I told my father of this woman, and he looked into her, and it was his first contact with Job, a descendant of Esau. A man known for his righteousness. I did not worry after that, but I did hear that the woman had died. I could not feel sorry for her, as she was blessed to even have a righteous husband. If only I was so blessed to have a righteous husband!

It was not long after giving birth to my daughter, that Tamar, herself, gave birth. As she laboured, she was the centre of a tight little band of kinswomen and villagers: a midwife and her friends. Having seen me give birth, she knew what to expect.

It was funny watching the birth of her children. We thought one child would be born first as he stuck his fist out, and the midwife tied a crimson thread bracelet around his wrist, and said, "This one will come out first!" but then it was like he was dragged back into the womb, and the other came out first instead.

"What a breach you have made for yourself!" the midwife exclaimed to the new borne baby, "What will you call him?"

"Perez," Tamar gasped as she continued to labour on. Eventually, her second son was born, the one with the crimson thread bracelet on her arm, and when he was handed to her, she said, "I shall call you Zerah."

Tamar's insistence on her rights was rewarded by the birth of not one but two children! I was happy for her as I knew the stubbornness of my brother. Tamar was a righteous woman, and I was able to help her with raising them.

A further 5 years went by, Tamar and I becoming closer friends as I helped her raise her 2 sons. It helped me get over the loss of my daughter, who I often found myself praying for.

One day, as I was chasing a giggling Perez, I ran into a distinguished older man. I was instantly attracted to his godly demeanour, it was as if he had suffered a lot of trials and had overcome them. His dark eyes were full of compassion and understanding.

"I am sorry, my lord," I bowed to him, as I had finally caught the hand of Perez the 5-year-old miscreant, "May I help you?" I asked this as it was not often, we had male guests.

"Yes, thank you," he spoke with a melodic deep resonant voice, one I could quite happily have sat and listened to for ages.

I shook myself at these erroneous thoughts and paid attention to the rest of what he was saying, "Could you please show me the way to Jacob? I have an appointment with him."

"Certainly, I will walk you to the house and you can knock on the door, a servant will attend your needs from there," I said before asking, "May I ask what your visit is about?"

He just smiled at me and shook his head, "It be God's will I am talking with him, that be all."

I walked with him holding my squirmy nephew's hand to the door and bid him, "Goodbye."

I was tempted to add, "May we meet again," but the time of my audaciousness had long past with the loss of so many precious people to me. I had just concentrated on serving my God, and my family the best I could. I could no longer serve my friends because they had been taken from me; and since losing my first friends, I had not bothered to make any more due to fear of losing them.

I simply walked away, talking to Perez as we left, "Let's go find your Ee-ma and brother!"

"Yes Aunty!" he crowed, and looked back at the man, "Do you think he is here to marry you?"

I could have died of mortification.

"That is not for me nor you to decide," I eventually said, feeling like I had blushed up a storm.

"Oh well! If he isn't going to marry you! I will when I am old enough," Perez promised.

'Oh, this kid is killing me!' I thought, embarrassed by the whole conversation, but I replied, "I am sorry Perez, our age differences is too big, such a thing would not be allowed..."

"Why not?" he demanded, "Age is not that big of an issue with me."

"It's not just our age, dear," I humoured him, "We are too close of a relative."

"Rubbish!" he snorted, "but since you say so, I will accept it for now."

I sighed thankful for the moment as he fell silent. We went around the back of the house and found Tamar and Zerah sitting outside under the shade of one of our trees on the grass. "Let's join your mum and Zerah!" I said to Perez and flopped myself down next to Tamar, "I am exhausted Tamar!" I exclaim, "Let me rest for a moment and then I will go help prepare the midday meal."

I was not so lucky though, as not a second after I had plopped down a servant came out, "Miss Dinah, please come to the study, your father wants you."

"Oh for crying out loud!" I exclaimed, dragging myself back up and dusting myself off, "Do I look presentable Tamar?"

Tamar ran her critical eye over me, "Well, as best as you can be without changing." she stated, "Why? Since when have you worried about your looks going into father?"

"I don't but a man came today, and I am wondering if that is why father is calling me," I informed her.

"OOhhh, well you better get going then, you can't leave him waiting," Tamar teased me, knowing nothing about the man.

I smiled at her and hurried in after the servant to my father's study.

I paused and composed myself before entering, I did not wish to leave a bad impression on the man if indeed it was, I was being called by father to meet him. I entered with my back straight and eyes downcast, as befitting my father's wishes.

"You called for me father?" I ask him, I could see using my peripheral vision that the man indeed was with my father and he was looking at me.

"Yes Dinah," my father agreed before saying to the man, "This is my only daughter Dinah. She has been widowed some 5 years now. If you want her, you can have her as my promise to Esau."

I could feel the man studying me, but I got the impression he was not looking at my beauty, rather my soul.

"Dinah," he asked softly, inviting me to look at him properly, and as our eyes met, I could feel the beauty of this mans soul all over again, "What do you think of God?"

"I am thankful for him, he has blessed me and taken from me, but who knows his mind? I do not, but he is worthy of my praise," I answered.

He seemed to like what I had said as he turned to my father and said, "I agree to your terms, if she agrees to having me."

My father nodded and asked me, "Dinah, this is Job, a righteous man, I believe he would be good for you as you have many similarities in some regards. Will you accept him as your husband?"

I nodded as I felt in my spirit that this was the man God wanted for me, "May I ask a question?"

He nodded, "It is allowed."

"Do you have a wife?" I asked, "It's just you have the same name as the husband of a woman I met a while ago."

"I had a wife, and children," he nodded, "But they are all dead now."

I teared up remembering my own losses, "I am sorry, I know what it is like to lose your family."

He nodded accepting my condolences but did not say anything more.

I suddenly felt awkward, so I asked my father, "If that is all father, may I go?"

My father nodded and I excused myself, leaving the men to discuss whatever business left they had together. Instead of returning to Tamar, I headed to my room for privacy of my thoughts.

"So, I am engaged to be married again," I thought.

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