Dawn's Rising

Chapter 9; The Harvest of God's Bountiful Blessings

Before anyone knew it November twentieth dawned crisp and bright with a hint of winter's frost in the air. The rising sun found all twenty four of Fredensdal's occupants already up and assembled in the fields, ready to gather in the harvest. It was a joyous occasion with high spirits and good natured competition to see who would bring in the most produce that day. From oldest to youngest, all bent their backs to the task of picking or cutting off squash, pumpkin, cucumber, beans, carrots, Indian corn, and potatoes. Basket after basket was carried over and loaded onto the two wagons as singing filled the air. One favorite old hymn after another was sung with cheer and sincere thanksgiving for the bountiful harvest granted them which would see them through the long winter ahead.

And as the last basket was sat into place on the back of the wagon, a weary Silje Jakobsen abruptly gasped out in pain as her body was wracked by a strong contraction which she was unable to keep hidden. For nearly an hour they had been coming on, the last one stronger than the one before, but stubbornly she had pressed on, not wanting to be left out of the action. But now it was beyond Silje's control to suppress.

Karl immediately went over to his wife with deep concern over the drawn look on Silje's face. Their baby wasn't due for another three weeks, but a few times in the last hour he had seen his wife tense up. When she had then continued to work, he had assumed the baby had only given her a strong kick. But now he knew something was wrong.

As the contraction passed, Silje took a deep breath and looked up into her husband's face and smiled weakly, "Yes, Karl. Our baby is on its way."

Silje's statement was greeted with gasps of joy from the women and more jubilant cheers from the men. Karl also shouted out an overjoyed cry as he easily lifted his wife into his arms and gave her a quick swing around. He leaned his forehead towards that of his wife's until they touched. "Oh, thank You Lord!" he said in deepest reverence.

Laughing heartily, Jarle came over and slapped his little brother on the shoulder, "You best heave her up in the back of the wagon with the rest of the harvest. Yes Lord, Thank You! Today we bring in the full harvest of ALL Your bountiful blessings!"

Karl did as his older brother had suggested and then climbed in beside his flushed wife. Jarle leapt into the driver's seat of the wagon, helped his wife up who was going to serve as midwife, and finally snatched up the reigns of the waiting horses. But then Silje called out to Jarle, "Oh, wait a minute Jarle. I almost forgot. Julianna, come here!"

Julianna, who had been sharing her joy with her brother and sister hurried over to her mother wondering what she could want from her at a time like this. Laying her hand on her oldest daughter's cheek Silje looked lovingly into her eyes and said, "Julianna, would you be there with me and your father for your new sibling's birth? Oh, dearest I want to share this with you so that you will know what is ahead of you when your turn comes to become a mother."

With tears of pure joy Julianna answered, "Oh yes, mother! I would love to above all things!" There wasn't enough room left in the back so she ran up the front and climbed up beside her Aunt Kari. And in all haste, they were off.

Karl reclined on the bed beside his wife with his back resting on the wall behind him as he held her hand. Gently with his free hand he dried Silje's perspiring brow with a cool cloth where she lay propped up by many pillows. Sitting on the edge of the bed, Julianna held her mother's other hand and watched all that Kari did to make her mother comfortable in preparation for the coming birth. The intervals between contractions grew shorter and more intense than the one before. Now and then Karl softly spoke out a prayer or a Bible verse which reminded them all of the Lord's promised faithfulness and His unending love.

"This is what the Lord says- He who created you oh Jacob, he who formed you oh Israel, "Fear not for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name, you are mine.