A Daffodil, an Enduring Marriage, and a Greek Martyr

Weathering the Storms

                The day before we received the recent February snowfall, I opened the front door and glimpsed a lone daffodil standing stalwartly in the east flower bed. I thought, Little daffodil, you have no idea what is ahead of you!

                A few days later, as Mother and I exited the door to leave for church, to my surprise, the same sturdy daffodil swayed ever so gently in the light breeze. I marveled since a little less than a week ago, I had been positive the little flower would not survive the wintry weather. 

                I ticked off in my mind all that the flower had endured. The temperature dropped, freezing drizzle began, followed by snow. Then, we experienced blustery winds most of one day into the night. Some gusts measured 40 miles per hour!

                When the sun shone brightly, the gorgeous little daffodil’s brilliant yellow color virtually glowed in its glory. 

The Inspiring Daffodil - after the
freezing rain, snow, and wind

                As I reflected and questioned how this fragile, buttery-colored posy endured, one fact came to mind. The solitary daffodil was located on the southern side of the house in the bed east of the porch. This tiny, resilient early bloomer had excellent protection from the brutal elements of the week’s weather. 

                 Viewing the hardy daffodil reminded me of a strong marriage. My parents’ wedding took place almost 71 years ago on March 4. They worked at their relationship for 67 years until Dad's death. Mother and Dad worked hard, managed diligently, and sacrificed to meet the financial challenge - well-known to many rural couples. Surely, it would have been much easier to satisfy some personal whim they might have had. Instead, both of my parents practiced faithful “team” parenting day after day.

Mother and Dad at their 50th Wedding
Anniversary in 1998

The beauty of the regal daffodil that withstood the brutal weather exemplified Mother and Dad's marriage enduring the storms of life. In 1948, Mother and Dad never dreamed how challenging life would become for them. Health issues, compounded by their aging, left them feeling like the little daffodil in the throes of disagreeable weather. The frigid wind blowing around it, the driving rain and sleet stinging its petals, and the gusts of wind yanking on the lone flower, trying to jerk it from the frozen ground by the roots my parents’ relationship in their last few years. Yet anyone who experiences a successful marriage will weather the storms of life.

The last words I recall spoken by Dad illustrated vividly his commitment to Mother. Following his second stroke, he seldom spoke. He communicated with nods of his head and his eyes. Our procedure each evening was reading the Bible, praying, and singing. Then we made sure he was comfortably positioned in bed for sleeping. Then I usually said, “Good night, Dad. I love you” while Mother sat in a chair next to his bed and holding his hand until he drifted off to sleep. One night she surprised me when she said to him, “We love you. Do you love us?”

I remember thinking, Mother, that’s a bit cruel since Dad seldom can speak. The thought had barely passed through my head when my father’s piercing blue eyes looked directly at Mother, articulating with a strong voice and genuine, fervent sincerity, “I sure do!”

Both of my parents affirmed adamantly their trust in the Lord enabled them to  withstand the storms of married life. Their commitment to Him gave strength to keep the vow “Till death do us part.”

Through every storm, they lived by this verse from Isaiah 25:4 You have been a refuge for the poor, a refuge for the needy in distress, a hiding place from the storm, a shade from the heat. When the breath of tyrants is like a winter storm. (CEB)

Like Polycarp, who was martyred in the ancient city of Smyrna (in what is now Turkey), at age 86, in the 2^nd century, A.D., Mother and Dad would attest to God’s faithfulness. Polycarp  was quoted as saying, just prior to his sentencing, "Fourscore and six years have I served Him, and He has never done me injury; how then can I now blaspheme my King and Savior?"

Lord, may we look to You as storms come into our lives, as turbulence threatens our stability and sometimes bends us so low, we fear destruction of all we hold dear. May we dwell securely in You as our hiding place, as Your loving-kindness overshadows our worst situations, and Your peace envelopes us in a way beyond our understanding.

An afterthought - Dad enjoyed listening to bluegrass music, especially after his second stroke. As I wrote about Polycarp, I recalled this rendition of "He Ain't Done Me Nothing But Good" by the Isaacs, one of my favorite bluegrass groups. Mother cringed at the grammar but agreed with its message. Here is a link to it:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ll1QJS6UkSY

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

The Coyote and the Rabbit

A Coyote in Action

                One winter morning I walked to fill the stock tank with water for the cattle. Glancing into the west pasture, I spotted a coyote. It sauntered aimlessly. Suddenly, it broke into a sprint. I thought for a millisecond, What is it chasing? Almost immediately, only a few steps ahead of the predatory animal ran a small rabbit. The frightened hare stretched to its full length to escape its determined predator. The tiny prey raced to a gully where used hay coverings are placed. As it approached the shed, the coyote pulled up, recognizing it had lost the chase.

                Being so tenderhearted, I breathed a sigh of relief to not witness the demise of the rabbit. Scriptures began to appear in my mind. The first verse was:

Flee fornication. I Corinthians 6:18

In my memory, Jon Ogle, a former pastor of our church in Ralston, is associated with this verse. Jon preached boldly on this verse. He explained “flee” should be interpreted from the original Greek as “flee or run as a man in terror.” Brother Jon recognized how devastating sexual sin is in individual lives, marriages, and most of all, in families, especially impacting the children. 

Bro. Jon Ogle when in
Ralston in the 1980s.

The Bible commands three other reasons to “flee” or as Brother Jon’s would say “run as a man in terror.” The second verse can be found a few chapters further in Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians.

Flee idolatry. I Corinthians 10:14

Idolatry refers to anything or anyone elevated above God in our lives. Sometimes we don’t recognize our idolatry because it isn’t overt or obvious to us. But anytime we look to our own strategizing, finagling to achieve what we want or think is best, or lean on our understanding, we are not trusting Him. We are trusting ourselves and making our own capabilities the idol.

               In Paul’s writing to his protégé, Timothy, he addressed the third verse when he wrote “those who desire to be rich fall into temptation” and “the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil.” In the following verse, He told Timothy:

But you, O man of God, flee these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness.  I Timothy 6:11

Using Brother Jon’s admonition, we should run from the obsession to be rich since it leads to loving money which is defined by the Apostle Paul as “a root of all kinds of evil.” Ironically, when we love money, the money becomes an idol.

                Finally, in Paul’s second letter to Timothy, written shortly before his beheading by the Roman government, he instructed Timothy in chapter 2, verse 22:

Flee also youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart. 2 Timothy 2:22

Paul told Timothy to flee, run as a man in terror, from youthful lusts. Youthful, immature indiscretions are not limited to younger people in age. Years lived on the planet never guarantee wisdom nor wise living. As a person ages, experience should add wisdom but, how easily an older person can slip back into youthful temptations. My father used to quote the adage, There’s no fool like an old fool. Solomon wrote in Proverbs 3, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.” That reverential respect of the Lord will compel a person, no matter the age, to pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace.

                Like the rabbit, running in terror from the coyote, may we run from any form of immorality, idolatry, the love of money, and lust characteristic of youthfulness. Brother Jon Ogle would affirm this will honor the Lord and lead to a life worth living.

Bro. Jon Ogle during the 120th
Anniversary of the Ralston
Baptist Church on 
November 5, 2017.