“Grandmother Anna, you must stay in today,” I sigh for the third time that morning. “You’re not well.” My mother’s grandmother smiles at me, her eyes disappearing behind layers of soft wrinkled skin. “I am as well as I have ever been. The Lord’s work will not wait. I must go and pray at the […]

“Marah, quickly. Guests will start arriving as early as tonight. We must be ready.” I stumble down the steps carrying an armload of sheets. “Mama, I am moving quickly,” I say, muffled by the pile of cloth. “It’s not my fault Papa asked me to carry all these at once!” “Watch now,” my sister grunts, […]

I joyfully skip down the dirt path as the sun rises. The shepherds already have their sheep on the hillside in the distance. I call a morning “Shalom!” to our neighbor who sits outside washing clothes. “Sara,” she says with a smile. “Too much excitement this early in the morning. Are you off to see Mary?” […]