Never Too Late - Laura Ingalls Wilder

1867–1957

Most of us know Laura Ingalls Wilder from her “Little House” books and the 1970s television show, Little House on the Prairie, that they inspired. The books are based on Laura’s life as a girl growing up in a family that worked hard to provide for themselves in the Midwest in the mid-1800s.

At eighteen, Laura married Almanzo Wilder and lived and worked with him on a farm. They had children, a daughter, Rose, and a son who died after birth. Shortly after that tragedy, Almanzo developed diphtheria and was partially paralyzed from the illness. Not long after that, their home burned to the ground.

A drought further complicated their situation, putting them in dire financial straits. They moved from place to place trying to find somewhere they could prosper. When they landed in Mansfield, Missouri, it took them twenty years to become truly prosperous on their new farm.

Their hard-earned prosperity lasted until the stock market crash of 1929, when they lost their investments, but not their farm. Laura had written some before 1929, but it wasn’t until after the crash that she tried to publish an autobiography, Pioneer Girl. It was rejected, but she didn’t give up. She edited and edited, and eventually Little House in the Big Woods came to be. The $500 royalty check she received from the book was the first of many that finally brought lasting financial stability to the Wilders.

Through her autobiographical stories, readers get a glimpse of the spiritual education woven into Laura’s childhood. The family attended church, and the children learned the Bible. This foundation must have been a comfort to her as she faced tragedy during the early years of her marriage.

Knowing Bible stories and verses and drawing on our understanding of them can be a great comfort when we are going through difficult times. If, unlike Laura, you didn’t receive that type of education as a child, it’s never too late. Bible stories and Scripture memorization aren’t just for children in Sunday school.

Do you feel the need to be more familiar with the Bible? If so, set aside a few minutes each day to read it on your own.

When I discovered your words, I devoured them. They are my joy and my heart’s delight, for I bear your name, O LORD God of Heaven’s Armies.

Jeremiah 15:16