Part II The story of Apostle Peter's mother-in-law (A work of fiction).

Early morning sunrise over Winona and the Mississippi River Valley

This is part II in the story of Peter’s mother-in-law based on Matthew 14:8, and today, Mark Chapter 5.

“Today I see that it is going to be hot and humid outside my dear.”

“Yes mother, I believe you are right.  We must get down to the well early and get our water before it is so hot, otherwise we will have to wait until evening.”

“I suppose you are right my dear.  I just need a few minutes to eat my food and drink some cool water before going with you.  Have you heard from Peter today, Sarah?”

“Yes, late last night Andrew came by and he said that Peter was doing fine.  They had been near the Sea of Galilee and are now on the other side.  I am a little concerned though, there are so many gentiles that live in that area, and I hope he will be ok?”

“Do not worry my dear, as long as he does not interfere with the gentile's trading, he will be fine.”

“What do you mean mother?”

What an awesome God we have!

“Well, you know how we don’t deal with the Gentiles around here, they pretty much stay to themselves and we do the same.  I am only saying that as long as Peter doesn’t need to trade with them, he should be ok.  I remember when your uncle Laban once traded with a Gentile; they got into such a terrible argument with each other.  I was afraid that after awhile they would start fighting.  Fortunately for your uncle, the other man was a cripple and was using a cane to support himself; otherwise I am afraid it would have gone very badly for Laban. “

“Was the Gentile a mean man mother?”

“No, but you know uncle Laban, he can get even the gentlest man angry by his trying ways.  This Gentile left shaking his fists and saying he would never trade with a Jew again.  I felt badly for the Gentile actually, Laban can be very difficult to deal with when it comes to business.”

(A worried look came over Sarah’s face.)

“Sarah, what is troubling you?”

“Mother, Andrew said that this man from Nazareth caused many pigs to rush into the sea and drown.  The gentiles there were very upset by this; they lost most of their income by this single event.  Andrew said that the Nazarene directed the demons to come out of a man, and then they had gone into the pigs.  After that,  all the swine rushed into the sea shortly there after.  It didn’t matter to the gentiles that a man was delivered of these many demons, the gentiles suffered great financial loss, they were afraid that the Nazarene was a trouble maker.”

(Concerned, Muriel puts a hand on Sarah’s shoulder.)

“My dear, I am sure that it will be ok.  Peter is a cautious man; he will be fine.  Tell me Sarah, did you hear if Peter is coming home soon?”

 Aunt Anne and Grandpa John talking to the newest
Gustafson (Noah)

“No, Andrew said that he must remain with that person he refers to as ‘his master.’” 

(Muriel continues to see the worried look on Sarah’s face.)

“Sarah, I am wondering if someone should go and get Peter and tell him that he is needed at home.  I believe his place is here next to his wife, that being you Sarah!”

“I am sure that he will be ok mother.  I just get so lonely for him at times though, and to be honest with you, I am a little afraid for him right now.  What if those gentiles decide to hurt Peter for something he had nothing to do with.”

“I too am concerned Sarah.  I still feel that he should be home with you and not traveling in places where he can be hurt.  Oh, my word I don’t feel so good right now, do you mind if I lay down for a while Sarah.  My stomach is beginning to cause me great pain right now.”

“Why of course mother, you go and rest.  I am so very sorry for upsetting you so.  I should not have shared with you my worries, please forgive me?”

“You are my daughter, I love you and I want to know what is on your heart, please do not let my illness stop you from sharing all that is on your mind.  Mothers cannot stop being mothers even when their child is grown.  We worry for our children even when they have become adults my child.”

“I realize this mother, but it is the last thing for me in wanting you to be ill over my concerns.  I will go and get the water; you rest and think of pleasant things while I am gone.  All will be ok, I am sure of that.”

“ I sure wish Peter will be coming home?”

“Andrew said that perhaps Peter would be stopping by in about a week, though he is not sure.  He sends his love to us though and wants to let us know that he misses each of us.”

(Muriel watches Sarah smile, turn and walk away out the door.  She can see the worried look on her daughter’s face and would do anything to replace it with happiness.)  To be continued . . .

Peter's Mother-in-law ( A work of fiction.) Is this a possible real life scenario for us today?

  A work of fiction inspired by Christ's healing of Peter's mother-in-law in Matthew 8:14

“Peter, I don’t understand why you are hanging out with that man.  You should be staying home and providing for your wife.  How do you expect her to have food on the table and live without you working?  The fish that you catch is what provides for us as a household.  Your home cannot live without that income, I don’t understand you at all.” 

(Peter bends his head and walks away.)

“Muriel, mother, how can you say that about your son-in-law?  Peter has worked so hard in the past, he will also do so in the future as well.”

“Then why is he not doing so now Sarah?  He takes off with that individual from Nazareth and doesn’t show up for days and weeks on end.  This is not like Peter; in the past he has always been so good at being responsible.  I don’t understand why he would hang around with someone from Nazareth of all places, no good can come of it I tell you!”

“Mother, when has Peter made any bad choices since you have known him?  In the past he has always worked so hard and stayed out to sea until he has caught enough for us to live on, and more!  Peter will continue to do this and I know that he will return to us when the time is right.”

Family and friends celebrating together.

“I hope you are right my dear, we have not eaten as well since he has started following this man, and we are living on our savings right now.  What will we do when that is gone?  I have money put away; perhaps we can live on that for a while.  Your father and I worked all our lives for this and now I am afraid we must see it go out the window so Peter can run all over the country chasing after this man of Nazareth.  Did you know that Andrew is also following after this same man?  What is their father going to do now that he has lost both his sons to this upstart?  I don’t know what this world is coming to.  Pretty soon before you know it, this Nazarene will have more men leaving their families, and where will their households be?  I tell you, I don’t know what is going to happen to our world?  I heard people say that this Nazarene is preaching that we should be free of the Romans and start to prepare for a new kingdom, and some are saying that he should rule over it.  What nonsense could one ever hear?  Pretty soon the Romans will stop him and within that time, Peter and Andrew will be in trouble as well.  Then what will happen to our families, what then?"

"Mother, please do not get so upset, you are going to make yourself sick worrying about the future.  I am sure that God knows our needs and he will take care of us."

"I wish I could believe as you do Sarah, or does it take someone like myself whose head is not in the clouds to see us through this trouble we are heading into, I just don’t know." 

"Mother, please sit down, you are getting so worked up that I am afraid you will have a relapse with your sickness again.  You are just beginning to get well and I am afraid that if you don’t relax and stop worrying, you will end up in bed once more, and perhaps you will be worse off than before.  Your stomach cannot handle this stress that you put yourself in.  Don’t you remember how you coughed up blood, and eating for you seemed almost impossible?  You could not handle it when papa died, all that stress of his funeral and burial and then the loss of missing him so.  God has brought you through that time, and look; now you are living with us.  I love you so and Peter loves you as well." 

Making a home.

"I know that you and Peter care for me very much Sarah, but I cannot accept Peter doing this, leaving us at this crucial time when he is so needed here at home.  It is not right that Peter’s father is left taking care of so many, while Peter traipses off all over the country.  I cannot understand that what he is doing is just and responsible!"

"Mother, please let us go and prepare supper; our family must be getting hungry."

(Sarah stops and looks into her mother’s worried face.)

"Mother, let us spend some time praying about this, I know that if God is in this, that is, in what Peter is doing, then our Lord will provide for all our needs." 

"All right my dear, it is good to pray."  To be continued . . .