Written By Brad Harness
When she was young, Francine Selmers used to attend church every Sunday. Back in those days, her life was pleasant. Simple, honest, the white picket fence and a perfect family to which she belonged.
Sunday School back in those days was a busy place, with all the children from the regular Sunday churchgoers in that Anglican parish noisily misbehaving until the Sunday School teacher, Mrs. Jones appeared. She was somberly attired, in an old navy blue cardigan, flannel skirt, and sensible shoes. Worst of all, she was stern-looking.
Francine recalled that just one look at Mrs. Jones and it was as though the air rushed out of a balloon improperly knotted.
“Children, today we will read the parable of Jesus about the sower of seeds.”
She read it aloud, pausing for emphasis here and there. The children looked blankly back at her.
“But what does it mean, Mrs. Jones?”
“That those who with an honest and good heart, having heard the word, hold it tightly, and produce fruit with perseverance.”
“I like fruit!” blurted a boy next to Francine. She whacked his arm.
Mrs. Jones persisted with her explanation. “It means, children, that if you try hard, you can get what you need.”
Sometimes in life - for each of us - there are moments, conversation, happenings, that stick with us.
And that day so many years ago was one of those.
Francine reflected on her life as she wrote her latest journal entry.
“Hmph…!” she sighed with a twisted frown.
“My life isn’t really going anywhere now, is it?”
She reread the latest page, then flipped back to random points. She stared down at her journal and nodded.
“I must try harder, I must become the Sower of Seeds.”
So…what is it that she wanted now that she was 39 years young?, she asked herself.
“Well…I’d like a man. And…I’d like kids…and a dog…and maybe even a fancy car!”
She glanced out the window, as she did often. She noticed a man going out from a walk, one of her neighbours, taking his shockingly white little West Highlands Terrier out for a walk.
“Hmmm…” she thought.
Next Week: Part 2
