into a blizzard.” John’s brows furrowed. “I can hear the horses out in the barn, whinnying something awful.”

  Arlene slipped her arm around Elsie’s waist. “I think it would be safer if you spent the night here.”

  Larry nodded. “I agree with my fraa. Sure wouldn’t advise going home with a spooky horse in this kind of weather, even though Charm’s not that far from here.”

  Elsie looked at John to get his reaction.

  “I believe you’re right, Larry,” he replied. “If you’re sure you don’t mind, we’ll crash here tonight. If things look better in the morning, we’ll head back to Charm.”

  “What about schul?” Hope spoke up. “If we spend the night here, how am I gonna get to school on time tomorrow?”

  “I’ll take you there with my horse and buggy.” John gave her shoulder a squeeze. “Try not to worry about it, okay? If the storm is too bad, school will probably be cancelled tomorrow, anyway.”

  Elsie shivered as another clap of thunder sounded. This one seemed a little closer than the last. The snow was falling harder. She was pretty sure they were in for a blizzard.

  Hearing the thunder made her think about Dad and how lightning and thunder had struck the night he’d been killed in his tree house. She closed her eyes. I miss you, Dad. I’d rather we had you here with us right now than be waiting to see how much of your money we were going to get.

  Akron

  Joel had developed a headache soon after he’d left the church, but even though he’d taken something for it, the pounding pain remained.

  It’s probably from the stress of knowing I’ve lost Kristi for good, he told himself as he lay down on his bed. Joel had spent most of the day in bed, hoping some rest would help the headache go away, and he’d only gotten up once to get a bite to eat.

  A clap of thunder brought his head off the pillow. “Dunner this time of the year?” Joel didn’t know why, but the German-Dutch word rolled off his tongue. He got up and looked out the window. It was snowing hard, and the wind blew furiously. Another boom sounded, and a vision of his dad came to mind. What must it have been like for him, up in the tree house when the lightning struck? He shuddered at the thought.

  For the first time since his father’s death, Joel teared up. A knot formed in his stomach, and a gut-wrenching sob tore from his throat. “Oh, Dad, I have so many regrets.” It grieved him to know he hadn’t had a chance to say goodbye or make amends with Dad before he died. But it was too late to do anything about it now.

  Blurry-eyed, Joel’s gaze came to rest on the black book with golden embossed letters along the spine lying on his dresser. It was the NIV Bible Kristi had given him last year at Christmas. He’d taken it to church with him a few times, hoping to impress her, but had never opened it when he was at home. But now Joel felt a strong need to open it.

  He picked up the Bible and sat on the end of his bed. A green ribbon stuck out, so he opened it to that section. After reading several verses, Joel paused at 1 John 3:17: “If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person?”

  He continued to read verses 18, 19, and 20: “Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth. This is how we know that we belong to the truth and how we set our hearts at rest in his presence: If our hearts condemn us, we know that God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything.”

  Tears stinging his eyes, Joel read on, until he came to verse 23: “And this is his command: to believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and to love one another as he commanded us.”

  As the words from the passage pierced his heart, Joel fell to his knees beside his bed. The truth of his transgressions hit him with the force of a strong wind. His self-centeredness and deceitfulness had caused him to lose Kristi, and they had put a wedge between him and his family for years. He hadn’t been a good son and had brought shame to his father. No wonder Dad was so hard on me. He wanted me to see the error of my ways and become the man I should be.

  “Father in heaven,” Joel prayed tearfully, “I’ve been so selfish, always thinking of myself instead of others. I believe in the name of Jesus and ask Your forgiveness. Let Your love flow into my heart, and help me to be a better person. I commit my life to You.”

  When his prayer was finished, Joel stood, holding the Bible against his chest. The seed that had been planted when he’d attended the Amish church with his parents and siblings as a child had finally taken root.

  A deep ache pressed against Joel’s heart. He felt the pain of what his sisters had recently gone through as though it were his own. Joel sank to his bed as a realization hit him. He knew what he had to do. The only problem was, it might take some time to make it happen.

  CHAPTER 7

  Berlin

  It was the third Saturday of March, and Doris had been back to work for over a month. While she found her job enjoyable, it didn’t fulfill her deepest desire to raise a family. The extra money she made helped pay some of their bills, but many expenses from her hospital stay hadn’t yet been covered.

  Doris had been enjoying a day off and was about to begin washing the breakfast dishes when she glanced out the kitchen window. She was surprised to see her brother’s truck pull in. She hadn’t heard from Joel in several weeks, and he’d even quit doing things to try and win the right to open his envelope. She hadn’t been able to figure that out because, until then, he’d been so open about how much he needed money.

  We all need money, Doris thought as she dried her hands on a clean towel. Arlene and Larry have expenses, and John and Elsie need to build a new house. There is no doubt in my mind that a large sum of money is in Dad’s bank account. But thanks to Joel, none of us can touch a penny of it.

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bsp; She waited until Joel got out of his truck, then went to the door to greet him. The minute he stepped onto the porch, Doris knew there was something different about her brother. Gone were the worry lines on his forehead and dark circles beneath his eyes. There was no grim twist to his mouth, nor the determined swagger he normally had. Instead, Joel’s countenance was serene, as he smiled and took Doris’s hand. Speaking in a gentle, sincere tone, he said, “I have something for you. It should help your current financial situation.” He reached into his jacket pocket, pulled out an envelope, and handed it to her.

  “What’s this?” she questioned.

  “Open it and see.”

  Doris did as he asked. Staring at the certified check inside, all she could do at first was manage a little squeak. “One hundred thousand dollars? Where did you get this kind of money, Joel, and why are you giving it to me?”

  He gestured to the door. “Let’s go inside, and I’ll explain.”

  When they entered the living room, Doris called for Brian, who’d been in the bathroom, brushing his teeth. After he joined them, they all took a seat, and Doris showed him the check Joel had given her.

  Brian’s eyes narrowed as he looked at Joel with disbelief. “What’s this all about?”

  “I sold a very expensive classic car I got at an auction several months ago,” Joel explained. “I was able to get top dollar for it, and this is one-third of the money. Arlene and Elsie will each get a third as well. I’ll be going to see them after I leave here.”

  Doris sat on the sofa with her hands folded in her lap, unable to take it all in. “But why, Joel? What made you sell the car?” She scooted to the edge of her seat.

  Joel’s eyes watered, and his chin quivered slightly as he began speaking. “On a cold night in February, when thunder sounded during a snowstorm, I thought about Dad and all the things I’d done to hurt him, as well as the rest of my family.” His voice cracked, and he paused to pull a hankie from his pocket. “I read some verses in the Bible Kristi had given me last Christmas, and it opened my eyes to the truth. I’ve been selfish and arrogant. Because of it, I’ve lost Kristi—the love of my life. Dad died without ever knowing that I loved him.” He looked at Doris with pleading eyes. “Can you forgive me for being so self-centered?”

  Doris’s heart went out to her brother. She knew without reservation that his apology was heartfelt. She was certain he hadn’t sold his car and given her the check so he could receive his share of Dad’s estate. Joel’s trembling shoulders and the sadness in his eyes let her know he was truly repentant.

  She went over to him quickly and gave him a hug. “I forgive you, Joel. And if Dad were here right now, he would forgive you, too. He only wanted the best for you and all his children.”

  “I believe you’re right.” Joel swiped at the tears that had escaped his eyes.

  Doris looked at Brian, hoping he would say something, but he sat quietly, staring at the floor. After several seconds, he turned to Joel and said, “We appreciate your gesture, and it’s good that you’ve seen the error of your ways. However, we can’t take the check.”

  The color drained from Joel’s face. “Why not? It’s a gift—no strings attached.”

  Brian tipped his head. “Seriously? You don’t expect anything in return?”

  Joel shook his head briskly, making a sweeping movement with his hand. “Nothing at all. I don’t care about Dad’s money anymore.”

  Shocked by this admission, Doris hugged him again. “You really have changed, haven’t you? It was all in the Lord’s timing.”

  “Yes, and my eyes have been opened. I have a lot of things to make up for, and this is only the beginning.”

  She smiled. “If you need our help in any way, don’t hesitate to ask.”

  Joel nodded. “I need to finish saying what’s on my heart.”

  “Certainly. Go ahead.”

  “In addition to giving you, Elsie, and Arlene the money from the sale of my car, I plan to help build a new home for Elsie and John.” Joel drew in a deep breath and exhaled slowly. “I’m also going to start spending more time with my family and be there whenever they need me.”

  Doris’s eyes filled with joyful tears. Joel might not be living among them anymore, but she felt as if he’d truly come home.

  Farmerstown

  When Joel pulled into Arlene’s yard and got out of his truck, he was greeted by Scott playing in the yard with his dog.

  “Hey, Uncle Joel, I’m glad you’re here. Would ya like to see some of the tricks I’ve taught Bristleface?”

  Joel ruffled the boy’s hair. “Maybe in a little bit. Right now, I need to speak to your mamm and daed. Are they both here?”

  “Mom is, but my dad took Doug to the Shoe and Boot store in Charm. My bruder’s fiess have grown so much his toes are about to poke through his shoes.”

  “Maybe he’ll have big feet like mine.” Smiling, Joel lifted one foot. “When I was a teenager, my daed used to say I had clodhoppers.”

  Scott snickered. “Never heard that expression before.”

  Joel glanced toward the house, then back at his nephew. “I’m going inside to talk to your mamm right now, but I’ll be back soon. Then you can show me all the tricks you’ve taught your hund.”

  “Okay!” Scott gave the edge of Joel’s jacket a tug. “Oh, and guess what else?”

  “What?”

  “I’ve been practicin’ the harmonica every chance I get. I can play a couple of tunes pretty good.”

  “That’s great. I’ll be anxious to hear what you’ve learned.” Joel bent down to give the dog’s head a quick pat. “After you’ve shown me what this scruffy little terrier can do, we’ll sit on the porch awhile, and you can play your tunes.”

  “Ya mean you don’t have to rush off?” Scott knelt, and Bristleface plopped down next to him.

  “Not today, Scott. For that matter, I plan to come around here more often and get to know you and my other nephews and nieces a lot better.”

  The boy’s eyes widened, and a big grin spread across his face. “Really, Uncle Joel?”

  “Jah, that’s right.” As Joel turned and stepped onto the porch, he smiled. He’d missed so much by not spending time with his family, but that was all behind him now.

  When Joel walked into Arlene’s kitchen and handed her a check for her portion of the car sale, she was so surprised she had to sit down at the table. “Where did you come up with this much money, and why are you giving it to me?”

  “It’s one-third of what I made selling the fancy Corvette I bought some time ago.” He took a seat in the chair beside her. “I’ve always wanted a car like that, and until recently, I had no intention of ever letting it go. I kept it a secret—from my family, as well as Kristi, which was wrong.”

  “What changed your mind? Was it because you needed money and haven’t been able to get your hands on Dad’s?” Arlene’s tone was bitter, and she bit her tongue to keep from saying more.

  “The money’s not for me. I divided it three ways between you, Doris, and Elsie.”

  She stared at the check. “Do my sisters know about this?”

  “Only Doris so far. I’ll be going to see Elsie next, to give her—”

  “Give me what?” Elsie asked, entering the room.

  Arlene’s eyes widened as she turned to look at her sister. “I knew you were coming over today to help me do some cleaning but didn’t realize you were here already.”

  “I just arrived.” Elsie moved closer to the table. “What is it you planned to give me, Joel—another gift to try and sway me to say you’ve done something selfless?” She removed her sweater and hung it over the back of the chair next to her.

  “It’s nothing like that.” He motioned for her to sit down, then reached into his pocket and handed her a check.

  Elsie’s mouth formed an O. “One hundred thousand dollars? What’s this all about, Joel?”

  Speaking calmly, he explained about the fancy car he’d sold and how he’d divided the m
oney three ways.

  Elsie glanced at Arlene, then back at Joel. “Is this another attempt at getting your share of the inheritance?”

  He shook his head. “Through the reading of some scripture, plus a lot of soul-searching and praying, I’ve committed my life to the Lord. I realize how selfish I’ve been all these years, and I want to make amends.” Joel paused and clasped his sisters’ hands. “I can’t begin to tell you both how sorry I am for all the hurtful things I’ve done in the past. But it’s going to be different from now on, starting with this money I’m giving you. I expect nothing in return—no strings attached, like I said to Doris and Brian a while ago. I don’t care anymore about whatever Dad wanted me to have.”

  “Are you anscht?” Arlene could hardly believe the things Joel said. He’d been living for himself so long, with no regard for any of them, it was hard to accept that he could have changed. But the Bible was true, and lives were transformed when people accepted it and put God’s principles into practice. If Joel truly had surrendered his life to Christ, then the slate was wiped clean, and he could begin anew.

  “I’m very serious.” Joel’s eyes filled with tears. “Will you both forgive me?”

  Arlene looked at Elsie, and when she nodded, they spoke at the same time. “I forgive you, Joel.”

  “My change of heart and repentance goes beyond the money I gave you both,” he said. “Elsie, as you know, I make my living building and remodeling, and I plan to help as much as I can with rebuilding a house for you and your family.”

  Elsie’s eyes clouded as she squeezed Joel’s hand. “Danki. Your help will be most appreciated.”

  He looked at Arlene and smiled. “From now on, I want to spend more time with everyone in my family. Will that be all right with you?”

  “It’s more than all right.” A sob caught in her throat. Thank You, God. Joel’s become the brother I’ve always longed for, and I feel sure he’s truly had a change of heart.