A sister's tale...

"I am Rachel, one of Ben's many sisters. You may have heard of my brother Ben... Or Benjamin, to give him his Sabbath name.

He was always flighty, when he got the chance, but he didn't often get the chance because, with Father, he and Samuel had to do all the work. And there's a lot of work to do...

I often wished I could have helped, as I'm good with the animals, but apart from feeding up the orphaned lambs until they were big enough to go in with the rest, it isn't fitting for us women to do the work - or so Father says. And Mother would never disagree with him. So Ben and Sam never have a minute to themselves - and Mother's always complaining that she never sees Father...

So we weren't surprised when Ben decided he'd had enough. Mother was furious that Father not only let him go, but gave him money too... But like she always says - no-one ever listens to her! She spent days trying to talk him out of going, but he was adamant, saying he'd end up like Samuel, grey before his time, if he didn't leave now.

We never found out where he went or what happened to him there... All I know is that while he was gone Mother worried; Father sat with a dark cloud over his head; and Samuel worked his fingers to the bone. His mood got darker and darker, as Father withdrew and Mother fretted. We sisters worried that he'd leave us too and then who would be left to work the farm once Father got too old. Not that he was doing anything now - just staring into space...

On that day...

On that day Father was watching, as he always did. We had become so used to him standing on the brow of the hill - looking out for Ben - that we didn't even notice anymore. Only Sam commented, saying he was letting the farm go to wrack and ruin, caring more about Ben than about the livestock or the crops.

Then suddenly Father's voice rang through the house - "He has come!"

Mother ran through the house, gathering us up and filling the kitchen with cooking smells and chatter. "Where has he been?" "What has happened to him?" "Why has he returned?" "What will happen to the farm now?"

Well I gather you know all about the party we had - and if you don't I'm sure you can imagine...

But Sam wouldn't come in.

He was so angry he could hardly speak.

And now, who knows what will happen?

Will it be Sam who leaves this time?

How will Ben fit back into the family?

How can we sisters ever feel secure again?"

(Luke 15: 11-32)