Chapter – 40 ‘Mar’yam Shuster moves to Brooklyn’
Just four days earlier Mar’yam Shuster had received a letter from the man who had supported her with a monthly check for almost thirty years. He would be retiring and his only son would be assuming control of his business. The letter informed her that he would like to visit with her in person sometime soon.
Actually she was in the process of getting a fair market value and then putting her small business on the market to sell; then returning to Brooklyn where she had family. Her visit over Thanksgiving had been a factor. Her family had shown her more love than she had expected; at the moment it was just exactly what she needed in her life.
She found the phone number of Ben Levi’s business and dialed it. It took a while for her to speak with him but they had a good conversation; he would take a week away from his business and come visit her in Uniontown. Later that evening Mar’yam called her former son-in-law and talked with him for several minutes. Valentine told her that he would like to meet Mr. Levi while he was in town if she could arrange it.
Rebekah could hear her husband talking but was unaware who he was talking with. When he completed his call he looked her way and commented, “Mar’yam is going to move back to Brooklyn; she is selling her business.” Rebekah responded, “I would like to purchase it; I need more to do than the two evenings, during the week that I spend with the youth group.” Valentine told her they could go talk with Mar’yam one evening about it, “You have time to have the appraised value of it estimated before you make her an offer.”
Ben Levi was in town the next week. He contacted Mar’yam and they planned to meet at her home that very evening. She called Valentine and asked if he would bring Rebekah and come visit while Mr. Levi was there talking with her.
Valentine was at her home fifteen minutes prior to Ben Levi arriving. He answered the door when the doorbell rang and introduced himself. It was a warm reception and put both Valentine and Ben at ease. It was a good evening; Ben told Mar’yam what his future held, and that Rex would be assuming the role as President of the manufacturing company; probably in about six months. He told them that Rex had not married until thirty-five and had a thirteen year old daughter; that his wife had passed away when an unknown aneurysm had ruptured; it had been just four years earlier.
Finally Ben told her that she had been on the company payroll as a business consultant directly working for him. “None, not even Rex knows about this job position that I created.” Mar’yam told him that she was grateful for the help, especially those first few years, “I have been saving the majority of the money in a dozen or more CD’s, for several years now, just in case you would want the money returned someday.” Valentine commented, “Mr. Levi, I think Mar’yam intends to move back to Brooklyn near her family soon. Maybe you could advise her on a part time job to help transition her through this change.” He told Ben he wanted to make sure her transition went smooth with little or no stress. Ben looked toward the far wall a moment with a sad look; then a smile was directed toward Mar’yam, “I have a job waiting for you that I have been holding for just the right person.”
The subject of her business came up and Ben asked, “Do you need me to contact a Real Estate Agent to put it up for sale?” Rebekah commented, “Would you mind talking with me before you sell it; I might be interested in having a small business here in town and it could save you some Real Estate expense if it works out.”
Two weeks later Mar’yam was on her way to Brooklyn; her business was sold, she had a job with Ben Levi, and she had rented her present home for the next year. Valentine would collect the rent and make sure the repairs, if needed, would be taken care of.
As Mar’yam entered the front door of her mother’s home, several of the relatives were there to greet her. They told her they loved her and were glad she was coming home. For years she had felt like a lost child who was immoral and not worthy to return home; but today she felt so blessed and happy.
Does the Lord, on occasions, choose to specifically provide a blessing to someone?
How about you, in some unknown way have you ever been blessed?
Scripture reference
Exodus 33:17-19, vs. 19b – “I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious and I will show compassion to whom I will show compassion” [The Lord can do whatever it is that HE wants to do] Maybe it is Mar’yam’s turn for a blessing.
Should her family judge her for her mistake [sin]??
John 8:7, …. “He who is without sin among you, let him be the first to cast a stone at her.”
[The story is about a woman caught in adultery; Jesus told them if there were any who had never sinned, let that person be her judge and cast the first stone. That was the Mosaic LAW; written in Exodus; now obsolete.] THAT stone not cast would mean no person is worthy to judge another; so, why do we, at times, do it?
Mark 3:28-29, There is only one unpardonable sin; all others can be forgiven, that is, IF we ask for forgiveness.
DG