The Patience of God on Display

        While feeding the cats one evening this week, I saw God’s patience illustrated in His creation. Dangling precariously from the underside of a shelf hung an exoskeleton of a cicada, For the first time in my life, I observed the laborious way God allowed the adult green cicada to emerge. As I watered tomato plants, checked on cats, and ran the weed eater some, I periodically checked the status of the emergence of the adult green cicada from its nymph case or exoskeleton. What a miracle in ultra slow motion!

First glimpse of the exoskeleton.

        

        The late-planted tomatoes are growing imperceptibly with an occasion blossom appearing. Not just the tomatoes or the emergence of the green cicada, but most progression in God’s creation moves at an unhurried pace rarely seen in our 21st century. 
        Then one morning, I finished edging with the weed eater after mowing the previous evening. The warm morning with its slightly cool breeze made the task almost pleasant. At one point, I had to go old school and get a spade to better edge the sidewalk.

The cicada emerges more.

        As I used the spade to move the dirt and then turned on the power blower, I thought of Grandma Gladys Rainey Smith. She loved the yard work, the expansive (at least for me) flower beds, and rejoiced when every aspect exuded touring a botanical garden. However, she had no power tools – just a hoe, spade, and shears leading to painstakingly slow, hard work.   

First spotting of wings.

        Jesus called God the vinedresser. God, in Jesus’s illustration, and Grandma both served as caregivers of plants. Pruning required cutting away anything endangering the growth or productivity of the plant. In the same way, Grandma’s edging, required meticulous care to remove the culprits of weeds, grass, harmful pests, or anything that impugned her vision for the flower beds
        Jesus called His followers branches on His vine. John 15:2 stated Every branch that bears fruit He prunes. Jesus articulated to His disciples that productive branches can expect pruning. Pruning removed the unproductive aspects of the plant.
        In the lives of the children of God, pruning is a slow and challenging process, almost always painful, as fruitless elements of our lives are removed. Yet it remains extremely important since John recorded in John 15:8, By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples. Yielding to His pruning will result in fruitfulness that glorifies Him.

Final photo of nine taken.

        

        Whether observing life cycles in God’s creation or equating our plant or garden care to the Father’s pruning of His “branches,” we see He demands patient waiting. This waiting is so evident in our prayers that we often pray for many years and appear to receive no answers, especially when petitioning Him for the salvation of a dear loved one. Peter expresses articulately this aspect of God’s character in II Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slow to fulfill His promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. 

         May we take time to see the patience of God on display in His creation every day. His followers obey and yield patiently to His careful pruning of unproductive aspects of our lives. Our prayer attitude of trusting His answer to come exemplifies our unrelenting trust in Him and His willingness to respond - no matter how long the wait.

Falls Creek Back in the Day

        

Kneeling: Paul Warnock, Darrel Banning (served as a lineman and died in 

1982), Tony Warnock. Standing: Jim Warnock, Linda Laird, Janice Wolf, 

Glenda Wolf, Jean Banning, Nancy LeForce, Opal Warnock, Vonnie Laird, 

Gilbert Domeny (who served his country for 20 years, retired, and died 

in 2019)

        A photo from the photograph collection of my maternal grandma, Gladys Rainey Smith, inspired memories of a newly formed church and its ministry to young people over 60 years ago.

        The Masham Baptist Church originated from brush arbors preceded by all-night prayer meetings. Mother said Brother Ray Hart, the preacher with a burning desire to see people’s lives changed by Jesus, guided in the building of the initial church structure. He taught his congregation the Bible with an unrivaled fervor for them to grow in grace. Mother said those early days of the Masham Baptist Church mirrored the last phrase of Nehemiah 4:6, The people had a mind to work. The congregation’s unity and willingness to work exemplified the first church in Acts.

        A couple of summers, my grandparents accompanied young campers to Falls Creek. Both had been saved as adults so had never attended or chaperoned a week with teens. Even though they didn’t meet the typical criteria for youth sponsors, some of those youth as older adults still comment on their week with my grandparents so many decades ago.

        Grandma was in her late fifties and attended primarily as a cook. She and Mrs. Warnock prepared the “grub” as Grandpa would say. Grandma recalled Brother Jim Warnock, their new pastor, refused to allow any complaint about the meals. Establishing that attitude of respect impressed Grandma.

        Grandpa went as a token male sponsor. He loved the outstanding teaching and preaching that Falls Creek always provided. His easy-going personality with an understated sense of humor emerged years later when Tony Warnock asked me about a little rhyme I had recited as a preschooler. Grandma had taught me to say, “Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.” Grandpa created a second line and I quickly learned, “Saddle up the cat and Nanny got on.”

        Mother recalled Paul Warnock meeting, getting to know in the youth group, and marrying Linda Bright at the Masham Baptist Church. Her usual comment: The Masham Kids were a good group.

        Recently, Vonnie Laird Robbins passed away. This brought many memories and mourning for Mother. (This link shares more about Vonnie: https://bernadeanjgates.blogspot.com/2023/08/singing-about-lilies.html)

        Vonnie’s sister, Linda Laird, sang with a beautiful soprano voice. Dad always connected with her at the Pawnee Sale Barn when he sold cattle. He would say, “I saw Linda when she gave me the check.” He delighted telling Mother any family updates Linda shared. Linda’s death brought such sadness to Mother’s heart.

        Nancy LeForce proved to be a committed Bible student--taught by Grandma in upper elementary grades, and then Mother in the high school years. Nancy sang with her sister, Janie, and Linda Laird in a trio that blessed many of the worship times at the Masham Baptist Church. Nancy’s grandparents served the Lord faithfully in many ways even hosting youth parties in their rural Masham home.

         Mother often commented, “It was always Nancy and Janie.” The girls were so close in age with Nancy being just slightly older, but Janie’s strong, determined personality belied that.* Mother was heartbroken when Janie and her son, Brett, were taken in a car accident in 1986.

        Janice and Glenda Wolf heralded from the rural Morrison area. Mother remembered Janice at the house parties, which were thoroughly enjoyed by the high schoolers. Recently, Janice sent a note expressing her appreciation to Mother for her influence in her salvation and spiritual journey. With Mother’s ministry opportunities being minimal, Janice brought encouragement to Mother’s heart. 

        Brother Jim and Opal Warnock, Jean Banning, my grandparents, and possibly Alwilda Laird had sacrificed a week of their summer to allow these young people to be immersed in Biblical teaching, preaching, and fellowship. May all who have a life committed to Jesus follow the Apostle Paul’s personal plan from I Corinthians 9:19 

Even though I am no one’s slave, yet I have made myself a slave to everyone. I have done this so that I might win more people to Christ.

*Our pastor commended Nancy LeForce Wills and her husband, Charles, for their willingness to serve the Lord faithfully week in and week out. He had served many years with them in the Pawnee Baptist Church. I enjoyed serving in VBS under Nancy’s directorship as children’s lives were influenced for eternity.

Remembering the Three Edmunds on Father's Day

             As a child, June was always the birthday month celebrating the two Edmunds in our family. Dad, Edmund, Jr., was born on June 15. My grandpa, Edmund, Sr., was born on June 16. Grandpa was almost 42 years old when Dad was born in the Bend on their farm located on the Arkansas River. My grandparents had purchased the small farm just two years before Dad’s birth.

          Grandpa had been born in Girard, Kansas in 1877. Grandpa was the first-born child of my great grandparents, John Fredrick and Elizabeth Studebaker Gates, both deaf. Grandpa’s first language was American Sign Language. https://bernadeanjgates.blogspot.com/2022/06/the-first-language-of-edmund-gates-sr.html

          The first Edmund Gates known in our family history was born on May 15, 1805, according to a contribution by his wife, Passingfair Shore Gates in History of Jo Daviess County, Illinois.

The First Edmund - born 1805

          Edmund was born in Iredell County of North Carolina, to Joseph and Elender Traylor Gates in 1805. He married Passingfair Shore in 1828 in Morgan County, Illinois, about 30 miles west of Springfield, Illinois. They settled on a claim in Jo Daviess County in the northwest corner of Illinois. The north Jo Daviess County line borders Wisconsin while its west county line bumps up to Iowa.

          The will of Joseph Gates, the first Edmund’s father, was proved on June 24, 1851, with his wife receiving one-third of his real estate and personal property. The remaining two-thirds of Joseph’s holdings were bequeathed to his son, Edmund.

          The other four descendants living were left one dollar. At first glance, based on the insistence on equity in the 21^st century, Edmund’s will written in the 1850s smacked with unfairness.

          Upon a brief, further investigation, the three of the four adult children, beside Edmund, listed had already relocated to Macon, Missouri, and were doing well in their own right at the time of their father’s death.

Edmund Gates, Sr.  - born 1877

          Edmund and Passingfair’s youngest child, John Fredrick, was around 11 years old when his Grandpa Joseph died leaving the bulk of his assets to John’s father. On June 16, 1877, when John Fredrick’s wife, Elizabeth Studebaker Gates gave birth to their first child in their Kansas home, they named him Edmund after John’s father, Edmund, who had died 2 years earlier in Illinois.

          Edmund, Sr., my grandpa, relocated to the Bend, leasing land until he purchased the Gates farm in 1917. It reached centennial status in 2017 when it marked the 100th year it had been in the Gates family. My Aunt Lou Gates lives on the farm. Her son, Tim Gates, owns this landmark farm.

           In 1919, my father was born on that farm on June 15. Grandpa immediately chose to give my father his name since my father was born only one day prior to his own birthday.

Edmund Gates, Jr. - born 1919

          The meaning of the name Edmund is “prosperous protector” or “happy defender.” The first two Edmunds seemed to fit the first meaning, but my own father was the epitome of a happy defender of our family and all he held dear – his loved ones, his rural way of life, his country for which he served in World War II, and his strong spiritual beliefs grounded in God’s Word.

The father of the [uncompromisingly] righteous (the upright, in right standing with God) shall greatly rejoice, and he who becomes the father of a wise child shall have joy in him. Proverbs 23:24 Amplified Bible – Classic Edition

Led But Not Exactly Following

          Recently, I moved, prepared, and filled the various types of block pans for the cattle. We were planning to allow them grazing privileges in the north pasture.

          After accomplishing all I wanted to do before turning the cattle in the north area, I called them. A couple of cows mooed in answer. I was pretty sure they were preoccupied with grazing the lush green grass that God had blessed us with this spring season.

Some of Mother's herd grazing. Only GSBG (Grand Sir's Baby Girl) looked
at me. She received her name upon being born as the final calf sired by Grand Sir.
Grand Sir was Dad's last bull whose favorite place to graze was the north side of
Big Bend Road outside the fence.

          I drove closer to the herd and parked on a rise. I called the cattle a couple of times with my voice and tapped the horn. A couple began coming. Soon most of the herd were following.

          Then almost as if a light bulb lit up for them, they moved past the truck. I slowed because they had missed the gate. They went straight to the spot where the block pans were. The only problem the fence separated them from the blocks they so wanted.

          I continued moving slowly toward the gate. I inched the truck through the opening and drove in the north pasture almost parallel with the area where the block pans were positioned.

          The cattle took a lick or two of the blocks and headed toward the new grassy pasture. The final one through the gate – a little steer – kicked up his hind hooves as if to signal, I think I’ll like it here!

          Frequently, we are like the cows who eagerly followed the truck, until they spotted the blocks. Don’t we often follow the Lord carefully until we see our prayers in sight? Just like the cattle, we head straight for our desires instead of following the Lord’s slower, sometime meandering, but meticulous leading to get us positioned for the very best for us. The detour we choose to take usually costs us time, delaying receiving our desires, and sometimes resulting in disappointment until we follow the Lord’s leading.

         Let’s obey God’s Voice recorded by the Prophet Isaiah in Isaiah 48:17:

Thus says the LORD, your Redeemer, The Holy One of Israel: “I am the LORD your God, who teaches you to profit, who leads you by the way you should go.

John W. Bierman, an Early Bender

The early day Bender and focus of this blog, Mr. Bierman has a great-great grandson and his wife, Mark and Dawn Anson, who continue to farm in the Bend. I attend church with Mark Myers, the great grandson of Mr. Bierman, who has stayed active this spring as he serves with the Oklahoma Baptist Disaster Relief. I think Mr. Bierman would be pleased with these descendants.

                Many people visited cemeteries all over the United States this past week. On our annual trip to Pixley Cemetery on the northside of the Bend in Osage County, I saw a tombstone that I had seen for many, many years, but this Memorial Day I viewed it in a different light.

Tombstone of John W. and Ella J. Bostick Bierman in Pixley
Cemetery as I viewed it this spring.

                During the past year, Lester Anson shared photos from the collection of his late wife, Tomasine Rainey Anson. Tomasine’s paternal grandpa, Lewis Rainey, and Gladys Rainey Smith, my maternal grandma, were siblings. Digitizing these treasured photos was like discovering a genealogical gold mine, and I am so grateful for Lester's generosity in sharing these priceless pictures. The portrait of Tomasine’s great grandfather Bierman prompted this blog post.                                                                                     

                Great Uncle Lewis met, courted, and married Pearl Bierman after the Rainey family moved to the Bend in the first decade of the  20^th century. They raised their children, Leo and Johnny in the Bend.

                The Bierman family members were recorded in the 1910 United States Census as living in the Bighill Township (the legal description of the Bend). John, the head of household was listed as 44 years old and interestingly both parents were categorized as German immigrants. His wife was recorded as Ella J. Bostick Bierman, nine years younger than her husband. She descended from French Canadian, Potawatomi, and Scottish ancestors.

Portrait of John W. Bierman - from
Tomasine Rainey Anson's collection.

                Grandma Gladys admired Mr. Bierman, as she referred to him, for providing leadership in the Bend. The community was so far from the Osage County Seat in Pawhuska. The men of the community intervened when a domestic abuse incident occurred with a couple. Even though the area was settled in that era by those of a pioneer spirit, with much determination, and indomitable endurance, men were not to strike women. They were to be respected and treated as the weaker sex. Even coarse behavior, crude joking and rough language were unacceptable in the presence of ladies in those days in the Bend. The men of the early Bend were not perfect but had respect for women.

                Mr. Bierman died in 1925 just a year after my mother’s birth. Grandma commented how pleased he was to hold my mother. Benders still value the birth of little ones and joyously welcomed our newest neighbor.*

                Finally, Mr. and Mrs. Bierman’s tombstone took on a renewed interest for me after seeing Mr. Bierman’s portrait, made over 100 years old. Their epitaph read:

Friends as you pass by

As you are now so once was I.

My grandma often quoted two additional lines to this brief rhyming epitaph because of its sobering tone:

As I am now soon you will be.

Prepare for death and follow me.

                Jesus gave us the clear way to prepare to have everlasting life in John 3:16 with these words, For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life.

 *On May 1, 2024, another little Bender was born to Tiffany and Casey Goad. Little Gatlin Babe Goad was given his middle name to honor his great great-grandfather, Otis “Babe” Goad, one of his “Bend” ancestors.