On the twenty-fourth day of the eleventh month, the month of Shebat, in the second year of Darius, the word of the LORD came to the prophet Zechariah son of Berechiah son of Iddo; and Zechariah said, In the night I saw a man riding on a red horse! He was standing among the myrtle trees in the glen; and behind him were red, sorrel, and white horses. Then I said, “What are these, my lord?” The angel who talked with me said to me, “I will show you what they are.” So the man who was standing among the myrtle trees answered, “They are those whom the LORD has sent to patrol the earth.” Then they spoke to the angel of the LORD who was standing among the myrtle trees, “We have patrolled the earth, and lo, the whole earth remains at peace.” Then the angel of the LORD said, “O LORD of hosts, how long will you withhold mercy from Jerusalem and the cities of Judah, with which you have been angry these seventy years?” Then the LORD replied with gracious and comforting words to the angel who talked with me. So the angel who talked with me said to me, Proclaim this message: Thus says the LORD of hosts; I am very jealous for Jerusalem and for Zion. And I am extremely angry with the nations that are at ease; for while I was only a little angry, they made the disaster worse. Therefore, thus says the LORD, I have returned to Jerusalem with compassion; my house shall be built in it, says the LORD of hosts, and the measuring line shall be stretched out over Jerusalem. Proclaim further: Thus says the LORD of hosts: My cities shall again overflow with prosperity; the LORD will again comfort Zion and again choose Jerusalem. Zechariah 1:7-17
Dear Auntie,
We will be leaving either tonight or tomorrow night. I have never been to the city and I am quite scared. We are leaving at night so that noone can attack us as we depart. That breaks my heart, that my own friends and neighbors might be a danger to us. Hoe can this be? Does God really want people to treat others with hate and violence? Nothing has made sense for a long time. It seems as folks only want to be cruel and look for every opportunity to do harm. Papa says that everyone is under the influence of the Roman occupiers. I think that's an easy excuse.
My girlfriends came over yesterday and brought me food and gifts for the journey. They also brought items for the baby. Everyone thinks they won't let us back on our return, they told me. I don't really care, I just want to be home with Momma when I deliver. It is so hard to leave her, Auntie! She has been so brave, but I see the worry and pain in her eyes. Her spirit is troubled and she isn't sleeping much these days. Joseph has been really sweet and supportive but he seems scared too. He told me he's never been alone with a woman on a trip. I promised not to bite him! We both laughed at that.
Well, I going to turn in now. I am so big and awkward. My belly is huge and my feet and hands are swelling. Noone told me this would happen. I was frightened about it but Momma said it's normal. Nothing about my life is normal!
Love always,
Mary
Dear Auntie,
We will be leaving either tonight or tomorrow night. I have never been to the city and I am quite scared. We are leaving at night so that noone can attack us as we depart. That breaks my heart, that my own friends and neighbors might be a danger to us. Hoe can this be? Does God really want people to treat others with hate and violence? Nothing has made sense for a long time. It seems as folks only want to be cruel and look for every opportunity to do harm. Papa says that everyone is under the influence of the Roman occupiers. I think that's an easy excuse.
My girlfriends came over yesterday and brought me food and gifts for the journey. They also brought items for the baby. Everyone thinks they won't let us back on our return, they told me. I don't really care, I just want to be home with Momma when I deliver. It is so hard to leave her, Auntie! She has been so brave, but I see the worry and pain in her eyes. Her spirit is troubled and she isn't sleeping much these days. Joseph has been really sweet and supportive but he seems scared too. He told me he's never been alone with a woman on a trip. I promised not to bite him! We both laughed at that.
Well, I going to turn in now. I am so big and awkward. My belly is huge and my feet and hands are swelling. Noone told me this would happen. I was frightened about it but Momma said it's normal. Nothing about my life is normal!
Love always,
Mary
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