My body is starting to ache all over. 황소, 불 riding has not been my friend lately. I don't know what is it is but I could not stay on. It seems as if every time I get on, I get thrown off, the 황소, 불 came after, and he hits me. I have bruises all over my body. My arms and especially my knees and shins are covered with bruises. I guess I just bruise really easily. 황소, 불 riding is taking a toil on my body. 또는 maybe it is this lifestyle that is taking a toil on my body. I am getting up every morning at 4 또는 5 and doing strenuous work. Hauling around feed buckets, saddles, and bails of 건초 and straw. It's not an easy job living on a farm. I didn't know the amount of work that went into providing for a living. I don't see how this family isn't exhausted all the time. They work 7 days and hours on end. It doesn't matter if it is pouring rain outside 또는 the hottest 일 of the year. These people work; they really work. I'm not use to this hard work. I just want to go to sleep for a few days; so, I could get rested. That sounds so nice right now. I could probably sleep for forever.
I sat on my 침대 sighed.
"What's wrong," Abigail asked as she came in my room.
"I am just thinking about tomorrow. I have to start all over again on these chores," I said, "I'm so tired and sore. I don't think I will ever get use to this kind of work."
"Sure 당신 will kiddo. It takes time to get use to this. The boys are use to this because this is all they have ever known. They have grown up working like this. They don't know anything different," she stated, "I never grew up on farm. I actually grew up in a bigger city than this one. We had a lot 더 많이 people than this city."
"I guess if I do it long enough, I will get use to it. 당신 did," I asked, "where at?"
"I grew up in the town 당신 did. Just an 시간 from here," she said, "my dad was blessed with a good business job and my mom stayed at 집 and took care of me."
"Oh neat! We are from the same place," I said, "how long did it take 당신 to get use to this routine?"
"Not too long. I knew about this life a little bit. I grew up riding horses. The 외양간, 헛간 where I kept my horse and took lessons at, is the place where me and Bryce met," she said.
"Oh that's really cool," I said.
"Now, put on dress; we gotta leave soon," she said.
"Do I really have to go," I asked, "I don't want to. I'm tired and sore."
"Yes; 당신 need to here some preachin'," she said as she patted me on the knee.
"Why do 당신 say that," I asked, "I'm a good person. I haven't ever done anything wrong,"
"Being a good person won't save 당신 from hell," she stated.
"From hell," I repeated.
"We are all sinners; everyone is born a sinner," she said, "do 당신 understand that?"
"Uh, why is everyone born a sinner," I asked, "I mean some people go through life being bad and others live a good, right life?"
"Gensis 1:1 says, 'In the beginning God created the Heavens and the earth'. He created everything on this earth," Abigail said.
"Okay, I'll hear about this at church," I sighed, "we are gonna be late!"
"You don't want me to answer your question," she asked confused.
"Eh, maybe later," I said as I tried to get out of the conversation.
"Okay," she said as she sighed.
Abigail did not seem happy about me interupting our conversation. But oh well. I was going to hear it all over again at church so it didn't really matter.
I went downstairs and the guys were already heading out the door. I made my way to Clay's truck and got in the front seat.
"I'm going to go pick up Maggie. Would 당신 mind riding with someone else," he asked.
"Okay," I said a little disappointed as I hopped down.
I knew it was going to happen. I just didn't know when. It started with Dustin sort of, and now it is happening with Clay. Clay is suppose to be, be my brother. He is like my friends. I guess, I mean if I have to have something to base a friend off of, I would know how Clay is as a friend.
"On 초 thought, why don't 당신 ride with me," he said, "then 당신 could meet her and tell me what 당신 think of her once we get 집 from church."
"Really? Are 당신 sure," I asked skptical, "What if she doesn't like me? Wonder if she is like Isbelle? Oh no, maybe I should ride with Abigail and Bryce then she wouldn't hate me 또는 make fun of me like Isbelle!"
"Harmony, stop! No one hates you," he said as he leaned over the center console to look at me, "if she doesn't like you, then she she won't like me."
"Why do 당신 say that? Everyone likes you," I stated.
"I 날짜 to marry. So, if she doesn't like my family then she not the one for me," he said, "undestand?"
"I think so," I said, "Are 당신 really sure?"
"Yes, get in," he said laughing.
"Okay," I said.
"What took 당신 and mom so long on getting ready," he asked, "you're usually quick about getting ready."
"She was saying something about how God created everything and we are all sinners," I said.
"Oh okay," he said, "What do 당신 think of God?"
"Um, I don't know. He's mean," I said.
"Why do 당신 say that," Clay asked as he looked at me.
"My life has been one horrible mess. If He created me, why would he let all this horrible stuff happen to me," I asked.
"God is not mean. It was His will for 당신 to go through all of that so 당신 could live here with us. He loves 당신 so much," Clay said, "God made all those things happen for reason. We may not know why He did it now, but one 일 He will show us why."
I sat there for a 초 soaking everything up that he has said.
"How do 당신 know God 사랑 me," I asked.
"John 3:16 says, 'For God so loved the world, He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everylasting life," he said, "another verse in the Bible is Romans 5:8. It says, 'But God commendeth his 사랑 toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.'"
"So He loves everyone," I asked.
"Yes! He loves us so much He sent His Son, Jesus, to die for our sins," Clay said, "Let me pull over and we can read through some Scripture."
I kept my eye on Clay as he pulled over onto a grassy patch 의해 the road.
"We are all sinners. I am a sinner, mom is a sinner, and 당신 are a sinner," he said.
"Why," I asked as I interupted him.
"God made everything on this earth. God first created man. Then He saw man needed a companion, so God mad a woman. Their names were Adam and Eve. They lived in a perfect, sinless world. God told them they could eat any 과일 in the garden they lived in except for a certain tree," he said, "one 일 Eve and then Adam, were tempted 의해 the devil, and ate from the 나무, 트리 that God had told them not to eat. They disobeyed God. That is how sin started."
"Whoa! All because of two people's mistake we have to be sinners too," I said.
"Yes but there is hope. Even though we are sinners, God has made a spot in Heaven for those who have accepted Him as their Savior. Romans 5:12 says, 'Wherefore, as 의해 one man sin evertered intot he work, and death 의해 sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned'," Clay said as he had his Bible on the center console, "sin is when we disobey God, 또는 when we do something wrong."
"So I sin when I lie 또는 when I talk back to Abigail," I asked.
"Yeah. Because of sin, we are seperated from God. Romans 3:2 says, 'For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God,' he read, "There is a price for sin; it is death. There are two types of death. The first kind is physical death, and the 초 if a spiritual death whic mean we are seperated from God. If we are separated from God when we die then we will spend eternity seprarted from God."
"If I was to die right now, I would be separated from God," I asked.
"Yes," Clay said.
"Where would I go to be away from God," I asked.
"You would go to hell," he stated, "The first part of Romans 6:23 says, 'The wages of sin is death..' But the 초 part of that verse give us hope. The last part is, '...But the gift of God is enternal life through 예수님 Christ our Lord.' The gift of enteral life means that 당신 will be forgiven of sin, 당신 will have fellowship with God, and going to live with God after death. But 당신 can only get to God throuh 예수님 Christ."
"So God and 예수님 are two different people," I asked.
"No, He is one person, manifested in three ways. He is God The Father, He is God The Son, and God the Holy Spirit," Clay stated.
"Okay," I said.
"It's kind of tricky to understand," he said with a half smile.
"Yeah but I think I get it," I said.
"Okay cool! God sent His Son, 예수님 to die on the 십자가, 크로스 for our sins. Romans 5:8 says, 'But God command His 사랑 towards us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.' He died a terrible death for our sins. He will make 당신 clean from sin."
"Wow, I cannot imagion someone wanting to die for me," I said shocked.
"But He did; He loved us that much! Everyone who recieves Christ will go to Heaven. John 1:12 says, 'But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name,'" Clay read, "when 당신 receive Christ 당신 are born into His family and eternal life."
"I would have another family," I asked.
"It would be a family of people who have received 예수님 into their life," he said.
"I wanna God's love, to be clean from my sins, to have a family, and spend eternity with Him," I said as my eyes teared up.
"Okay," Clay smiled really big, "Romans 10:13 says, 'For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.' We talk to God 의해 praying to Him. 당신 can receive Christ 의해 Admitting 당신 are sinner, 당신 have to turn from sins, believe Christ died for you, and through prayer invite Christ to come in and control 당신 life though the Holy Spirit. In your words, I want 당신 to pray to God to asked Him to save you."
"Okay," I said.
I bowed my head and closed my eyes, like I had seem Clay do countless times throughout a day.
"Dear Jesus, I am a sinner and I need your forgiveness. I believe 당신 died to take away my sins. I want to turn away from my sins and follow you. I want your 사랑 in my life. I invite 당신 to come into to my 심장 and life to save me. Amen," I said as I opened my eyes.
I looked over at Clay and he was crying.
"I would like to pray next," he said.
"Okay," I sniffed.
"Dear Heavenly Father, I thank 당신 so much for this glorious 일 당신 have given us. I thank 당신 so much for putting Harmony in my family's life. Also, I thank 당신 for allowing me to lead her to you. I pray that she will grow daily with you. Please give her guidance in her life," he said, "thank 당신 for sending your Son, Jesus, to die for our sins. Thank 당신 for your love. In 당신 name I pray, amen."
Clay reached over and hugged me.
"Why are 당신 crying," I asked.
"These are happy tears. It's not ever 일 I get to lead my little sister to Christ," he said as he wiped his eyes.
"Oh," I said.
I felt this peace come over me. It was like nothing I had ever felt before.
I sat on my 침대 sighed.
"What's wrong," Abigail asked as she came in my room.
"I am just thinking about tomorrow. I have to start all over again on these chores," I said, "I'm so tired and sore. I don't think I will ever get use to this kind of work."
"Sure 당신 will kiddo. It takes time to get use to this. The boys are use to this because this is all they have ever known. They have grown up working like this. They don't know anything different," she stated, "I never grew up on farm. I actually grew up in a bigger city than this one. We had a lot 더 많이 people than this city."
"I guess if I do it long enough, I will get use to it. 당신 did," I asked, "where at?"
"I grew up in the town 당신 did. Just an 시간 from here," she said, "my dad was blessed with a good business job and my mom stayed at 집 and took care of me."
"Oh neat! We are from the same place," I said, "how long did it take 당신 to get use to this routine?"
"Not too long. I knew about this life a little bit. I grew up riding horses. The 외양간, 헛간 where I kept my horse and took lessons at, is the place where me and Bryce met," she said.
"Oh that's really cool," I said.
"Now, put on dress; we gotta leave soon," she said.
"Do I really have to go," I asked, "I don't want to. I'm tired and sore."
"Yes; 당신 need to here some preachin'," she said as she patted me on the knee.
"Why do 당신 say that," I asked, "I'm a good person. I haven't ever done anything wrong,"
"Being a good person won't save 당신 from hell," she stated.
"From hell," I repeated.
"We are all sinners; everyone is born a sinner," she said, "do 당신 understand that?"
"Uh, why is everyone born a sinner," I asked, "I mean some people go through life being bad and others live a good, right life?"
"Gensis 1:1 says, 'In the beginning God created the Heavens and the earth'. He created everything on this earth," Abigail said.
"Okay, I'll hear about this at church," I sighed, "we are gonna be late!"
"You don't want me to answer your question," she asked confused.
"Eh, maybe later," I said as I tried to get out of the conversation.
"Okay," she said as she sighed.
Abigail did not seem happy about me interupting our conversation. But oh well. I was going to hear it all over again at church so it didn't really matter.
I went downstairs and the guys were already heading out the door. I made my way to Clay's truck and got in the front seat.
"I'm going to go pick up Maggie. Would 당신 mind riding with someone else," he asked.
"Okay," I said a little disappointed as I hopped down.
I knew it was going to happen. I just didn't know when. It started with Dustin sort of, and now it is happening with Clay. Clay is suppose to be, be my brother. He is like my friends. I guess, I mean if I have to have something to base a friend off of, I would know how Clay is as a friend.
"On 초 thought, why don't 당신 ride with me," he said, "then 당신 could meet her and tell me what 당신 think of her once we get 집 from church."
"Really? Are 당신 sure," I asked skptical, "What if she doesn't like me? Wonder if she is like Isbelle? Oh no, maybe I should ride with Abigail and Bryce then she wouldn't hate me 또는 make fun of me like Isbelle!"
"Harmony, stop! No one hates you," he said as he leaned over the center console to look at me, "if she doesn't like you, then she she won't like me."
"Why do 당신 say that? Everyone likes you," I stated.
"I 날짜 to marry. So, if she doesn't like my family then she not the one for me," he said, "undestand?"
"I think so," I said, "Are 당신 really sure?"
"Yes, get in," he said laughing.
"Okay," I said.
"What took 당신 and mom so long on getting ready," he asked, "you're usually quick about getting ready."
"She was saying something about how God created everything and we are all sinners," I said.
"Oh okay," he said, "What do 당신 think of God?"
"Um, I don't know. He's mean," I said.
"Why do 당신 say that," Clay asked as he looked at me.
"My life has been one horrible mess. If He created me, why would he let all this horrible stuff happen to me," I asked.
"God is not mean. It was His will for 당신 to go through all of that so 당신 could live here with us. He loves 당신 so much," Clay said, "God made all those things happen for reason. We may not know why He did it now, but one 일 He will show us why."
I sat there for a 초 soaking everything up that he has said.
"How do 당신 know God 사랑 me," I asked.
"John 3:16 says, 'For God so loved the world, He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everylasting life," he said, "another verse in the Bible is Romans 5:8. It says, 'But God commendeth his 사랑 toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.'"
"So He loves everyone," I asked.
"Yes! He loves us so much He sent His Son, Jesus, to die for our sins," Clay said, "Let me pull over and we can read through some Scripture."
I kept my eye on Clay as he pulled over onto a grassy patch 의해 the road.
"We are all sinners. I am a sinner, mom is a sinner, and 당신 are a sinner," he said.
"Why," I asked as I interupted him.
"God made everything on this earth. God first created man. Then He saw man needed a companion, so God mad a woman. Their names were Adam and Eve. They lived in a perfect, sinless world. God told them they could eat any 과일 in the garden they lived in except for a certain tree," he said, "one 일 Eve and then Adam, were tempted 의해 the devil, and ate from the 나무, 트리 that God had told them not to eat. They disobeyed God. That is how sin started."
"Whoa! All because of two people's mistake we have to be sinners too," I said.
"Yes but there is hope. Even though we are sinners, God has made a spot in Heaven for those who have accepted Him as their Savior. Romans 5:12 says, 'Wherefore, as 의해 one man sin evertered intot he work, and death 의해 sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned'," Clay said as he had his Bible on the center console, "sin is when we disobey God, 또는 when we do something wrong."
"So I sin when I lie 또는 when I talk back to Abigail," I asked.
"Yeah. Because of sin, we are seperated from God. Romans 3:2 says, 'For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God,' he read, "There is a price for sin; it is death. There are two types of death. The first kind is physical death, and the 초 if a spiritual death whic mean we are seperated from God. If we are separated from God when we die then we will spend eternity seprarted from God."
"If I was to die right now, I would be separated from God," I asked.
"Yes," Clay said.
"Where would I go to be away from God," I asked.
"You would go to hell," he stated, "The first part of Romans 6:23 says, 'The wages of sin is death..' But the 초 part of that verse give us hope. The last part is, '...But the gift of God is enternal life through 예수님 Christ our Lord.' The gift of enteral life means that 당신 will be forgiven of sin, 당신 will have fellowship with God, and going to live with God after death. But 당신 can only get to God throuh 예수님 Christ."
"So God and 예수님 are two different people," I asked.
"No, He is one person, manifested in three ways. He is God The Father, He is God The Son, and God the Holy Spirit," Clay stated.
"Okay," I said.
"It's kind of tricky to understand," he said with a half smile.
"Yeah but I think I get it," I said.
"Okay cool! God sent His Son, 예수님 to die on the 십자가, 크로스 for our sins. Romans 5:8 says, 'But God command His 사랑 towards us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.' He died a terrible death for our sins. He will make 당신 clean from sin."
"Wow, I cannot imagion someone wanting to die for me," I said shocked.
"But He did; He loved us that much! Everyone who recieves Christ will go to Heaven. John 1:12 says, 'But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name,'" Clay read, "when 당신 receive Christ 당신 are born into His family and eternal life."
"I would have another family," I asked.
"It would be a family of people who have received 예수님 into their life," he said.
"I wanna God's love, to be clean from my sins, to have a family, and spend eternity with Him," I said as my eyes teared up.
"Okay," Clay smiled really big, "Romans 10:13 says, 'For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.' We talk to God 의해 praying to Him. 당신 can receive Christ 의해 Admitting 당신 are sinner, 당신 have to turn from sins, believe Christ died for you, and through prayer invite Christ to come in and control 당신 life though the Holy Spirit. In your words, I want 당신 to pray to God to asked Him to save you."
"Okay," I said.
I bowed my head and closed my eyes, like I had seem Clay do countless times throughout a day.
"Dear Jesus, I am a sinner and I need your forgiveness. I believe 당신 died to take away my sins. I want to turn away from my sins and follow you. I want your 사랑 in my life. I invite 당신 to come into to my 심장 and life to save me. Amen," I said as I opened my eyes.
I looked over at Clay and he was crying.
"I would like to pray next," he said.
"Okay," I sniffed.
"Dear Heavenly Father, I thank 당신 so much for this glorious 일 당신 have given us. I thank 당신 so much for putting Harmony in my family's life. Also, I thank 당신 for allowing me to lead her to you. I pray that she will grow daily with you. Please give her guidance in her life," he said, "thank 당신 for sending your Son, Jesus, to die for our sins. Thank 당신 for your love. In 당신 name I pray, amen."
Clay reached over and hugged me.
"Why are 당신 crying," I asked.
"These are happy tears. It's not ever 일 I get to lead my little sister to Christ," he said as he wiped his eyes.
"Oh," I said.
I felt this peace come over me. It was like nothing I had ever felt before.