Guess who lost the argument over whether or not Maria should get help stacking two new cords of wood for winter by herself?

It was a brief discussion. Once again, I suggested calling in Ethan, our young neighbor, or the hard-working young Amish woman to help out.

Maria said, unconvincingly, that she would think about it. Yesterday at dusk, I heard the family thumping of her tossing the firewood into the shed to dry out for stacking.

She is excited, she said, about a new stacking system she has conceived. I’ll try again one of these days. Maybe she’ll yield a bit if it gets scorching. When we met some years ago, Maria said she often deferred to men.

I missed that period.

That was a long time ago. I’m not complaining; just watching in awe, love, and amazement. She is one strong person.

I learned some years ago to accept what I can’t control. But I am also learning that love is, in part, about worrying about someone and yielding when you should and when it wants. Love is never one simple thing, but many wonderful and complicated things.

I respect her strength and her right to make her own decision. I will keep the right to worry about her in moderation.