Thru the Eyes of Little Tobias, the Amish Kid... (A True Story)

September 19, 2016

Little Tobias tried his best to be a good little boy, to sit up straight, and listen to the sermon. but it was all to no avail. Eventually, mother nature would take over, and little Tobias would put his arms on his knees, his chin in his hands, and doze off. It was not humanly possible to stay awake.

 It was at one of those times little Tobias had the most embarrassing experience in his life. At this point, sleep and mother nature were in complete control of little Tobias. He had his head between his hands, his arms resting on his knees, and had sailed off to Amish la-la Land. In his happy Amish dreams he was feeding Amish goats and Amish chickens, and feeling good about the farm world around him.

Suddenly, as if the heavens were speaking to him, one arm slipped off his knee... which propelled his body forward, and he stumbled across the aisle and into Mrs. Detwiler's lap, (also known as Mamma Roly-Poly). Gone were the chickens, gone were the goats, and Tobias found himself in a house, in a church house, in a roly-poly lady’s lap! It was a soft landing, much too soft for comfort!

To say little Tobias was awake at this point is a complete understatement. In fact, words cannot describe the embarrassment little Tobias felt at this point! There were a few giggles, as some of the other boys tried to keep from breaking out into laughter, But for the most part, all involved, and on the scene did a good job of keeping things serious... serious, as it ought to be in church, The good old preacher never missed a beat, and nobody ever talked about it!

Amongst the Amish there's certain things you just don't talk about! When things fly out of control as they did that Sunday, and situations come along that are out of their control, they let it go!

It’s like wise old Papa Yoder says, ”many times silence, and time is the best remedy.” The Amish know that misfortune can strike at any time, to anyone, at anyplace, and so they carry on! The goats must be fed, the cows must be milked, and little Tobias is forgiven for sleeping in church.

 -- Gerald D Hochstetler Jr.

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