Strong and Courageous

by Alivia U.

The story about the Bible told to Andi by her uncle, is based off my ancestor's actual events.

           

            Andrea Carter jumped down the last two steps of the stairs and ran out the door.  The bright sun, which was high in the sky, greeted her.  It was a relief to be outdoors, for such an adventurous girl.  Except for the barn chores, which she had to do quickly, she had been cooped up inside all morning. 

            Everyone was busy getting ready for the arrival of Andrea's mother's brother, Mark, his wife, Dorothy, and their young daughter, Sofia.  For this special reason, the house needed to be 'spotless' as Mother had said.  That had meant that everyone who wasn't working out on the ranch, had to help get the house ready for their very special guests...including her.

            Andi, as she preferred to be called, took a deep breath of the California air.  The work was now done, and she was finally outside.  Now, all she had to do was wait. 

            The ten-year-old sat down on the porch steps and playfully twirled her long, dark braid around.  With nothing to do, she then carelessly smoothed out the wrinkles of her dark blue dress.  Although she preferred to wear overalls, Mother had made her wear the frilly dress for the special occasion.

            Just then Andi heard horses galloping up the lane.  She looked up excitedly, but was disappointed that it was only her brothers and a few of the ranch hands coming in, after their morning with the cattle.

            “Hey, Andi,” her second oldest brother, Chad called. 

            Andi could see the teasing in his eyes and prepared herself for it.  Chad had run their ranch, Circle C, ever since their father had died, when Andi had been young.  She and her brother were very much alike...too much, in fact.  They both were stubborn and at times, they easily lost their tempers.  But Andi knew that Chad loved her and only wanted to look out for her.  Although, sometimes she forgot that.

            “Why the long face?  Were you expecting someone else?”

            “You know who I'm on the lookout for.  Well, never mind your teasing, because nothing's going to get me down, so don't even try!”

            “Well, looks like you got me, little sis.”

            Chad unmounted his horse and walked it to the barn.  Mitchel, Andi's other older brother, walked up to her and grinned.

            “Bet you're excited.”

            “You bet!  Mother's excited, too.  She's been busy getting the house ready.  I was lucky to escape--ah, I mean, be able to watch for them, instead of helping with last minute preparations.  You're lucky, you get to work all day on the ranch, instead of inside, like I have to.”

            “Well, it ain't all that fun and games out there.  It's harder than you think.”

            “Yea, but you get to ride horses and be outside.  I would give just about anything to be able to ride Taffy as a chore!”

            “I reckon you're right, sis.  It's still work, but I wouldn't give it up for anything.  Well, I better be off.  Don't want Chad to be hollering at me again-”

            “Mitch!  Where are you?”  Chad's voice came from the barn.

            “Oops, too late.”  Mitch winked at his youngest sister and led his horse away.

            When Mitch disappeared into the barn, all was quiet.  Andi looked at the snow-topped mountains in the distance, and marveled at the beautiful scenery of lush, rolling green hills, blue skies, and the wildflowers of many different colors, blowing gently in the breeze.

            I'm so glad that God made the world so unique, the young girl thought; thinking back to that morning, when she had watched a beautiful sunrise from her window.

            Her gaze fell to the majestic horses, grazing out in the field.  As they shook their heads and whined, their shiny manes fanned out, as their long tails swished at flies.

            How I wish I could be out riding Taffy right now!  she signed.  Oh, what fun we would have, racing over the fields to my 'special spot.'  The sun would be high, the creek rushing with crystal clear water, the birds singing from the cool shade of the trees...

            Andi was off daydreaming again, when the sound of horses galloping, and a wagon jostling interrupted her thoughts.

            She looked up and could make out a buggy, through all the dust around it.  Andi stood up abruptly, filled with excitement, and waved cheerfully at the person driving the wagon.  Although she had never met her uncle and his family before, she had heard much about them.  Andi already felt like she knew them.

            “Uncle Mark!  Aunt Dorothy!  Hi!”  she called, as the buggy pulled to a stop in front of the house.

            “Howdy!”  Mark called back.

            “Hello, dear,” his wife added, with a smile.

            Mark jumped from his seat onto the dirt road, before helping Dorothy and his daughter down from the wagon.

            Andi heard the front door of the house open and looked over her shoulder, as the rest of the family came.  There was her mother, Elizabeth, who cared and loved her family deeply; Justin, Andi's oldest and most favorite brother, who was a lawyer; and Melinda, Andi's older sister, who was lady-like and proper.  Andi's other brothers came out from the barn, just then also.

            They gathered around Mark and his family, greeting them.  

            “Mark!”  Elizabeth cried, hugging him. “How I've missed you.”

            “Hi, Elizabeth,” Mark returned the greeting.  “I've missed you, too.  Dorothy dear, this is my sister, Elizabeth.  Elizabeth, this is my wife, Dorothy.”

            “Hello, Dorothy,” Elizabeth smiled, hugging her sister-in-law.  “I'm so happy to finally meet you.”

            “Please, call me Dolly,” she laughed merrily, her eyes shining.  “I've heard so much about you and now we're finally meeting!  I'm so pleased to meet you, and I can't wait to meet all your children, as well.  Would you please introduce all of my wonderful nieces and nephews to me?”

            “Oh course,” Elizabeth replied.  “This is Justin, the oldest.  He works as a lawyer in town.  Then there's Chad, who runs the ranch.  This is Mitchell and Melinda.  And finally, this is Andrea.”

            After she had hugged all of Andi's older siblings; Dolly crouched down, so she was at eye level with Andi.

            “Hello, sweet Andrea,” she smiled, taking her hands.

            “Please, call me Andi.”

            “Alright, Andi.  I want you to meet your cousin, Sofia.”  The shy girl stepped forward.  “Sofia, Andi.”

            Andi smiled and nodded her head politely.

            “Welcome, Sofia.”

            “Thank you.”

            Dolly stood up and looped her arm through her husband's.

            “We're just so grateful that you invited us to stay here!”  she said.

            “It's our pleasure,” Elizabeth replied quickly.  “We're so glad that you could come out here.  I feel that we have so much catching up to do!  Come in, please.”

            “Mother,” Andi asked.  “Can I stay out here and show Taffy to Sofia?”

            “If that's what your guest would like.”

            Andi looked at her cousin hopefully.

            “Alright.”

            Andi smiled and led the way to the stables.

            “Here's Taffy's stall,” Andi explained, stroking the soft nose that had poked out of the open half-door.  “She loves sugar cubes.  Here, do you want to feed her some?”

            Andi took out of her pockets some cubes and gave them to the awaiting open hand.  Andi showed Sofia how to feed them to Taffy; and in no time, the girls became friends.

~ ~ ~

            The next few days passed by in a whirl.  Andi and Sofia spent a lot of time together...brushing Taffy and braiding her mane and tail, and exploring Circle C.

            Andi also spent time with her aunt, whom she quickly grew to like.  Dolly understood how it felt being the youngest, as she herself was one of seven siblings, and made sure Andi didn't feel left out.  She even took Andi and Sofia to town for a treat.

            Andi loved to go riding with her uncle, too.  One early morning, Mark suggested that she and him take a ride.   Andi gladly accepted, telling him of her 'special spot' on the ranch.

            “Perfect!  Let's go there.  I want to give you something special.”

            Andi hurriedly changed into her riding clothes, wondering what the surprise would be.

~ ~ ~

            Andi raced across the fields of tall grass and wildflowers; her uncle close behind.  The wind blew at her face, and pieces of loose hair from her long braids, flew wildly about.

            Andi was on her palomino, Taffy and Mark rode on a mustang. They rode to Andi's special spot...the place that she loved and called her own, on the ranch.  It had a creek where she loved to fish and trees that she loved to climb; but she mostly just loved being there, enjoying God's beautiful creation.

            Andi could see her special spot, just up ahead. She suddenly urged Taffy, as fast as she could.  They crossed by the tree, that marked the finish line, a few seconds before her uncle did.

            Andi slowed Taffy to a walk and circled back around to her uncle.

            “Good...race...Andi,” Mark said, out of breath.

            “Thanks.  You did a great job, too.  It was a close one.”

            They tied their horses and let them graze, before Andi and Mark sat down at the bank of the creek; gazing at the crystal-clear water.

            “Andi,” Mark began.  “I can't tell you how much fun I've had with you all.”

            “I'm glad.” 

            “You must be wondering why I brought you out here, but I'll get to that in a minute.  First, you can look through this.”

            Mark handed Andi a worn satchel.  She opened it curiously and peeked inside, before taking out the first item that was there, a small stack of folded papers that were tied together with string.

            “What are they?”  Andi asked, her uncle.

            “Letters.  I fought in the Civil War, for the Union, but maybe your mother has already told you that.”

            Andi nodded.  Mother had told her that before.

            “Well, while I was there, I got letters from my family.  You can read them, if you want.”

            Andi eagerly untied the bundle of letters, carefully unfolded the first one, and read the faded writing out loud.

            “September 30^th, 1862. 

Dear Mark,

            How are you, my son?  We praise God that you are safe and well.  We have recently heard about the Battle of Antietam and are very thankful for the much-needed win.  Although, it almost isn't that great of a victory, for so many lives had been taken in that battle.  Some are saying that it was the bloodiest single day battle yet, having lost almost 23,000 men, from both the Union and Confederate sides.  We only hope and pray there will not be many more battles.

            Everyone here is fine.  We got a letter from Elizabeth this week.  She and her family are well and send their love to you.  She also told us that she is expecting another child!  It will only be a few more months until the baby will be born.  If it is a boy, they are thinking of naming him Carl, after your father; but if it's a girl, they have agreed on the name Melinda.

            We hope to hear back from you, soon, dear Mark.  We all miss you very much and are praying for you every day and night.

            With much love,

                        Mother and family.”

           

Andi smiled, looked up at Mark and said, “So it was Melinda, who your mother was talking about!”

            Mark grinned and nodded, then gestured for her to reach into the satchel again.  This time Andi took out a ragged and worn, blue Union hat.

            “My soldiers cap,” he explained.

            Andi gazed at the navy-blue hat, and imagined her uncle wearing it in a battle.  A pin with two golden-colored guns crossing over each other, was pinned on the front of the hat.

            Lastly, Andi pulled out a small, black, leather Bible.

            “Ah, yes...this Bible is very special to me.  This is what I wanted you to have, and I trust you will take care of it.”

            Andi looked at it curiously, then back up at Mark.  He looked up from his mementos, to the rolling hills and mountains in the distance, with a faraway look in his eyes.  Memories of the bloody battles he fought in; the long, lonely days in camp; and the harsh terrain they marched over, flashed through his mind.  He took a deep breath, before he went on.

            “The story I'm about to tell you is one you probably have never heard, I'm sure.  So, I'll tell it to you now.”

            Andi listened intently, as Mark told his story.

            “It was the night before I would fight in the battle of Gettysburg, and I was as excited and as nervous as ever.  The generals and captains said the battle would be a big and dangerous one, and I had a terrified feeling.

            “I had read this very Bible many times during the war, and I knew I needed it for guidance and encouragement that night, and I found just that.  I turned to the book of Psalms and chapter 6, verse 118 caught my eye.  It said, The Lord is for me, I will not fear.  What can man do to me?  I also flipped to a verse which had always encouraged me: Deuteronomy 31:6, which said, Be strong and courageous.  Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you.  Those verses helped me have a peace, for the upcoming battle.

            “The next morning dawned bright and beautiful, as we marched onto the battlefield; but I knew the beauty would not last for long.  Although I was still afraid...for so many different reasons, I kept repeating those verses.  I repeated the orders that our commander had given to us: halt, guns ready, load, prepare to fire.  My heart was racing, pounding in my chest.  The enemy, dressed in gray and ready for a hard fight, came into view.  Then there was silence--a seemingly long and frightening silence.

            “As soon as I heard the word 'fire,' I pulled the trigger of my gun.  With mine, other gunfire rang out everywhere.  Smoke stung my eyes and blinded my steps, as I ran into the fighting.  I felt lost in all the shouting, smoke, and chaos.  The sun, which I had seen rising that morning; had disappeared, covered by the thick haze of smoke.  I was afraid and confused, but then I remembered the verses, and they calmed my heart.  For a moment it almost felt like I wasn't at war anymore.  Then it happened…

            “Right at that moment, it was almost like I heard only a single shot ring out.  It happened all so suddenly...  I felt a sharp impact, and my hand flew to my chest.  But I didn't feel any severe pain; hardly any, in fact.  It was mostly the shock, that kept me lying still.  After a moment though, I looked down, and I saw the black leather book, that was sticking out of the pocket in my uniform.  With a shaky hand, I pulled out the Bible...which is in your very hands, Andi and now look, to see a bullet-sized dent in the back of it.”

            Andi's eyes were wide, as she looked down at the Bible in her hands.  She slowly turned it over, and there, right in the middle, was a small, round dent.  She looked back at Mark, who nodded.

            “It was a miracle, indeed,” he continued.  “The battle was another bloody, terrible one and although the Union won; far more men died, then in the Battle of Antietam.

            “A short time later, I stood on the same battlefield; but this time not for war.  Instead for remembering all the brave soldiers who had lost their lives in this battle.  About 53,000 men died altogether.  It was a tragic battle, indeed.  I remember standing near the front of the crowd; as our president, Abraham Lincoln stood up to speak.  I could see him clearly.  His eyes showed a sadness and tiredness, but he stood up on that platform with boldness, and read these words...

           

“Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent, a new nation, conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.”

            “Now we are engaged in a great civil war, testing whether that nation, or any nation so conceived or so dedicated, can long endure.  We are met on a great battlefield of that war.  We have come to dedicate a portion of that field, as a final resting place for those who here gave their lives that this nation might live.  It is altogether fitting and proper that we should do this.”

            “But, in a larger sense, we cannot dedicate-we cannot consecrate-we cannot hollow-this ground.  The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract.”

            “The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here.  It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus so nobly advanced.  It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task before us-that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion-that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain-that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom-and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.

            “Sun rays shone through the clouds and a light breeze blew, at that moment.  The American flag straightened out, showing all its stars and stripes.  After a moment of silence, the crowd began to clap; although not as enthusiastically as they should have, for many were surprised at how short that speech was.  But I knew right then that I would always remember and cherish that moment.

            “As the President walked down from the platform, he shook soldiers' hands.  As he passed me, he also shook my hand and said to me, “Thank you for serving our country.”  I nodded in reply, before I looked down at the Bible in my hand and thanked God for that day.”

            Andi could picture it all.  Her uncle glanced up at the sky, as if replaying the scene in his mind, before looking back down at her and continuing.

            “Andi, this Bible saved my life...twice.  Once, because I had accepted Jesus Christ as my Savior and Lord, after I had read this very Bible.  The other time, when I was at war and the Bible stopped the bullet from killing me.  So, you see, God is always there for me and you, and will faithfully watch over us.  I want you to have this Bible, Andi, as a reminder of that.”

            “Thank you,” she whispered.

            And thank You, Lord, she silently prayed.  For saving my uncle...and me.

            After a few minutes of silence, Mark suggested, with a deep sigh, “Well, we'd best be getting back.  I'm sure your mother is wondering where we are.  I'll go get the horses ready.”

            “Alright.  I'll be there in a minute.”

            As Mark got up to go; Andi sighed happily and looked at the Bible in her hands.  She carefully turned to Psalms first and read the exact verse her uncle did long ago.  Then she went to Deuteronomy and read the verse from there.

            Be strong and courageous.  Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you.

            “Lord, thank You for never leaving us and for always watching over us,” Andi whispered a prayer, eyes closed.  Help me to trust You and to be strong and courageous.  Amen.”