Hugs to Sister Barb

I'd like to give Sister Barb a hug.  She doesn't live in my area anymore, but if I get to see her again, I will hug her and tell her what a great inspiration she was (and is) to me.

Sister Barb was the ultimate pastor's wife, friend and mentor.  A true Titus 2 woman*, she was willing to take me under her wing and teach me things I needed to know - things about ministry, and things about organization.

I had never really met an organized person before.  She opened my eyes to list making, keeping and building your own planner, storage, couponing, menu planning and so much more! Every time we got together, I learned something new.  She was always willing to answer my questions and show me "hands-on" the way she did things.

She introduced me to books on home organization. I learned about Emilie Barnes and her "More Hours in My Day" books and Pam Young and Peggy Jones book, The Side-Tracked Home Executive, which ultimately led to The Flylady.

She encouraged me to be in ministry.  I started out being a Daisies Missionette Leader with her help and guidance.  Although teaching little girls did not end up being my calling, it was a stepping stone on to other avenues of service.  The things I learned during the year she lived in our community started me on the path to being the Ministry Assistant I am today.

That's right - I was only under her mentoring for one short year before her family moved on, but I will never forget the lessons I learned from her. She proved you might not have a long time with a person, but you can sure make an impact in her life!

~~~

* a Titus 2 woman is a woman who lives by the following scripture:

Guide older women into lives of reverence so they end up as neither gossips nor drunks, but models of goodness. By looking at them, the younger women will know how to love their husbands and children, be virtuous and pure, keep a good house, be good wives. We don’t want anyone looking down on God’s Message because of their behavior. (The Message, Titus 2:3-5)

This post was written in response to Writer's Workshop prompt 1.) Somebody you'd like to hug. If you'd like to join the fun, link up at Mama's Losin' It.

Wonder-Granny

Today, I've been residing in nostalgia-land.  Every once in awhile I relive my childhood by remembering the ordinary and extra-ordinary days of long ago.  I began to think of my granny who was a big influence in my life.

My granny became a widow in 1960.  Shortly afterwards, she moved in with us.  She and mom both got jobs in factories. Mom worked the day shift and granny worked the evening shift.  One of them was always home with us and my brother and I did not have to go to daycare.  (I have bad memories of day care ...)

This picture was taken towards the end of her stay with us.  She actually was only about 50 years old when she first moved in.

My granny was a wonder.  How did she do it?  How could she take care of kids during the day and then work all evening?  She worked physical labor at a factory despite having scoliosis.  In fact, factory work was always her occupation.  Her last job was at a factory downstate making automobile seats.  By that time, her scoliosis had made her look like a little hump-backed woman.  (I'm not saying anything that she didn't say about herself.)

We turned our dining room into her bedroom; therefore, she had little privacy whenever she tried to sleep.

Dad always worked weird shifts and was unpredictable as to when he would come home.  I'm sure she was awakened many times by him stalking through the house.

Despite being a hard worker, she was always a lot of fun.  She loved to play games with us, Bingo and the card game, "Authors," being her favorites.

Often my mom had to work on Saturdays when Granny might want to go to town.  She'd just order a taxi (she didn't drive), bundle my brother and I up, and head for the city streets.

We lived in a suburb of Chicago.  In those days, shopping malls were rare - so was Wal-mart and K-mart.  If you wanted to shop, you had to go up and down the city streets looking for different shops.  I have many memories of us doing just that.  I don't remember my brother having a stroller, either. I wouldn't have drug a little girl and a toddler boy around in and out of stores!

Our shopping days would end with a trip to the dime store.  We often were treated to little toys purchased there.  I do remember she bought me a little toy washing machine.  It was pink metal and was similar in size to a jack-in-the-box.  I had great plans to wash my doll's clothes in it.

Of course, we always picked up some bags of candy to eat later when we were playing Bingo.  Her favorite was the circus peanuts (a fluffy concoction shaped like a peanut).  Mine was the spearmint leaves and Tim wanted the orange slices.  (Those candies were like gumdrops)

One of the perks of having a steady job in those days was the ladies would have a "standing" appointment at the beauty shop and get their hair done every week.  Since granny was a shift-worker, she had to find someone with flexible hours.  She found Mrs. Pickles who worked out of her home and was willing to work with granny's schedule.  Soon granny was involved in their lives as well.  They would have little parties for their kids and granny (and therefore, we as well) would attend.

The most amazing thing about granny was that she would get involved in the lives of everyone she came across.  It wasn't long before she had just as many friends as she did in the little town she lived in before moving in with us.

It seemed you couldn't go anywhere without her running in to someone she knew.  And if not, she wasn't afraid to make small talk and find out if anyone was related to someone she knew.

I could write forever of all the fun things she did and said during my childhood,   She truly was a blessing in my life, my hard-working, fun-loving, involved-with-people Wonder-Granny!

This post was written in response to Writer's Workshop prompt  3.) Share an old picture of a parent or grandparent...who were they back then?  Want to read more?  Visit Kathy at her blog, Mama's Losin' It.

Sammy and Belle

Today, the prompt I am writing on from the Writer's Workshop is #3 - Tell us something you learned about a grandparent that surprised you. I'm writing about my paternal great-grandfather who left a great spiritual legacy. I was surprised to find an obituary telling of his conversion when I was tracing some genealogy.

Once there was a young man named Samuel.  When he was 26, he had a real experience with God.   He decided to “cast his lot in with the Lord’s people” and joined a little Missionary Baptist Church not far from where he lived.


Three years later, he married Arabelle.  He called her “Belle.” (My dad loved his Grandma Belle and wanted to acknowledge the great influence she had on him.  He named the little plot of land where I grew up for her. He was always going to put a sign up saying “Belle’s Acres” but never did …)

Cana Valley Farm in 2009

Sammy and Belle (that’s how I like to think of them) were hard workers. They had an apple orchard and some farm land in Illinois.  Their farm came to be known as Cana Valley Farm. Their two story white house stood on a bluff overlooking a big sturdy red barn and a good part of their farm.  The apple orchard was their main source of income.  At Christmas time, they often made gift baskets out of their beautiful apples and had them shipped via the railroad to Chicago and points north.

God blessed them with many children.  Some records show 11, other 9.  I believe it was 9 children plus two grandchildren they raised because of their daughter-in-law’s death. There were four boys, four girls who lived and one daughter who died as an infant. My grandmother was the youngest.


Sammy had a long life for those days.  He had worked so hard all his life.  He was almost 71 when he passed away after being sick for two years.  It is said he had seizures, some felt it was brought on by all the spraying of chemicals on his apple trees.  Pesticides were much more dangerous then.

When he died, my grandmother was barely 17.

Sammy’s obituary says, “This ends the history of one of God's noble men, a loving companion, a good father and neighbor. He has gone and many relatives and friends will miss him. But the thorn strewn paths [never?] again shall pierce his glory guided feet as he humbly vies around God's throne and his dear name repeat.”

Not too long ago, I visited his grave.  He is buried next to Belle in the churchyard at that little church he joined so many years ago. I have actually been to Cana Valley Farm and saw the house and the big red barn. (I took photos but they didn’t turn out so well…) I also met a lady who once used to live nearby and often visited Cana Valley to buy apples. (This would have been from my great grandmother, Belle, and her son.)  She said that she remembered everyone in the community thought our family were the nicest people.

My point is this:  Sammy was a godly man.  Since Grandma was only 17 when he passed, she didn’t share that many stories about him.  But we do have his obituary which tells of his conversion and his godly life. The other details I have shared were supplied by my dad.

My generation has been handed a godly legacy.  It is up to us what we do with it.  I don’t know why God chose to save people in my family when there are so many that have never even heard of Jesus. Why were we so blessed?

I have been blessed in that not only do I have Sammy’s legacy, but my maternal grandmother as well as my parents left a godly heritage. All of them demonstrated their beliefs by living the best they could for God.

No, they weren’t perfect.  But they trusted in God. I know they prayed for their children and grandchildren to know God.

Even so, it doesn’t matter what our parents did with their legacy.  What it comes down to is this:  what will each of us do with the godly heritage we’ve been given? We can only be responsible for what we ourselves do.


And for any of my readers who cannot say that they have a godly heritage, let me just say, let it start with you!  You be the one to be the example and live for Christ.  Pray for those who come after you.  You will never know, until eternity, what an impact your prayers may have on a future generation.


Perhaps you never "cast your lot in with the Lord's people."  It is simple to do - recognize your need of God's mercy.  None of us are perfect and we have missed the mark in so many ways.  If you believe, like I do, that Jesus gave His life for our sins, rose from the dead, and lives to extend grace and mercy to everyone that wants it, then just talk to Him about it.  He wants you just the way you are right now!

This post was written in community with Writer's Workshop.  You can link up here.

Well Done

..."Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord." Matthew 25:23

She lived her life in a circumference of less than 50 miles.  I doubt that she ever traveled to more than three states. When asked at Christmas or birthdays for ideas for gifts she would say there was nothing she wanted. She was the original frugal housewife.

She was a Christian, a wife, mother, daughter and sister. My mother-in-law, Edith, was totally content to stay in her God-given roles and serve to the best of her ability. Loving her family, she gave her all and did whatever was asked, often going the extra mile.

She attended the same church from birth unto death. (She was loyal like that). She attended every service barring extreme illness.

Yesterday, after a valiant fight, she went on her first long-distance trip.  She went home.  Home to see her heavenly Father.  Home to see her husband, baby son, mother, father, two sisters and a host of friends and relatives.

I think when she stepped through Heaven's gates, she was greeted with the words, "Well done.  You've been faithful, come on in to the joy of the Lord."

____________

For the next few days, my family and I will be celebrating Edith's life.  Please pray for her children.  Edith left behind five children.  Yes, they are all grown, yet no matter how old you are, you don't want to lose your mama!

God Bless Youth Workers!

Back in the day when I was a teenager, most churches did not have youth pastors. If a church was blessed, there would be a few adults that would take it upon themselves to work with the youth.

I started going to a little Southern Baptist church that was close to my home. We had been driving into town to go to church, but decided to try the one in our neighborhood. Turns out that a lot of the kids that rode my bus attended that church. I felt like I could fit in with the youth in that church, so we made it our church home.

There were two ladies, Roberta and Lois, that enjoyed doing things with the teenagers. They were sisters and they each had a child about my age.

They were so awesome! They were willing to take us to rallies and gospel singings.

In the south, where I lived, it was popular to go to singings to hear quartets, family groups and all manner of southern gospel music. A real treat was to go to an "all-night singin'" which actually only lasted until after midnight. Bummer. It was at an all-night singin' that I first held a boy's hand!

But I digress.

Roberta and Lois were also willing to take us camping, host bonfires, and even work up a good old-fashioned "haunted house" for us to celebrate fall. [I seem to remember being blindfolded and have my hands thrust into cold spaghetti -- this was to represent "dead brains."]

We girls came up with the idea of a singing group. Lois played the piano for us and Roberta sang the alto part and made us all matching long dresses to wear while we sang. I smile as I think of this because I was so shy that when we sang, no one could hear me! I guess I was just there to look cute in the dress!

Lois was always willing to let me join family camping trips and come home for Sunday dinner after church to Memaw's house.

They helped us put on Christmas plays every year and monitored swim parties at Mrs. Bates' house.

Best of all, they were willing to chaperone us every year when we went to church camp. Some of my best teen memories are of sitting around the campfire and all of us singing "Pass It On" and "Kumbaya My Lord." Of course, there was a lot of teasing, laughter and practical jokes back at the dorm.

Now, that I'm a mom of teenagers myself, I can see what a sacrifice of their time it was to be so involved with the youth group. They had to be tired sometimes and have chores at home that needed to be done. They both had other children at home besides their teenagers. They both had husbands that probably would have liked more attention from their wives.

I thought of them the other day when I saw this verse: "Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up." Galatians 6:9

Out of their efforts working with the youth group, Roberta gained a daughter-in-law. A godly daughter-in-law who told me the other day that after 33 years marriage she still likes her husband pretty good! This heritage has been passed down to the next generation. One of Roberta's grandsons is studying for the ministry.

Lois gained a son-in-law out of the youth group. Her daughter and son-in-law have been married 34 years.

No, I didn't marry anyone from the youth group, but I was rooted and grounded in relationship with Christ and I serve Him today. My husband and I have been married 32 years.

Those are pretty good statistics for kids raised in the 70's.

There were others that they impacted while working with the youth. Maybe not everyone stayed in church like Roberta and Lois hoped, yet God has promised that if you train up a child in the way they should go, when they are old, they won't depart from it. [See Proverbs 22:6]

Only eternity will reveal the extent of their fruit.

Here is a picture of Roberta and Lois, almost 40 years after I first met them:



They're still going strong. Roberta still decorates cakes. Lois babysits her great-grandchildren every day!

These are Titus Two women, people! They taught me how to love family and my church family.

After many years, I went back home and dropped by Roberta's to visit. It was wonderful to see them, but all too soon family responsibilities made us cut our visit short. As I was leaving, Roberta followed me out onto the porch and told me more than once, "I love you." I told her I loved her, too, but I should have said, "I know you love me, you proved it over and over to me, and I thank God for you."

God Bless Mrs. Bates

Every church needs a Mrs. Bates. She was a willing worker who was under-appreciated and over-worked. She led the song services, put on the Christmas plays, taught the girls’ auxiliary, used her home for sleep-overs, parties, and all other events (she had an in-ground pool) and did a myriad of other small jobs that my teenage self could not comprehend.

Looking back, I realize that she was about the age that I am now when she was so busy at church. We girls thought of her as elderly, and we were highly amused at her singing. We felt her operatic style voice was out-of-date since rock music had come on the scene. I can still hear her warbling in my mind singing "I come to the garden alone while the dew is still on the roses."

No, we didn’t appreciate Mrs. Bates like we should have then, but now I realize what a treasure she was!

The greatest thing that Mrs. Bates ever did, in my opinion, is that she is the only one that asked me if I had made a personal decision for Christ. I was raised in the church and was a faithful attender. I knew all my Sunday School lessons and could answer any question a teacher would ask. Everyone assumed that I was a Christian – everyone, that is, but Mrs. Bates. She is the only one who made sure that I knew Christ and let me know that head knowledge wasn’t enough to get to heaven, I had to accept Jesus as my personal Savior.

Mrs. Bates went on to live a long life. In fact, she is still alive over 30 years later. She cannot sing now, nor even talk. But she has many good memories of a life of service for her Lord. I’m sure one day she’ll hear:

"Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!' " (Matthew 25:21 NIV).

Do you know someone like Mrs. Bates? Please share, I'd love to read about other faithful workers for Christ.

(Since this post was published, Sister Bates has went home to be with the Lord.) 




I'm entering this post in Sarah Bessey's Patron Saint and Spiritual Midwives series because I consider Mrs. Bates key in my spiritual birth.

You can read about more patron saints at Sarah's blog, sarah bessey.