In The Revolt Of Mother, I was surprised that Adoniram did not put up much of a fight when he returned and found his barn his home. Earlier he was adamant about not listening to Mrs. Penn and her pleas for a new house. Why then did he not revolt himself?

-- Anonymous, March 12, 2000

Answers

I think he finally realised that he had been a selfish jerk for many years and gave in. He promised "Mother" a house many years before and he just put it off, perhaps thinking she'd forget about it. Obviously, she didn't and so she took over the barn to teach him a lesson. It worked. He took a good look at what he had overlooked for so many years and gave his good, faithful wife the house she wanted.

-- Anonymous, March 15, 2000

I think that he knew he should have built Sarah a house all along, but she didn't put up much of a fight before so he was going to do what he wanted. Then when he came home he didn't really have a say in what they did cause it was already done and over with. It was past the point that he could do anything. He knew he had been in the wrong and was now put in his place.

-- Anonymous, March 17, 2000

Often we say,.."I am going to do this when.....", or, " we are going to have this when..." but we do not always get to that point. Expansion often takes presidence and we put peoples wants aside as long as we possibly can. I don't believe the house was forgotten, it was simply put off as long as possible. I also feel that the importance of the home was understood by Adoniram and his tears expressed guilt and disappointment in himself for hoping to continually put the home off.

-- Anonymous, March 17, 2000

I believe that over the years he had not fully understood his wife's truly wanting the new house. He shows us this at the end of the story through his emotions when he is openingly weeping. But in his heart he knew that the right thing to do was to go along with his wife's wishes, and that is why he did not revolt himself. This shows a lack of communication on the part of the husband, but also on his wife for not resolving the issue years earlier.

-- Anonymous, March 18, 2000