Planted with Hope by Tricia Goyer

know what it’s like to live on a farm or grow a garden. What if one of these young girls in our school grows up to marry an Amishman from up north? What will happen when she moves up there and doesn’t know how to garden and such?”
    Jonas nodded and rubbed his head, wondering if this was Clyde—or rather Ruth Ann’s—way of hinting about Emma needing a good role model in her life. At least three times since they’d moved her here Ruth Ann had talked to him about opening his heart up to love again, about finding a wife. About findinga woman who could guide Emma into adulthood. Their conversation had been as recent as last night.
    â€œA young girl needs a mother to teach her how to care for a garden, a family, a home,” Ruth Ann had said.
    Jonas had teased her. “That’s what I have you for, Ruthie. And I believe you should start tonight. How about Emma begins by learning how to make peanut butter pie?”
    Ruth Ann whopped him with her dishtowel, but she had the same determined look in her gaze as Clyde did now.
    â€œ Ja , I suppose you’re right,” Jonas said, taking the bait and wondering what Clyde was leading to.
    â€œThat’s why I think you should talk to Lovina Miller who owns the pie shop. Maybe see if you can make a garden plot out back. Emma can’t stop talking about starting a garden in May back home, but why wait? I bet you could help get one up and running. You always did a gut job with your garden back home after… ” Clyde’s voice trailed off, but Jonas knew what Clyde had been about to say: after Sarah died.
    In Amish communities the garden was a woman’s place, but after Sarah’s stroke Jonas had stepped in. He had to. The food raised in a garden was necessary to make it through the long winters, but did he really need another job beyond teaching school and being the sole parent of a mischievous young girl?
    Curiosity turned to frustration, and frustration tightened Jonas’s throat. He balled his fists at his side and felt his shoulders tense. Wasn’t he doing enough to help his sister by just being here? And now this? They wanted him to take on more?
    â€œA garden plot? And when would I have time to tend to that? Did my sister forget that I’m teaching school full time? And that I have Emma.” The words came out sharper than Jonas intended, and he pressed his lips together.
    Clyde stroked his long beard that fell to his second button and chuckled. There were few things that fazed Clyde, and obviously Jonas’s crisp tone wasn’t one of them.
    â€œThat’s the point. You make it part of school. Kids don’t need to sit in a stuffy room all day. They can get out and get some fresh air and learn about gardening.” Clyde pointed to the books in the bookcase closest to him. “I’d guess there’re some good biology texts that you could tie in.”
    Seeing Clyde’s smile, Jonas’s shoulders relaxed. The idea did sound appealing, taking his students out into nature instead of sitting inside a stuffy classroom all day. Even though they had two electric fans to move the air he missed Kentucky’s cool breezes. But would that just add to his work? He guessed it would. It’d take work, take planning.
    â€œI’m sure there are some good lessons I could incorporate. It’s something to think about. Nothing that needs to be decided today.”
    Clyde lifted one eyebrow that told Jonas he didn’t agree. “Or if you’d like I can head over and talk to Lovina Miller. Or actually, Ruth Ann said she’d be happy to mention something—”
    â€œNo!” The word escaped Jonas’s lips. “Just give me time to think about it.”
    â€œ Ja , well, of course.” But even as Clyde rose from his chair Jonas had no doubt that he wasn’t going to let things lie. Word would get to Lovina somehow. And then he’d really be stuck having to