Paul Rodenburg

A Different Time Paul Rodenburg

Every evening after supper, Ma would put the leftovers in the icebox and us kids would clean the dishes and put them in the cupboards. When Ma was finished, she would join Pa who would be out in the living room lighting the coal stove and setting up the radio to be listened to. This evening however, was different. After Tom, Em and I finished with cleaning the dishes and putting them away, we came out into the living room and Ma and Pa were nowhere in sight. The stove was not lit nor was the radio readied to be listened to. We sat on the couch and waited, the patio screen door opened and closed announcing the entrance of Ma and Pa. Ma took her place on the chair next to the couch, Pa stood in front of us kids. As Pa began to speak, the Depression had arrived at our household, income was lost and had to be found. In the days ahead Pa and I will set out on a journey that will teach me about God's provision, bring me to people that I never knew existed, and introduce me to the love of my life.