Mom was born October 23, 1936. She grew up on a farm in Kansas, the middle of three sisters with a lone older brother.
She trusted Christ as her Savior at the age of 11. She often noted it was the same year that Israel became a nation. At the end of her freshman year of High School, Mom made a commitment to prepare seriously to serve the Lord. In one of her GRANDMA REMEMBERS letters to her grandchildren, she shared Psalm 71:5 says, ” God has been my trust from my youth.”
That impacted so many decisions she made throughout her life. She often told me she never wanted to be a farmer’s wife, but she didn’t mind if she married a Pastor or a Missionary. Well, the man she married, my Dad, became a pastor when I was three. She got her dream. Later in life, he also worked with the farmers and even purchased grazeland of his own. So there’s that!
Her gift from a very early age was a love for playing the piano. Her church gave her the platform to use that skill often and her father encouraged her to do it. By the time she was in the 7th grade, she had learned to play enough choruses that she was asked to play piano for the chorus time at her church’s VBS. She wrote in another letter to the grands, “I used to hate to see the lady line up her chorus books on the piano and we could only sing the songs the leader picked out. …I wanted to memorize oodles of choruses and then the other children can pick some they like too.” So she did! And every year until she graduated from high school, she was given the ‘privilege’ of playing for Bible School.
She also had many more years as a Pastor’s wife teaching children in Sunday School and VBS and as a Mom to five of her own. She spent many years teaching piano to the kids in the county, including myself and my siblings. We all still play somewhat- even if just for our own enjoyment. But we are all grateful for that skill.
Mom and I recently talked about a time in her life when she felt joy in writing music and would spend as many free moments at the piano as she could with hopes that one of those hymns would find its way to be published. As a young girl, I remembered being proud of her creativity and courage. I recalled praying as she would seal an envelope with her new song that this one would be loved by someone. She shared that her college professor had written that he too was proud of her for using her skills like this, but that he was sure that as music was becoming more contemporary and her hymns would be lost in the change.
One of my favorite times when we stayed at my folks was early on a Sunday morning, we could hear Mom at the piano rehearsing a prelude or offertory for that morning’s service. Most often it is a hymn of my youth and I would hum the tune and worship from my bed as I recalled the words.
Then years later my mom (and dad) experienced a CHANGE! From being a pastor’s wife, and piano teacher to being an Activity Director at a Nursing Home in the area. My dad continued to preach in area churches, but he also started to farm- one of the things Mom never wanted to do. My mom continued to use all the skills and gifts she had developed since she was a child and ministered to the residents at the Manor. She used her gift to love on people and encouraged hymn sings and a rhythm band. And sometimes they just listened to her play.
While I don’t remember the songs Mom used to write, I do remember the energy I saw in her- the excitement about a ‘possibility’! I have cherished it at a time in my life when I have had to CHANGE too!
Though I could never play like Mom- the polka dots always seemed to get mixed up when I tried to get more elaborate, I’m forever grateful that I can enjoy that gift on my worship team or for my own private worship at home. Or just for fun!
Even though my mom would say, I should have prayed that God would use us in a big church or a larger area.
Sometimes I don’t feel like I’ve accomplished much in my life. But ten years ago she wrote, “I used to think that when people turned 65 years of age, they should slow down. Well, we do slow down and it takes us longer to do things, but more opportunities keep arising.”
If you go back to Psalm 71, verse 18 also says “Now also when I am old and gray headed, O God, forsake me not! Until I have showed thy strength unto this generation and thy power to everyone that is to come!
From 2003 to 2012 Mom wrote to her Grand-children each month to share a “Grandma Remembers” Memory with them. I want to publish her stories but she says, “Oh they are just my memories of ordinary things and ordinary people.”
Lyrics of an old song ring true here:
Just ordinary people,
God uses ordinary people
He chooses people just like me and you,
Who are willing to do as He commands.
God uses people that will give Him all,
No matter how small your all may seem to you;
Because little becomes much
As you place it in the Master’s hand.
