Copyright © 2015 Melinda J. Abersold

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the publisher except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

WestBow Press

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Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Certain stock imagery © Thinkstock.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Scripture taken from the King James Version of the Bible.

ISBN: 978-1-4908-6477-8 (e)

WestBow Press rev. date: 1/29/2015

CONTENTS

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Sixteen

Chapter Seventeen

Chapter Eighteen

Chapter Nineteen

Chapter Twenty

Chapter Twenty-one

Chapter Twenty-two

Chapter Twenty-three

Chapter Twenty-four

Chapter Twenty-five

Chapter Twenty-six

Chapter Twenty-seven

Chapter Twenty-eight

Chapter Twenty-nine

Chapter Thirty

Acknowledgments

About the Author

Reader Group Bible Study

About The Book

The Kirkus Review For The Crooked Path

Dedicated to my two wonderful grandmothers: Belated Margaret Kaffer, from Macomb, Illinois, and belated Dorothy Strange, from Williamsville, Missouri. They were a precious handmaiden for the Lord Jesus Christ.

CHAPTER ONE

Williamsville, Missouri 1959

Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not

fall on the ground without your Father.

But the very hairs of your head are all numbered.

Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows.

—Matthew 10:29-31, KJV

I t was a rather warm day for this time of year; the flowers were beginning to bloom, and the dogwood trees were in full blossom. Missouri was always so lovely during the spring, but the season seemed to fly by so fast, and soon, people would be fighting the hot summer heat.

Esther Cox and her teenage daughter, Ruthie, were admiring the flowers as they walked to Sunday school. Their family had attended the same small country church for many generations.

So many memories in our little church, and I suppose that we will continue to make more memories with each new generation. God has been good to us in spite of the many heartbreaking valleys Ruthie and I have been down. He did after all say that, He would never leave us nor forsake us.

Hmm, where has time gone with Ruthie? She has grown to be a beautiful young lady with her big brown eyes and light brown hair, and she sure looks a lot like her daddy. Her daddy would have been proud of her. Seems only yesterday she was a small innocent child sitting on her daddy’s knee singing Jesus Loves Me. Oh, how I miss those days. I know we’re not to question God’s will for our life, but I sometimes wonder how losing my Sammy to a spider bite so early in our marriage could work together for the good …, Esther thought as she walked along the dirt road.

She whispered a prayer to the Lord, Oh, sweet Jesus, You have been my husband now for ten years, I suppose You will continue to work all things together for the good, even if I don’t understand Your ways. At the sound of Ruthie’s voice, Esther was brought back to matters at hand.

Mama, are we going to Aunt Minnie’s after church service today? Ruthie asked with a faraway look in her eyes.

With each passing day, Esther knew Ruthie was drifting further away. I’m sure she will be expecting us, why do you ask?

Oh, I don’t know, I was hoping maybe I could go to Norma’s for a while.

We’ll talk about that after service, Ruthie, no need to fret over it now.

There is just something about Norma Wallis that troubles me. I don’t know, I guess the good Lord will make it known to me if He sees fit. All I can do is put my trust in Him. TRUST—how can such a small word mean so much?

Ruthie began to feel frustration toward her mama as she thought about her boring life. I wish Mama would let me grow up already! After all, I am almost eighteen, and I still have to ask permission to visit a friend.

Oftentimes, Ruthie felt as if her mama was overprotective, and if she were honest with herself, she resented it. It seems all I ever hear is, Ruthie I’m a woman of the cloth, and I can’t have you running around with people who could bring shame to our reputation.

Ruthie felt her blood begin to boil as she continued to ponder on her situation. If only I could be myself! After all, God didn’t call me into some sort of holy calling. One day, I plan to move from this godforsaken territory, and when I do, I will not look back. I know there must be more to life than the small, hick town of Williamsville and going to church week after week. I can’t seem to get a thing out of those long boring sermons Mama preaches. Church is not my cup of tea, and I don’t care what Mama says about God’s ways. I want to start doing some things my way for once!

As Ruthie began to think of her friend Norma, a little bit of jealousy began to rise within her heart. It seemed to Ruthie that Norma had such a good relationship with her mama, one that Ruthie feared she would never have with hers.

And there was the money issue. She felt the church didn’t give her mama near enough for offerings. It seems Mama never had money to spare, not even for me to go get a soda with what few friends I have … God, if You’re real as the Bible and Mama say You are, then why am I so unhappy? Why am I not feeling Your love and joy, and where is the peace in my heart?

I know one thing, when I get around Buddy Nelson, I sure feel something in my heart … Ruthie began to allow her mind to drift back to last fall.

It was a cool fall evening, and she sneaked out of the house to meet with Norma and some friends. She met Norma at the end of the dirt road behind her house, and they both ran without a care in the world to meet the others at Norma’s place. Norma’s parent’s owned a big farm.

Everyone had gathered at an open cornfield, and the young men had started a fire for keeping warm. Buddy stood with some of the other guys, but as soon as he saw Ruthie, their eyes locked, and she knew she just met her lifetime companion. Oh, how she felt feelings that she never realized she could feel. The night was like a storybook fairytale. She and Buddy talked most of the night, or he talked while she stared into his sea-green eyes.

Oh those eyes … hummm. Sad, but true, I haven’t seen him since. Norma told me that word got to him that my mama was the local preacher, and that was that. God or no God, I plan to spend the rest of my life with Buddy Nelson. He and I will leave this godforsaken place and find true happiness.

As Esther and Ruthie made their way into the hot, stuffy church house, Ruthie’s mama turned and looked at her with a big smile and said, Ruthie you be sure and pray before you get up to sing.

Yes Mama, Ruthie replied as she turned her head to the other direction and rolled her eyes. It’s going to be another long hot service, Ruthie thought as she looked around the small church.

She felt her spirit uplifted when she spotted Norma sitting with Betty, and they looked up at her. Ruthie was able to decipher that Norma was trying to say in a discreet way, Come sit with us. Norma always seemed so full of life. Ruthie shook her head yes and winked, letting them know she understood what they were trying to convey.

Sister Blue sat behind the old piano and began to play out a few chords. No one really knew her full name; everyone just called her Sister Blue. At ten o’clock on the dot, she began to blare out, When the roll is called up yonder, I’ll be there.

Once she completed the opening song, that was the cue for the choir to step up to the extremely small choir loft, and the sound of Amazing Grace hit the rafters as each choir member did their best to stay in timing with sweet old Sister Blue.

One person began to shout and thank God for that amazing grace, and others stepped forward with tears streaming down their face. Before they knew it, almost everybody in the church was clapping, stopping, and shouting as Sister Blue pounded away on the old piano.

Norma bent over and whispered in Ruthie’s ear, Guess who asked about you last night at Donald’s party?

Donald was Norma’s big brother and just happened to be friends with Buddy. Ruthie looked at her with a blank look as if to say I don’t know. Norma whispered rather loudly, Buddy!

Buddy asked about me? Wow! I was just thinking of him, what did he say?

Betty looked at Norma and giggled, and then Ruthie felt it, those eyes of her mama staring a hole right through her, and oh, that look … not good.

Before she could finish her conversation with Norma, the choir had stepped down from the loft, and it was time for her to sing her mama’s favorite hymn. She slowly made her way to the front of the church, thinking that she forgot to pray as her mama had instructed. Oh well, at least I kind of prayed earlier, she thought.

It seemed with each passing step she took, she felt something she could not quite explain, but it felt good. Yes, maybe it was peace or maybe even a little bit of joy. She stepped behind the pulpit, shut her eyes, opened her mouth, and out came His Eye Is on the Sparrow.

Next thing she knew, she opened her eyes to see her mama looking at her with great big tears in those big blue eyes of hers and a smile that stretched across her lovely face. She could plainly see that her mama was proud.

As Esther made her way up front to the platform, she couldn’t help but feel a bit of pride in her heart for how beautifully Ruthie sang, and she silently prayed, Lord, please allow Ruthie to recognize the special gift You have placed in her.

Esther tried to appear confident as she looked across the congregation. She couldn’t help but feel somewhat inadequate as she whispered a prayer that she would be able to convey the message God had given her. She always put her entire heart into feeding the flock God entrusted her with. She fully leaned and depended on Him, and she realized that there were some people sitting within the sound of her voice that did not approve of women standing behind a holy pulpit, preaching the Word of God.

For some time, she fought the call of God on her life and prayed that God would call a man within the church or community to carry the sacred responsibility, but as it turned out, that never happened. (Maybe God did call one of the men, but they refused to respond to the call.)

God would not leave her alone until she finally gave in to His still small voice. God has a way of getting a persons attention, and when He took her Samuel, He most certainly got her attention.

She withdrew herself for a time after Samuels’ death; maybe she was doing some soul searching. It’s a fact that we all walk down the dark valley of loneliness at least once in our short time on this earth. Whatever the case may have been, when she began to make steps back to God, she was nothing more than a broken vessel desiring to be put back together.

As God began to bring her out of the lonely valley, one could plainly see she was not the same woman she was before Samuel’s death. Yes, Esther Cox was a stronger, wiser woman with a very rich anointing, and there was no stopping her, she was ready to go all the way with her God.

She did her best to make sure her voice sounded calm as she spoke to the congregation saying, Could we all go before the Lord in prayer?

Father, we thank You for this wonderful day in which You have granted us, and we thank You for meeting with us today in our worship service. Now, Father, we ask that You would bless Your Holy Word, and anoint the lips of clay to speak that, which would be pleasing and edifying … In Jesus’ name, amen.

As she opened her eyes from prayer, she noticed that Ruthie was busy whispering with Norma, and Betty was trying her best to hear what was being said as the two chatted and giggled. Esther cleared her throat rather loudly, and Ruthie looked up with that defiant look in her eyes as if to say, Mama, please!

Esther said, We welcome all of our guests today, and may the Lord bless you. As she spoke the words, she thought to have a long talk with Ruthie once they got home.

Go with me in your Bibles to Matthew 6:33, and let us see what the Lord would want to speak to us today. Jesus tells us, But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you."

She spoke the divine Word of God with strength and conviction, and her voice trembled with holiness, yet her eyes held such a tenderness that even a young child was able to receive something pertaining to God’s Word.

As children of God begin to seek after Him, He will in return give them the desires of their heart.

She went on to say, The closer one gets to Jesus, the less they will desire things of this world.

As the words came out of her mouth, she felt a prick in her own heart because she knew that there were still some desires in her heart that maybe were not of God.

Ruthie was sitting with her head down, trying her best not to be distracted as her friends passed notes back and forth. She knew her mama would be giving her a good talking to after church. She could hear her mama saying something about seeking first God’s kingdom, but her mind was far from the church service. Truth be known, she was thinking on a very handsome young man.

Ruthie often thought of Buddy, but never really gave it much thought as to if he thought of her. It was still playing over in her mind that he asked about her, and she wondered why after all these months. She sighed and realized that she really didn’t have much of a life outside of home and church. After all, she was seventeen and was ready to experience the real world and was tired of the sheltered life her mama provided for her.

All of a sudden, she began to feel the same peaceful sensation deep within her heart that she felt before she sang His Eye is on the Sparrow. Then her mind flashed back to the prayer she prayed as she walked alongside the dirt road, if you want to call it a prayer, asking God about peace.

Maybe, just maybe, God is real … Nooo, it’s most likely my emotions responding to the thought of Buddy asking about me.

She was thankful she still had her head down because she began to feel heat rise up her neck, and she was certain her cheeks were blushing at the very thought of Buddy. She had to be careful where she allowed her thoughts to go because after all, she was in church, but she couldn’t help but wonder what it would be like to be kissed by him.

The only man who ever kissed her was her daddy, and he only kissed her on the cheek. No matter how wrong it was to think of being kissed by Buddy, she longed for him to give her, her first kiss. She slowly lifted her head with the feeling someone was looking at her, and sure enough, her mama was looking straight into her soul.

She wondered if her thoughts showed that strongly on her face because her mama had a knowing look in her eyes. Their eyes locked for what seemed to be eternity, and then Ruthie saw a love in her mama’s eyes that shined as bright as the afternoon sun, and it was at that very moment Ruthie knew her mama still looked at her as being her little angel.

Oh, Mama, if only you realized the struggle that is taking place within me.

It mattered not how often Ruthie got mad at her mama, how often she desired to run away, or how often she resented her mama, one thing she knew for sure, deep in her heart of hearts, she would always love her mama.

From across the sanctuary, David sat mesmerized by the sermon. It seemed to him, Esther preached with such zeal, and she had such a way of teaching the Word of God.

Yes, our preacher definitely has a special gift within her, and it was anointed of God, David thought.

He couldn’t help but notice how nice she looked in her pretty blue dress, and how her blue eyes sparkled. Yep, there was something about her that drew him to her, but he knew he had to keep his distance because she was a woman of the cloth.

David was a God-fearing man who was highly respected in the town of Williamsville. He had lived as a widower for the past four years. His wife passed away after suffering with cancer for almost five years. It broke his heart to see her suffer so and not be able to do a thing to take the pain away.

God blessed him with Sadie for eleven years, and six of those eleven years were heaven on earth, but then she was diagnosed with breast cancer. For the last five years of their marriage, he slowly watched her life fade away. Finally, one morning, he awoke to find that the good Lord had taken his Sadie home to be with Him.

If David were to be honest with himself and God, he would have to admit he held resentment in his heart for a while after the death of his sweet wife.

But one morning—and he’s not quite sure when—he woke up feeling the presence of God and hearing His still small voice saying, I know the thoughts I think toward you, my son, thoughts of peace …

It was then that David began to feel God’s joy again and realized how much God had blessed him with a farm that brought forth a mighty fine harvest. David started setting aside some of the best of his crop, and he would place it on Esther’s porch without her knowing. This was his way of thanking God for the many blessing He had showered upon him.

David tried to resist the sudden urge to pray, but he finally gave in to the Sprit of God because the urge grew stronger.

What is it, Father, that You’re trying to tell me?

Jesus began to speak to him, Ruthie, pray for Ruthie my son, for she is about to make a bad choice.

He looked over at Ruthie, and she seemed to be looking off in the distance, almost as if she was a million miles from church. He then began to pray earnestly in his spirit. Over the past few years, David had developed a strong relationship with the Lord, and it was during long lonely nights that he learned to pray.

Meanwhile, Mike Falcon felt nothing but disgust as he sat through the service listening to the so-called woman preacher try to teach him something about the Bible. He looked over at Wayne Reynolds and rolled his eyes thinking that Wayne could do much better.

Look at this woman, trying to operate in an office ordained for a man, he whispered.

He was only there because church was a good place to make himself known in the community. Mike was sure of one thing—he would see that Miss Esther would be forced to step down from the office in which she had placed herself. He didn’t care how long it took him; he would make it happen.

Esther asked Sister Blue to step up to the piano as she finished her sermon. Sister Blue began to play a few chords and sang Amazing Grace a little off-key as she looked across the congregation with a somber look on her face.

Esther prayed ever so tenderly over the people she had grown to love dearly. Her heart felt such a deep yearning to see every soul step forward and make their way to the altar, but she knew that wouldn’t happen today.

Maybe someday, she thought, maybe someday.

She lifted her eyes and spoke, If there is anyone who feels the need to step forward and come to this altar to receive God’s amazing grace, please come.

A young couple took each other by the hand and made their way to the old country altar, and one by one, a few more people stepped forward. Some were crying and others had a look of uncertainty upon their face. She took her time, praying for each one, and then slowly, they started returning back to their seats. She then dismissed with a closing prayer.

Ruthie sat on the hard oak pew during altar call, thinking she knew it would make her mama happy if she would step forward. Instead, she just sat, looking out the small window, thinking she sure would like to be outside where she could run and be free from her feelings. She didn’t quite understand why tears began to fill her eyes, but it took every ounce of strength within her to stay put on her pew.

Ruthie kept thinking. Someday, Mama, someday, I will make you proud of me.

David sat and watched as the young couple and others walked ever so slowly to the altar, and he was very grateful for the way they responded to God’s Spirit. However, he longed to see Ruthie make her way to the altar, but to his dismay, she didn’t budge from her pew.

Mike sat wiggling in the pew as Esther made the altar call, and he felt this ever so small tug at his heart. He questioned if it could be God. After a few seconds, he excused the sensation, or whatever the feeling was that he was feeling, and looked at his watch, wishing the service would end.

Once the service came to an end, Esther made her way to the front of the small church, so she could greet the congregation as they departed. As she walked forward, she noticed Ruthie in deep conversation with Norma and Betty, and she couldn’t help but notice the look on Ruthie’s face. Ruthie had a dreamy look or maybe it was a faraway look, she would be sure to keep a close eye on them as she greeted the church members.

One by one, the small congregation began to make their way to the front of the church, and each member shook Esther’s hand.

Mighty fine sermon you preached today, Reverend Cox, said Sister Blue.

Yes, very heartfelt, said an elderly gentleman as he made his way out the door.

Silas shook her hand and replied. I sure did enjoy the sermon, Reverend Cox.

It always gave her so much pleasure to hear positive comments from the people she held so dear to her heart. As she looked up, she noticed Mike Falcon and his wife, Susie, making their way to the front, and she couldn’t help but notice the coldness in Mike’s eyes as he glared at her.

She always felt uneasy around him, and she was able to discern that the man didn’t care for her. She said a quick prayer as the couple approached her and thanked God for giving her grace and wisdom as they drew nearer.

Well, Reverend Cox, seems to me you outdid yourself once again, Susie said as she reached her hand forward to shake Esther’s hand.

I don’t know if I would go as far as saying she outdid herself, Susie, Mike said with a challenging tone in his voice.

Esther smiled with a spark in her eyes, I must agree with Brother Mike, I don’t believe I outdid myself at all, but rather, God outdid Himself.

Mike Falcon looked at Esther and couldn’t decide if she just belittled him or actually agreed with him.

There were just a hand full of people left in the church, and Esther felt exhausted as she stood at the front door. She looked out at the dogwood tress, and her mind began to drift back to days of old, when her Sammy was still alive, and she felt that familiar pain in her heart as she let out a slow sigh.

Lord, I know we’re not to question You … but I can’t help but wonder … why did You take him from me?

A penny for your thoughts, David said as he stood next to Esther.

Oh, my Brother Fisher, I didn’t realize you were standing here.

David looked at her with his warm brown eyes, eyes that reminded her of Samuels. I sure enjoyed the service today, Reverend Cox.

She felt a little uneasy as she spoke, Yes, God’s Spirit was most certainly with us in a very powerful way.

He reached his hand out to shake hers, and as she placed her hand in his, she began to feel emotions she had not felt for a very long time. She quickly pulled her hand away and spoke rather abruptly, Have a good day, Brother Fisher.

Then she looked away. She felt her cheeks blush and wished that he would walk away, but David continued standing in front of her. Go on already!

Finally, after what seemed to be a lifetime, he spoke, Good day to you, Reverend.

Norma had just finished telling Ruthie that Buddy planned to do some work for her daddy on the farm, and she was working on a plan so Ruthie could see him. Ruthie was excited at the thought of seeing Buddy. She had a hard time controlling her emotions. She felt her heart beat a little faster. She felt like she could even jump with joy right there in church. And then she looked up and saw Aunt Minnie standing in front of her mama. Ruthie had a feeling she knew where she would be spending her afternoon.

CHAPTER TWO

Be still, and know that I am God…

—Psalms 46:10

N eedless to say, dinner at Aunt Minnie’s was about as cold and miserable as Alaska. Ruthie sat through the dinner listening to her mama and Aunt Minnie chat like two cackling hens. She found herself daydreaming about her future and got more depressed. She was so lost in her thoughts that she didn’t hear her mama say her name.

Ruthie, did you not hear a word I said? Esther asked