MEMORIES OF YESTERYEAR...You remember yours?
Anyone relate to these memories?
The countryside....
wonderful grandparents...
The little white Church...
THE LITTLE WHITE CHURCH ON THE HILL...
I remember this little white church on the hill that I went to when I was just a little girl...perhaps six years old. My grandpa took me there. It was soooo much fun, and we use to walk down the country road that was so quiet, dark and.....eerie!
Yes, I remember the walks on that beautiful country road, and seeing the trees, and the field ripe with pumpkins, and the fog resting just barely above the ground. Then, as we came to the little white church on the hill, I felt the dust between my toes like a soft sponge, as I climbed the dirt steps. Yes, too poor for shoes didn't bother me. I didn't like shoes, anyway. Oh, how much
I loved walking down that road.
I loved to hear the old folks singing the hymns of yesteryear. I'd watch the old man on the platform as he stomped to the tune of the song. Never missed a beat. His hands would clap, and at the same time his foot would stomp, and I would watch, intrigued to see if he would get out of beat...he never did.
I loved the old songs...I felt so good there. So safe and secure, knowing that there was a God who loved me, a sinner. Grandpa would always go to church...he loved that church.
I loved the climbing up the steps that led to the church...steps made out of the dirt of the ground...climbing, climbing up. Sometimes barefooted..we were poor, but then so was everyone else. I didn't mind it..I had plenty..all I ever seemed to want. I faintly remember dogs, and other kids...the smell of the trees, and the dust...the smell of the old church wooden pews. When we got tired, we would just curl up and sleep under the bench when the preaching began.
Did I tell you that I enjoyed the clapping, also? Well, I did. Grandma always watched that we were good in church. You never played around in church. Everyone knew THAT!!
I'd love to go back to those days of yesteryear and the old country church on the hill!!
Written by Shirley Kotsanos
How about when you were a little person...any truly fond memories? How about any of these...
Reading the Word by candlelight...
Reading the Word at sunset...
smell of brewing coffee...
My Grandfather...what a precious man of God! I had never known any man like him before...nor now. Gramps was a pure man..loving and gentle. Never knew him to lose his temper nor speak to anyone unkindly. Grandpa loved the Lord in all ways. I remember when he would get up at 5A.M., and
I remember seeing him sitting at the kitchen table with the oil lamp burning brightly. I remember seeing the smoke curling up the glass globe, leaving black rings on it...there on the table was his big black Bible, and his scrapbook, used to write down his thoughts on the scripture verses that he read; his hands on his head, praying, meditating, praising the Lord...this, he would do for hours, writing songs and poems.
Then, I would smell fried potatoes and onions, eggs frying, biscuits baking in the oven...and coffee brewing in the big black coffee pot.
We would come down for breakfast and the big black iron stove would be red hot...I would watch in wonderment, while the wood burned and the water on the side of the stove would get boiling hot.
Oh, I did so love my Gramps...I always loved to be with him...going to the woods with him and our horse Dan, pulling a large heavy chain that we used to drag back to the house all the logs that Gramps would cut to be chopped up for kindling wood to be used for winter fuel.
I remember skipping thru the woods, watching the squirrels; listening to the birds chirping; a rabbit hopping; smelling wild flowers, purple and green in colour; shuffling leaves from the trees...I loved it!!
On, we would go home, and I'd watch Gramps saw or chop the wood into lengths that could be hauled to the house by five children.
He never complained...he loved the farm and the country. I loved it, too. What great comfort, and example Grandpa was..what an influence he had on my life, years to come. The most wonderful gift that Gramps gave to me besides my Christian heritage..was..my mother, Beulah Alcott...Oh, but that's another story!
Written by Shirley Kotsanos
Psalms 34: 1, 2 ~ I will bless the LORD at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth.
My soul shall make her boast in the Lord: the humble shall hear thereof, and be glad. |
