It seemed like a good idea....

 Posted by Lisa Laree to Beer Lahai Roi 

My social media memories have been reminiding me that it was five years ago that I returned from Israel.  We saw shepherds with flocks not too far from this spot...you can just barely see the sheen of green that the sheep were grazing upon.  This put me in mind of a bit of frivolity I wrote back when I was doing the Genesis study (see sidebar for the All Things New series).  I really thought I had posted it, but some searching around on both blogs has turned up nothing, so here's a little filler as the clock runs down to the new hip on Thursday....

The day started out innocently enough.  There was laundry to be done; that was her task. Her sister, the shepherdess, took the sheep out, as usual, headed first to the well to water the flock.  Working over the pots of soaking linens, she’d missed her sister’s message that sent their father hurrying to the well, but the stir in the household had her on hand when her father brought back a dusty, gaunt traveler.  The newcomer had been weeping; the tear tracks were still streaked on his face.  Even her shortsighted eyes could see them. 

He was their cousin, he said.  The son of their father’s sister, who’d left a legend behind years ago when she’d journeyed to a far country to marry a man she’d never met.  Over the next few days, he related more of his story …having rather tricked his brother to giving him the heir’s birthright, he’d fled in fear of his life with pretty much just the clothes on his back when his father had given him the heir’s blessing as well.   His mother had sent him here, to stay until it was safe to go home.  His father had instructed him to find a bride while he was there.

She noticed that his eyes followed her younger sister as he related that part.

He came with the intention of making himself useful, it seemed.  He quickly gave himself the job of assisting with the herds, and almost immediately there was an increase in the number of successful births and healthy kids and lambs.  The animals seemed to grow stronger right before their eyes.

Her father noticed; indeed, everyone noticed.  Her cousin had the gift.  Barely a month went by before her father sat down with him, wanting to make sure that gift stayed in the family, to discuss wages. 

In a way, she was not surprised that the wages would be her younger sister as wife.  But she was appalled.  Her younger sister was betrothed…and she had not had so much as an offer.   How could her father allow it?  What would become of her?  Who would want to marry a girl who’d been passed over?

She complained to her father about it but he waved her off. ‘He’s got to work for me for seven years before they marry,’ he said, ‘There’s plenty of time.  You’ll be married by then.’

But her heart told her otherwise.  Unless another stranger showed up at the well looking for a bride, she had no hope of finding a husband.  Growing up squinting at the world, she had overheard countless conversations regarding how hopeless her cause would be.  The comparisons to her beautiful younger sister could not be avoided.  She knew everyone in the area.   None of them would come to her father to offer for her.  Not that that mattered…none of them appealed to her.  She didn’t dare admit to herself why.

She watched him with the flocks.  She watched him deal with the family, learning the servant’s strengths and weaknesses and applying new ideas…he treated the injured or ailing animals differently, apart from the rest, and he followed a different pattern of grazing than they had done before, moving the herds more frequently.  He threw himself into the work and thrived in it.  

Without being conscious of it, she began to plan her day around when he would be near the tents.  She managed to learn his favorite foods and prepared them again and again, hoping for a smile of appreciation her way.  Occasionally he would complement her on the meal, but he rarely noticed the fresh linens she made sure were waiting for him in his tent, or the full water skins for his use.  His eyes were only for her sister, the shepherdess, as they discussed the flocks and made plans.  She meant nothing more to him than any of the household servants.

She knew it was futile and would only lead to miserable disappointment…but her heart had not asked her permission before it set itself on him.  She spoke to no one of it, her small attempts to please him unseen by the entire household.  She cried herself to sleep more nights than not.

But just before the seven years were up, her father called her to him.

He’d had an idea.

They would spirit her sister away on the day of the wedding, and she could dress as her sister and veil herself well and marry him herself.  That would keep her from living as a spinster lady all her days.

Her mind reeled.  How could she do such a thing? 

‘He should have asked for you anyway,’ her father counseled. ‘Who is it that prepares his favorite foods?  Who is it that keeps his tent comfortable?  Who is it that anticipates his needs and meets them before he realizes he has them?  Oh, he just looks at your sister’s pretty face…once he sees your devotion for what it is, he’ll realize who the better wife will be.’

Her father had been watching.

‘Think it over,’ he said.  ‘I think it’s the best option for you.’

It was a despicable deception. 

But maybe it was what should’ve been arranged from the beginning.

Was her father admitting a mistake and trying to make it right?

Wouldn’t her husband hate the sight of her?

He’d never given her a chance.  All she needed was a chance. 

There would be no shortage of men seeking to marry her beautiful sister.  But this might be her only opportunity.

And it would not only mean she’d marry, but that she would marry the man who held her heart…even if he didn’t know it.    Surely, once she had the opportunity to make her heart known, he’d see what she’d been doing for him and his heart would soften towards her.

All the next day, she watched him.  She made his favorite meals, saw to it that his tent was clean and comfortable.

But he noticed nothing except her sister.   After supper, he asked her father in front of all of them, ‘The seven years are up this month!  It’s time for you to give me my wife as we agreed.’  Then he smiled at his betrothed, who blushed and dropped her eyes, ‘It’s time for us to enjoy loving one another.’

Her father raised his eyebrows and glanced at her, then looked at his future son-in-law. He rocked back on his cushions and slapped his knees, exclaiming, ‘Yes!  And it’s time for you to give me grandsons!  We’ll have a wedding feast in three days!’

The maids surrounded her sister with jubilation.  Off they all went to the bridal tent, to begin the process of anointing and perfuming and dressing the bride.  Her mouth went dry as she realized this was it…if she were going to agree to her father’s plan, she had to do it now.

Tonight.

The servants all assumed the master was speaking at such length to his older daughter that night to make sure all arrangements were made for the feast.   It was a shame that she would never marry, but, then, she was a squint-eyed thing who just didn’t hold a candle to her sister’s loveliness.  Maybe some old blind fellow who needed a cook and housekeeper would be happy with her someday…