“Wednesday, March 21, 1866

Last night we had thunder and lightning, and a shower of rain which continued through the night. I did not go out visiting this morning [or] in the afternoon. Lizzie and I went up to town and purchased some dry goods. Good calico is 23 & 30 cents per yard, lower than heretofore. Several of us went down this evening to [the military headquarters]. We have been anxiously waiting to hear what disposition is to be made of us. The north mail fails to reach Jackson. We are in hopes that tomorrow will tell [us] something that will be satisfactory.”

-Mary Jane Edwards– Jackson, Mississippi

And still, the sisters wait for instructions as to their future.

This is one thing that has not changed since 1866: How often must we, too, must pass time waiting for a situation to unfold! It isn’t easy.

Like Mary Jane did, though, sometimes the best we can do is to carry on with our shopping, notice what’s changing around us, and keep up our hopes for satisfactory news tomorrow.