Mom tells the story about her mother-in-law Theresa Sarah Adler.
The young woman was strong and vigorous. In one hand she carried a milk pail as she walked down the long lane toward the barn. It was a little late to be milking – the cows had been lowing their protests for an hour or more – but her husband was late in returning from work.
She really enjoyed milking, but tonight walking was difficult because she was great with child. The boy at her side was about three or four; he clung fearfully to her hand and pressed himself so close to her side she could hardly avoid stepping on his toes.
“Mama,” he asked with a tremor in his voice, “are you ‘fraid, too?”
That was a difficult question to answer because she had been feeling a bit uneasy herself. She wanted to be truthful. How should she answer the little fellow? His voice became more insistent and he leaned even harder against her. “Mama, I’m scared. Let’s go home.” He half turned so he could see the lamp light streaming from the kitchen window.
“Fear not for I am with thee,” the voice had spoken, yet she heard the words again, “Fear not for I am with thee.” The load seemed to lift. “No, son, I’m not afraid. We don’t need to be scared because Jesus is with us.”
“I’m not scared,” the little fellow said and proved it by skipping a step or two ahead. Many years later the lady told me this incident and added, “I’ve never been afraid since. Not really afraid. When you walk with Jesus, He casts out fear. It’s true, He really does.”
I knew her well. I never knew her to be afraid.