Reclining into my pillow at the table, I watched as Mr. Boaz listened intently to each of his friends as they spoke. Down the row his eyes came, and they finally appeared gazing in mine. "Child," he said, sharing a gentle smile, "Come here." He wrapped me tight in his arms then pulled away, peering deeply into my pupils. "How is your family?" he inquired.
He knew of the recent death of my father. Without relaying the private information aloud, I answered, "We are making it. Some days are better than others. Like today, I am so grateful to be here Mr. Boaz." "Child," he replied, "There is no need to be formal here. You know I care deeply for your family and wish for the best. You are always welcome at this table!"
Ten year old me grinned wide as I plopped back at my seat to enjoy the elegant meal of finely prepared vegetables and pheasant.
After the meal finished, I quietly gathered the remainder of my meal into a cloth napkin to carry home to my lamenting mother. Mr. Boaz entered the dining room just as I turned around to carry the food home. "Dear child!" he exclaimed, "have you no food?" All the fear burst within me, "Only a portion," I lowered my head. Mr. Boaz knelt in front of me, taking the food from my weak hands. I stood quietly, small tears falling from my face.
A moment later, Mr. Boaz placed a basket at my feet and sat facing me. "Bethany, you are so precious to me. Come back each day for more food." He smiled at me as I stood in amazement.
I took the food quickly over to my mother at our home. She smiled brightly as she was thankful for our sweet Mr. Boaz, "He was quite kind in his gifts to us!"
The next day, I was out picking flowers from our garden. Moments later, I saw Mr. Boaz walk through our little tattered, white fence. I smiled and ran to embrace him. His warm whiskers stroked the top of my head. "I'm here to visit your mother. Is she well?" Mr. Boaz asked. "Yes, sir! She is inside cleaning our cabinets," I replied and handed him a handful of lilies from our garden, "you can take these to mother inside!" He nodded his cattleman hat at me with a grin.
After an hour of tilling the garden, Mr. Boaz and mother walked out of the house together, making their way nearer to me. Mother knelt beside me. "Bethany," she began, "How would you like to go live with Mr. Boaz at his home?" I was surprised by her inquiry, "Where will you be, mother?"She laughed, "Oh sweet girl, right with you! We will go together, of course! We will be a family. Would you like that?"Mr. Boaz leaned towards me, "I want to take care of you, Bethany! Your daddy would want someone to take care of you."
After moments of silence, I was nervous and excited, "Oh yes! I would love that very much!"
That very day, Mr. Boaz helped mother and me pack our home and move across the street into his home.A day later, Mr. Boaz married my mother, and we became a family. Oh how sweet the tender love of a kind man! He cared enough for us, to save us from our worries, so we could live happily.
