Just for old times sake…
Filed in General |
Journal,
Isn’t it interesting how a memory can get locked in your mind and be just as fresh today as when the event took place. And yet the years have long since passed by like water under a bridge.
Case in view is my grandparents. I hold such love for them. When I think about my grandparents it is almost like looking into a ‘time frame.’ Grandfather Carver was born in 1883 and my grandmother in 1892. Grandfather Martin was born in 1876 and my grandmother Martin in 1888. Wow, grandpa Martin was born 132 years ago.
Sure wish I had known my grandpa Martin better. He passed on in 1950. We had moved back to Louisiana from California, in 1949. I only had a few short months to get to know him. What I remember best is how he would sit on the front porch of the old blue house with his coffee, play his guitar and sing. I also remember him playing his guitar and singing in church. Course I have more memories of grandma Martin. She passed in 1972. Boy, I can still smell those cathead biscuits.
But think about it. One hundred thirty two years is a long time. Yet in the passing of time it is like the twinkling in the eye. My, how times do change.
And I have wonderful memories of grandpa and grandma Carver. It was always such a treat to get to spend summer time with them. I loved to watch grandpa play with his cats. He would put a sock on the line of a cane fishing pole, and have his cats chasing the sock all over the place. Seems grandpa Carver could do anything. He had a blacksmith shop, a one-horse sugar cane mill, a duck pond, besides being a carpenter and a chimney builder. And he had the longest toes. Grandpa could pinch you until you hollared, ‘Uncle.’ Grandpa use to grab me and say, “Want me to whoop you now or wait til tomorrow.” “Wait for tomorrow, grandpa, wait til tomorrow!!!”
Where do you find a stopping place in remembrances? Well, not yet. But believe me there will be a point to all this sharing of memories.
Back to the grandmas. Wow, what treasures. Grandmas are always extra special. There was nothing like going to grandma’s house. The smells from her kitchen linger with me to this day. But uncle Cullen was the clown in grandpa and grandma Carver’s kids. Guess that was why all we grandkids loved him so much. When it came time to say grace, uncle Cullen would chime in with, ‘Down through the kitchen. Down through the hall. Hope to God I eat it all.’ (And some others I won’t mention at this point.) Grandma would give him the look and uncle Cullen would just laugh. I think as the baby he was a bit spoiled.
Then my mind goes back to my forebearers and I think of all the different names and all the history that links back through my personal lineage. My Martin line includes such names as, Edwards, Miers, Morgan, Ward, Aragon, and Torres. Some of my Carver ancestry includes, O’Banion, Bonds, Westmoreland, Russell, Clayton, and Brown. And as far as I can tell, all my forebearers were Christian.
This lineage reaches back to the Revolutionary War. Some of my forebearers fought the British. And by the way, like most pioneer families, I do have Indian in my
lineage; Cherokee and possibly Apalachee. My kids have a good dose of Chowtaw from their mother. That’s why I sleep with one eye open.
The picture to the right gives an idea of how some of the pioneer families appeared and lived. They were handsome, robust, and simply down-to-earth people who were willing and able to take their living from God’s good earth.
Come to think about it, maybe 132 years isn’t so long ago after all. I remember families from my childhood days who lived in log houses that had been built by settlers. I also remember studying by a kerosene lamp, drawing water from a well that daddy and I dug, and watching daddy plow the field with a horse.
And do you reckon all these memories serve a purpose? Is it possible that we will get to meet those who have gone on long before us, maybe even hundreds of years ago?
That is something to think about. Is there any Bible for this being transported out of time? Could be. The apostle Paul did say that he saw and heard things in the third heaven that he was not permitted to share. But coming back to time, let me share an instance …
Where time past meets time future…
There are two notable men in the Bible who lived separated from one another by about 700 years. The era of Moses was in the fifteenth century before Christ. The era of Elijah was nine hundred years before Christ. Did they ever meet one another? Not only did they meet one another outside of time, but they also met with Jesus, and were seen by the apostles Peter, James, and John.
Such a thing is difficult for us to wrap out minds around. Here is the Bible setting:
“Six days later Jesus took with Him Peter and James and John his brother, and led them up on a high mountain by themselves. And He was transfigured before them; and His face shone like the sun, and His garments became as white as light. And behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, talking with Him.
“Peter said to Jesus, ‘Lord, it is good for us to be here; if You wish, I will make three tabernacles here, one for You, and one for Moses, and one for Elijah.’ While he was still speaking, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and behold, a voice out of the cloud said, ‘This is My beloved Son, with whom I am well-pleased; listen to Him!’” - Matthew 17:1-5 NASB
Oh yes, there is more evidence that we will meet and have fellowship with God’s people from all the ages. For instance as many of the Jews continued to struggle over Jesus, some believed in him and some rejected Him, there was a Roman soldier who demonstrated genuine faith in the Lord. Jesus had this to say concerning those who would accept him and those who would ultimately reject Him:
“He marveled [at the Roman soldier] and said to those who were following, ‘Truly I say to you, I have not found such great faith with anyone in Israel. I say to you that many will come from east and west, and recline at the table with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven; but the sons of the kingdom will be cast out into the outer darkness; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’
“And Jesus said to the centurion, ‘Go; it shall be done for you as you have believed.’ And the servant was healed that very moment.” - Matthew 8:10-13 nasb
Did you catch it? We are going to have fellowship with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, not to mention David, whom we all love, and Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Paul, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and … Well you get the picture. But I would like to add, and grandpa and grandma Martin, and grandpa and grandma Carver.
What makes all this so wonderful is that the story of redemption has never been fully known. It can be likened to something the Queen of Sheba said about Solomon and his wisdom; “The half has never yet been told.” (Something like that.)
Anyway, I’ve enjoyed sharing this bit about memories and about time.
May the Lord’s blessings overtake you in your journey of faith,
Buddy
