Free The Measure of a Heart by Janette Oke

Eight
    Beginning to Serve
    They were married in Anna’s church. Reverend Angus came back to perform the ceremony and Austin’s parents came the long thousand miles to share in the joy of their youngest son.
    “We are so pleased that you are now really ‘our’ Anna,” Mrs. Barker exclaimed, holding Anna in a warm embrace. Anna felt delightfully welcomed and a good deal nervous. Would she ever be able to live up to their expectations? She, a simple country girl? She would try. She would try with all her heart, but she still was worried that she would fall far short of what a minister’s wife should be.

    The new Mr. and Mrs. Austin Barker left soon after the wedding. Anna could not believe that she was really saying goodbye. That she would not be there to tuck Petey into bed that night or to deliver the milk to the pastor’s family. To flip the pancakes for the morning breakfast or take the feed to the hens. Who would take over her many tasks? It would be too heavy a load for her mother to carry alone. Anna felt confused. She wanted to share in Austin’s life and his ministry. Felt that she was doing the right thing in becoming his wife. But what of her overworked mother? Who would be there to help her? Searing guilt nagged cruelly with each thought of leaving her mother.
    They traveled the forty miles by horse and buggy, staying a night in a small hotel in a little town on the way. Austin apologized for the simple accommodation, but Anna didn’t understand why. It was her first experience in a hotel and the room seemed quite adequate to her. It was also the first meal she had ever eaten in a hotel dining room. She couldn’t believe that she would be given the choice of an entire menu and found herself unable to decide.
    “You pick for me,” she whispered to her new husband. “All these different choices are confusing.”
    He laughed and decided on the roast beef for both of them. They even had apple pie for dessert. Anna left the table feeling overfed. She refused to waste food by leaving any on her plate.
    The next day they were up early and on their way to the new parsonage. Austin apologized about it too. “It is a very simple little place,” he warned. “Only three small rooms. Very small rooms. A kitchen—where the stove takes up half of the space, a living room—that has to serve as parlor, family living, and my library all in one, and a bedroom without the benefit of a closet.”
    It sounded fine to Anna. She was sure that she’d find some way to make it “homey.” She thought of Mrs. Angus and her African violets and wished there was some way for her to get a few slips to start growing them in their own little home.
    When they reached the parsonage, Anna saw that Austin was right. The rooms were small. So small that Anna wondered where she would find room to unpack her few belongings.
    She removed her new bonnet, another gift from her mama’s egg money, and changed from her traveling suit. She carefully hung the clothes that had served her at Austin’s graduation on the few hooks on the wall, spreading the worn sheet about them to keep the dust off. Then dressed in a nearly new cotton print, she set about her duties as the wife of the community minister. In her mind’s eye was the good Mrs. Angus—her model and mentor. Anna knew deep within herself that she would never measure up, but she determined to try her hardest.

    The small congregation was meeting in the local schoolhouse. Austin introduced her to the group on their first Sunday.
    “I have the pleasure of presenting to you my lovely bride, Mrs. Anna Barker,” he said to them and invited Anna to stand and turn to greet them.
    Anna felt the color wash over her face as she slowly rose and faced them from her front-row seat. There they were. Austin’s people. Her people. She smiled at them shyly and was gratified to see their warm response.
    She sat back down in her seat and tried to compose herself before she had to meet them