Her Story Inspires Me

Within the last few weeks, a couple from Ralston, when in another Oklahoma town, was asked where they lived. When "Ralston" was their answer, the person who had inquired responded, "There was a preacher from Ralston  who always carried his Bible." The Ralston couple nodded and said, "That was Ray Hart."  Today's blog posting is about his younger daughter, Becky.

What happens when your talent seems taken away? Suddenly, your livelihood, your much-loved pastime, your service to the Lord, and even day-to-day tasks become monumental. Several years ago, this happened to Becky.

Becky, her sister, Ila, and her parents are in my earliest memories. Even though she and her sister were a few years older than me, I always anticipated their family’s visits. Most of the time her father pastored churches a distance from the Bend so we spent time with them infrequently.  (To read more about her parents, access these two previous postings: https://bernadeanjgates.blogspot.com/2015/06/one-of-most-unused-sources-of-power.html and https://bernadeanjgates.blogspot.com/2016/10/a-20th-century-widow-with-little-more.html).

However, in their late high school years, Becky and Ila Hart moved to Ralston for a few months when their father was between churches. We shared lots of laughs and fun times. I learned what a gifted pianist Ila was, with Becky an equally talented vocalist. As a voracious reader, I met my match in Rebecca Joyce Hart. She loved to devour books even more than I did.

Ila Rae and Becky Hart in 1972

During that short time, the Hart family lived in Ralston, my grandmother had a deep desire for one more attempt to have the gospel preached in the Bend. She arranged to use the vacant house where George and Hazel Goad had raised their family. It served to house the vintage foldable metal chairs, an antique pulpit and old song books. For a week that summer, the chairs, the pulpit and song books were set up nightly in the abandoned house's front yard. Brother Ray Hart preached each evening, with Ila playing the out-of-tune upright piano, housed in a protected area of the porch, as Dad led the singing. Becky sang solos several nights, too.

When the Hart family moved, we kept in touch but, with all of us having busy lives, seldom saw each other. Then Becky’s parents retired to Ralston, and our friendship with Becky and Ila renewed. But after the death of their parents, once again distance and time separated us.

In the early days of their marriage, Becky and Mark were involved in a dairy operation. Mark marveled at Becky’s care of the many little calves. Even though she had not grown up on a farm, she tackled dairy farming with the fervor of doing the best job possible – no matter what task she needed to do. She had learned this in her home with each chore she was assigned to do. What a testament to the parenting of Ray and Ruby Hart!

With joy, we read in one of Becky’s Christmas cards that she had begun singing with the Singing Church Women. Her husband, Mark accompanied her each month to the concert. Usually, at least one of the concerts each season took place close enough for Mother, Dad, and me to drive and enjoy the gorgeous, uplifting choral performance. Getting to reconnect with Mark and Becky made each evening a stellar event.

Then how saddened we were to learn of Becky’s health issues. Ila had passed away and now Becky’s voice and breathing prevented her from singing. Not only was Becky losing her opportunity to use her God-given vocal talent, her position as a loan officer at the bank had to be relinquished. Becky was diagnosed with “vocal-cord dysfunction.” Any scented product such as perfume, smoke residue, or as Becky would say “products too numerous to list” used by her clients caused her vocal cords to swell and in turn, affected her bronchial tubes.

But God was not finished with Becky yet. The last time we saw each other, Mark showed me this photograph on the left (or above—depending on your display) from his phone. He informed me Becky was operating the off-road dump truck in his photograph. The construction company for which Mark works was building a road near Pawhuska, Oklahoma. (Mark's company replaced the small bridge in Pawnee County near the home of Delsie Robbins Barrett.) They were short-handed that day. Becky hopped in and “made a hand” for the day. Her breathing remained strong during the day since she was in an enclosed cab.

God has restored her singing voice. It is lower than previously, but still she sings so each word can be understood. People continue to be greatly blessed by her solo voice. The day of  the 120^th Anniversary of the Ralston Baptist Church in 2017, Becky was able to bless the congregation with a moving solo.

She still struggles with warm, humid air and the other triggers mentioned earlier. Her “asthmatic” type reaction to these make her breathing feel like she is "breathing through a wet blanket or sucking air through a straw." Yet she rejoices that, on most days, she can sing. She also rejoices that God is good. Oh that we can all have Becky’s attitude each day!
This is the day the Lord has made; We will rejoice and be glad in it. 
                                                                          Psalm 118:24