— Meet Janet
Brooks
When I first met Janet five years ago, she was a young bride. Her husband had courted her for several years by buying her meals, topping off her mobile phone and buying her an occasional soda. He never gave up pursuing her, because he was so sure she was “the one.” Janet, however, was reluctant to give in, wanting to make absolutely sure that Aaron was God’s best for her. Finally, though, she did when he took her on a date to the Kitale Museum This was the only place he could think of where they could be completely alone, so he could ask one more time if she would marry him. Whether it was the museum or the girls he began to notice in addition to Janet that made her decide to marry him, I’m not sure, but now they have been married for six years and she is decidedly happy with her choice.
You can see from her photo what a sweet, kind, soft, gentle person Janet is. The first time we met, we were in a group of about 10 women where I was talking about some of the challenges in marriage. After some time of each of us sharing, this new bride sat in complete shock saying she had never heard women talk about such things so openly. Then, she sheepishly confided that her greatest challenge was listening. Her husband was not the typical husband who would come home late or perhaps not at all. Instead, he came home every night and talked, and talked and talked. Her question to the rest of us was how long must she listen to him in order to be a good wife! We still giggle and share knowing glances when in a group this husband of hers goes on and on and on. (mmm, gives me tremendous insight and sympathy for my own poor husband, who in our case must be the long-suffering listener. )
Janet’s life is hard. There have been days without food; there have been two pregnancies and births that somehow by God’s grace, she was able to pay for. Rent has not been paid and ultimatums given by landlords. Living with in-laws has become a customary necessity. Waiting for the profits of harvested maize has been difficult, and loss of hoped for income during a season of drought, a trial all it’s own. Worst of all, her youngest at age one began to have seizures, one after the other with few days in between. Going to friends for money to be able to take him to the hospital was humiliating and difficult. The doctors saying that he appears healthy, even though there are seizures, has been frustrating. They tell her without further testing it is impossible to know what the problem is, but there are no funds to pay for more tests, so fear remains and a mother’s love is filled with worry.
So how does Janet respond to these challenges? The same as the first day I met her. I asked her then how she practices her faith. She simply answered, “I must get up very early, before my husband, before doing the washing. I read God’s Word, I meditate on a verse I have read that touches my heart, I pray for strength and peace.” That was five years ago. She has not changed. Just yesterday she told me, “There are things we can’t change by our understanding, but when we present them to God He will make the changes that are best.”
Regardless, of all else, I stand in awe of the African woman. She endures much; she walks silently often holding things deep within in her heart, but ever confident in her faith. Without God, she has nothing. With Him, she has hope. Hope for healing for her son, hope for necessities – like food and clothes and housing. Some do give up; but women, like Janet, look squarely at the grim face of adversity. They hold on; they trust and they believe. Janet is typical of the women I get to hang out with here in Africa. They are young and courageous, full of faith, taking nothing for granted, grateful to have a God to hang onto and a Father who cares. They inspire me and humble me. Gifts all on their own.
