AS OLDER FOLKS DO

Remember those who led you,
who spoke the word of God to you;
and considering the result of their
conduct, imitate their faith.
Hebrews 13:7

Recently I have been thinking back on my home church and folks I watched. We don't realize as we age how “little eyes” watch us. They may not know why they watch, but I think it's a part of life. Those people watched may never know until Heaven the influence of those watched by little people, especially. This is usually true of children who watch adults in any life situation...school, church, neighborhood, relatives, etc. I recall what an adult watcher I was in growing up days, especially at church.

Kirby Walters was the head of our church deacon board for who knows how long. He sat faithfully on one end of the same pew every service. He was a very nice looking “older” man physically and quiet in nature in my contacts with him. I liked even a moment to greet him. He was a pipe smoker using the cherry scented tobacco so I became acquainted with that warm aroma. He was a faithful man.

Aunt Ida Mayer was anything but quiet. She was a small, thin lady with a strong voice. Aunt Ida was a real woman of prayer. She lived two houses down from our church. Sometimes in the summer as I walked by her house, her front door would be open, but had a screen door. I couldn't see into her house but could hear her. Boy, could she pray. I don't think I've known a woman in my lifetime that was such a prayer warrior as Aunt Ida. When she prayed on Wednesday night, we settled in for a good spell of time.

Rose Stevens lived over the track from our house. She walked to every service from her home. It made no difference what the weather was like, she could be seen passing the front of our house walking at quite a clip for a lady who may have been up in her 70's. If we offered her a ride, she kindly refused. She always smiled, never missed a service and usually had some candy in her purse.

Ruth Young was one of those ladies every small church either has or should have. She did a little of every kind of task from teaching to secretary. She taught me how to teach children during a VBS when I was in high school. Little did I know how far that time she spent with me would take me through my life. At the end of our first VBS she said to me, “Glendarae, some day you will be a great Bible teacher.” I don't know how great, but she started that thought in a young heart and teaching has been a huge part of my life.

Gus Peebels was also a deacon and dad of my best friend, Donna. Before really knowing him, there was one thing I always noticed. He always carried a big Bible, reference style. It wasn't that he carried a Bible, but as I recall, His Bible looked a little tattered in places. He was a dear godly man. I came to know that such happened when a Bible was well used. Gus was a man of the Word and I still remember seeing that Bible . I was watching.

All of those folks are in Heaven now and and I'm so grateful not just for them but others who walked the walk before a little scrawny, blond headed girl who just watched. There were others, too many to list who help me along in so many ways. I believe they will be rewarded for their influence not just in my life, but in the lives of so many others.

In those I've mentioned, all were so different in so many ways . In each of them, no matter the age, weaknesses, where they sat in church or what they gave to the ministry, each exemplified a faithfulness that is hard to come by in our day. We used to have really big snow storms. No matter what, you would find each of those folks in their places at church. Even Rose still walked at her usual speed headed to church. That's hard to come by in our day no matter the age of church members.

Jesus was THE One who taught us the most about faithfulness and lived it with every step He took on this dusty old earth. His focus was on His Father and the Father's will no matter the difficulty, harassment, disappointments and physical trials. He was faithful in every aspect of His life. May we be a faithful people, never knowing big or little who may be watching us with a kind of wonder. It has come so quickly from those days, but now I am one of those of age as you might be. We won't know when younger eyes are watching when around us, but now we are the ones being observed...a bigger responsibility than we know.

Make some time to think back on the church of your younger days and those folks you watched. Take time to thank God for them and their influence in your life.

Father, I thank You for those in my young life who were examples for me and who taught me more than they could ever know. They were just a few among many You allowed me to watch and learn from. Mostly I thank You for Jesus, my supreme example of love and faithfulness. In His precious name....Amen