The Influence Of Faithful Parents

 
They have lived it in the home life,
They have followed God's true way,
They have kept a humble spirit,
As they've walked from day to day.

Their small home was consecrated,
They both guarded all within;
Nothing entered to defile it,
God's approval thus to win.

God opened up that little home,
For the gathering of His people.
Not like a worldly church at all.
With stained glass or a steeple.

Just a simple little meeting,
Where the love of God was shared,
By a humble little gathering,
In a home God has prepared.

They upheld the life of Jesus,
Every deed and thought and Word
And it brought into their home life,
All the blessings of the Lord.

God's own servants often come there,
And they spoke of things above,
As the peace of God was ruling,
Filling both their hearts with love.

Both heads bowed at every meal,
Thanks was given from the heart,
For provisions from the Master,
That gave strength to do their part.

Little hearts were learning quickly,
All that comes from God's own hand,
Seeing two lives gladly yielded...
Pilgrims in a stranger's land.

Knowing that their lives were temporal,
Knowing brief life's longest span;
Seeking for a better country,
They had learned of God's great plan.

Faithful in the place of prayer,
Kneeling often by their bed.
Two heads bowed before the Lord;
(Little lives were being led).

Little ears were also listening,
Eyes were watching all they'd do,
Little hearts were being softened,
By the faithfulness of two.

Little wills were being broken,
They were taught how to obey,
By those two lives that were dying,
To themselves along the way.

Oh the privilege in knowing,
Such a godly home as this;
The blessings of that influence,
That so many children miss.

May God bless and keep the parents,
In whose lives God's plan was shown,
And by this into those young hearts,
The seed of Truth was sown.

Now these lives have yielded also,
Have a heritage to gain;
From the influence of two people,
Worshiping in Jesus name.

Author Unknown

In Memory Of My Mother

This is Annette when she came home from the hospital with her mother and her big sister saw her.

In memory of my mother, Sara Juanita Waters Shippey who would have been 70 years old today. I hear her voice in my head so often. I have used the guidance she taught me all my life. I can hear her playing the accordion out on the deck in the wee hours of the morning, still. I can remember a time I made her cry and to this day I feel awful I did. But, I can remember her forgiveness and her constant love. I'm glad we were an affectionate family for there are times when I can remember her hugs and feel the warmth yet again. The pain of her loss has lessened over time because I've come to understand why God called her early. How she would love her grandchildren!! So proud of them. So proud of her son for all his accomplishments. I imagine if she were living she and Dad would have traveled the world over by now. This morning, what I remember most was her faith in God. She loved Truth, our fellowship meetings, singing the hymns. Most mornings I would see her sitting in her living room chair....knee highs with knit bootie socks Grandma would make us with her sweatpants stuck inside them...her pj's...sometimes shirt inside out...and a blanket wrapped all around her as she would be reading her bible...or kneeling over the ottoman praying. She was a powerful influence in my life. And, over the years, I come to realize the influence she had in other people's lives., as well. Remember the school plays she would have her kids perform? Her walks around the school with the kids mimicing her every move. The stories she would tell us of "funnies" the students would say. I remember after her death cleaning out her classroom and just sitting and crying on the floor not wanting to pack up. The reality of her death hit so strong. Yet, the memories of all the beautiful times flooding my head. I didn't have my mother for very long in life. She died at the young age of 47. I'll be 47 this year. But, she made an impression on my youthful heart and spirit that I am so very grateful for. One of her favorite hymns from our hymn book is title A Tender Heart. "Give me a heart that's tender true...."  "Take out the stony heart, take out the bitterness: Give me a gracious heart that's full of tenderness, A heart that understands, that will not fret or pine: Give me a tender heart- a heart like thine."...and one verse in particular "I want to feel the pain my neighbors often know And lend a helping hand if he be friend or foe. I want to share the loss in every weal or woe And have a tender heart, wherever I go." I think she had this kind of heart. She loved people. She told me one time she didn't know if she could "want to feel the pain her neighbors often know" but she wanted God to work with her heart so that she would be willing for such. I think she had a wonderful heart. But, then again, she was my special Mom. Her kindnesses inspire me to be kind. Her own heart encourages me to this day from her own heart. The loss of a loved one is just plum...hard. But, memories of that loved one feed us when we need them and warm us to continue on. She would often tell us children before we would leave the house to go spend time with friends, "You are our children, but remember whose you are." Love while yet you can be loved. And when the arms of that loved one are no longer available, love the memories that can be loved. - I just felt a need to share. Love to all! Those who knew her, I hope you have special memories of her as well.

Written By: Annette Shippey Whitley

I Remember

I remember!

In 1964, I was sitting near the back of the Ocala convention in Florida. I was reading my bible concerning some things that were said in the previous meeting. A married friend of mine, Max Hubner came in and sat down beside me. I don't recall any particulars of our conversation, but he did note that I was sad inspite of my smile and chat. In truth, I had a breakup with someone I was learning to love and it was all because of a misunderstanding of my life by some elderly people in Miami, but that is another story and not part of this one.

While we were chatting, I, and maybe Max, noticed an attractive young girl ease her way up toward seats near the front of the meeting tent. Max and I continued to chat while observing, more side glances, this girl who seem to be contemplating something. After a few minutes, she started to leave, but as she got near the row of where we were sitting, she drop something and reached to pick it up. After picking it up, she turned to us and asked if I was Roger Cleveland. Me or Max? Whom did she address this to? Well, Max, ever so clever, jumped up and said, 'No, Mame, this is Stirling Shippey and I am Max Hubner. I am just about to leave. Here you take my seat' and with that, he pulled her toward his vacated chair and pushed her down in it.

'Stirling is a chef for an Airline catering kitchen in Miami. He is 22 years old, five foot nine, and weighs about 145 pounds. He swims, sings and drives cars from Dalton, Ga to Miami for his Uncle. I have to go find my wife. Here, you chat with him.'

He turns to me and says 'That is $20, Stirling.' and to the girl he says, 'I'm Stirling's sponsor'. Good luck', and he leaves.

Look, I wasn't ready to meet a new girl, but Wow, this one is really pretty and she smiles like a princess. Oh, she tells me she is from Georgia, but this is another conversation where the particulars are not remembered, but the flutter of my heart is remembered. Now, this is Saturday afternoon and I didn't see her again until Sunday afternoon when I decided that I better get her address. So I searched for her after lunch with my little black book, you know, the address book most guys have when they are not really serious about life but want a bragging documentation diary. Mine was nearly empty.

I found her in the parking area among the cars where she was mopping around. She seemed pretty distressed as she later told me they were about to leave to go back to Georgia. But when I walked up and asked if I could write to her, her mood changed drastically. She was more than happy to give her address in Commerce, Georgia. And that was the start of a relationship that changed her life and mine, big time. She said she had the worst headache all Sunday, not knowing if I wanted to see or write her. I guess the headache went away and affairs dealing with the heart can do both, you know. They can give us headache and heartaches or feelings of euphoria.

By: Stirling Shippey