This week we held Vacation Bible School at our church in Ralston. My aunt, Lou Gates, celebrated her birthday this week, too. Even though she no longer works in VBS, her commitment to VBS was strong in the past. She invited her grandchildren to stay with her all week long, transported them to the church each day, and helped serve the much sought-after cookies and Kool-Aide to each student and worker at the VBS. She so desired for her grandchildren to hear about Jesus and receive Him as their Savior. Ann Goad, her dear friend, also worked faithfully in VBS at the Big Bend Baptist Church and the Ralston Bible Church.* May their dedication to ensure children know who Jesus is and learn to love Him serve as inspiration to all of us. Happy Birthday to You, Aunt Lou!
I have
heard the statistic of the rarity of a person who has five lifelong friends. One
of the finest examples of genuine friendship was eloquently described in a poem
penned by Lou Dixon Gates, my paternal aunt. She doesn’t share her poetry
readily. Her poem captures the strong friendship she shared with Ann Christensen
Goad.
She and Ann Christensen Goad met at Burbank High School in 1950. They shared a
love of playing basketball and soon found they had other interests in common.
As the poem depicts, these two kindred spirits shared a common bond that held
them together through marriages, bearing four children each, reaching their
career goals, and supporting each other amidst sorrow and illness.
The two “girls” involved their husbands in their friendship as her poem bears out. The four enjoyed attending many sporting events together. They took in the yearly farm show, making it a two-day adventure.
I recall Uncle Jim
Gates regretting that he didn’t go visit Forrest “Frosty” Goad, Ann’s husband,
for the last time. Uncle Jim had innumerable rounds of treatments to combat
the Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma that invaded his body. I remember sharing with him a
scripture verse that had encouraged me when the constraints of life prevented
me from doing all I would like to do for a person or in a situation. Jesus
spoke of Mary of Bethany, responding to criticism of her anointing him with
costly perfume, with these words recorded in Mark 14: 8, “She has done what she
could.” Jesus went on to explain that her action would be an ongoing memorial of
her love for Him. A true friend understands our limitations and loves us, truly
valuing any expressions of genuine friendship, no explanations or apologies
needed,
The writer of Proverbs inspired by the spirit of God wrote in Proverbs 17:17, “A friend loves at all times.” My aunt’s poem illustrates this Biblical principle. She and Ann lived out this verse throughout their lives.
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| Lou Dixon Gates who would readily show you her keepsake book with names of her grandchildren and the date each received Jesus as their Savior. Some of the names are written in their own handwriting! |
Two Girls
One country girl
Outside chores and walked a lot
One city girl
Inside jobs and walked a little
School together
Science, Miss Mantooth
History, Mrs. Brandenburg
English, Mrs. Norman
Typing, Gussie
Drivers Ed, Mr. Stegall
Change gears going up school hill
Basketball
Mr. Stegall
Wasn’t as old as we thought
Bus rides
Girls to the front, boys to the back
Teamwork, signals, plays
Noon hour
Joe Hedge drug
Coke in a bottle
Spearmint gum a nickel pkg
Sat nights
Fairfax a must
One dollar paid for
Hamburger, Malt, Movie and Dance
Boys
Dated several
Picked two,
Wouldn’t you know they were both coon hunters
Each of the four
Accepted Christ as Savior
The city girl moved to the country
Walked a lot
The country girl moved to the city
Walked little
Busy life four children each
Church
School
Ballgames
Home
As promised
Thru thick and thin
Grace, Mercy and Peace
FRIENDS
*To read more about Ann's VBS teaching, go to https://bernadeanjgates.blogspot.com/2015/02/remembering-tomasine-leigh-rainey-anson.html .
Ann Goad had four great grandsons attend VBS this week. Vonda Smith Goad, her daughter -in-law, helped serve refreshments at VBS with two granddaughters -in-law, Bailey Hime Goad and Tiffany Atkins Goad taught classes in VBS 2021.
To see a photo of Ann, go to https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/102355230/barbara-ann-goad
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