Though None Go with Me by Jerry B Jenkins

Author:Jerry B Jenkins [Jenkins, Jerry B]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: ebook
Publisher: Zondervan
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

Elisabeth felt conspicuous: she and Will had the smallest family in their age group at Christ Church, other than Art and Frances Childs, who were preparing to adopt. The Childses were pitied, and of course rumors abounded about whose “fault” it was. But Elisabeth would rather have traded places with Frances than hear comments about her own situation. One woman, not realizing Elisabeth was behind her, went so far as to say, “When one’s home in the first ward becomes more important than one’s obligation to replenish the earth, well …”

Elisabeth wasn’t about to have more children just to fulfill some unwritten rule. She and Will had always assumed they would have a large family, and she had not yet ruled out more children. But she was glad God had not given them more just yet. On the other hand, she thanked him every day that she had not stopped at two.

Bruce carried to church the same wonder Elisabeth had had at his age. At eight he became the junior pastor in his department, which included children up to twelve. In the adult services he sang lustily and told his mother that when he grew up he wanted to be a pastor, a missionary, or a choir director. She assured him she would be proud of him regardless.

Will was wonderful with the kids, as he had been with his nieces and nephews years before. Although he had no more success with Benjy than Elisabeth had, his attention was the only thing that seemed to cheer Betty. Bruce was easy, of course. He was curious about adult things. One night Elisabeth heard him quizzing Will about Fairbanks-Morse. Will came to bed two hours later marveling that “Bruce seems to understand more about the organization than some of our managers.”

Elisabeth became convinced that Will was near exhaustion in December of 1933. Twice he had to return to the office after pulling into the driveway at the end of the day, having forgotten his briefcase. One morning he prepared to leave the house without his overcoat. It was seven degrees below zero.

At first Elisabeth teased him about it, calling him an absentminded professor. When she tried to speak seriously to him about it, he dismissed it, then seemed touchy. She suggested he think about trimming his schedule. He did not respond, but she was troubled by his look. She told herself it only made sense that a high-achieving man would be sensitive about any deterioration of his skills. And organization was certainly one of his.

Drawing attention to his memory lapses seemed only to make them worse. Elisabeth became more alarmed as the holidays approached. One morning Will arrived at the breakfast table barefoot, though otherwise dressed for work. The kids giggled and pointed, but he was oblivious.

After getting everything on the table, Elisabeth went upstairs and brought down his socks and shoes, setting them next to him without a word. After breakfast he stumbled over them and complained about things being in the way.

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