This Small Town

As I view flat prairie with mountain range beyond, morning sunshine warms me and I know by afternoon, fierce storms may gather without warning. I envy not the urban dweller rushing to and fro amidst stark cement barriers. Yes, small town life suits me… I’ll not trade nights laying head on pillow as moonlight pierces the darkness and coyotes cry to the far reaches like their ancestors before…No, never! I could not, would not, give up the freedom found in these open spaces where peaceful Amish plow behind horses harnessed in leather strap. I proudly tell inquisitors, I met my husband dancing at the old grange hall, then settled on the ranch his kin claimed and worked three generations back. I feel safe, protected here among friends in this quaint little town. Crime is not a factor—not a priority one deals with on a daily basis. Trips to market bring no snarled traffic, no changing lights of red, yellow, green. Welcome is felt, not heard from silent voices behind familiar smiling eyes. On unpaved roads I return as dust fills nose and eyes, making me sneeze but it’s joy rather than nuisance as I jog along in our old pickup truck. Here the family is strong, unified—respect for elders required, blending generations of those who tamed the land before us. Sunday church services overflow with scrubbed and shining faces as preachers spread harmony and warnings from the Good Book. Camaraderie and sportsmanship are taught in this small town. Proud parents gather in crowds to support their team at each and every event. Discipline and morals form traditional characteristics of the region, and authority is respected on all levels, patriotism honored. Our children do not stray to the bright lights of the city vandalizing, joining lost souls seeking acceptance on mean streets. Early evening sounds of slumber echo thru’ thin walls of this old farmhouse for morning chores greet our kids, us, in this game of sweet survival. No, I do not envy city folks or opportunities I may have missed therein, nor do I allow them to bring me scorn, or take pity on my soul. I gain my worth from one greater, wiser, more forgiving than mere mortals… I hear the voice of my Creator, and I follow where He leads.