April 19, 2021 – “I Remember When…” – “The Longest Journey”

From the time I was a little girl, my parents carried me to church.  When I could walk up the stairs to the door of the First Christian Church in Clinton, Oklahoma, I began to think the many steps would lead to Heaven.

I went to school at the age of six years.  On Sundays, we walked in the doors you see at the top, and there was a short bench, just made for Dad, my two brothers, Jim and Gene, and me.  Dad held the hymn book, the Favorite Hymn book, on the leg, propped up to make a desk.  He pointed at the words of each verse to show me the way to join in singing the hymns.  He was my musical guide.  Mother played the piano for the singing in the services.

Sunday School Classes were conducted in the basement of the church.  There were round tables, with a place for the teacher to sit while she taught us.  We surrounded the teacher.   Thank you, Mother for writing my memories, the year after Dad died in 1979.  She wrote about Miss Fern Brodt, my first teacher, who taught students from the years of two to five years of age. She told interesting Bible stories to us. She gave us Bible Story pictures.  I still remember I wished I could be the teacher.

When Mother began playing for the choir and Dad joined, too, we soon attended choir practice every Wednesday evening.  We moved from the short bench in the back of the church to the short bench near where the choir sat.  Mother and Dad, both experienced teachers knew how to look at us to cause us to be on our best behavior.  And we learned many more hymns.

         The baptistry in this church was in the floor of the stage. We witnessed many baptisms.  Mother wrote in her memory book about Mr. and Mrs. Emory F. Gasaway.  I learned from the website, FindaGrave, that Emory Gasaway, born in 1884 and died in 1963. I was fourteen years old then.

Dr. Lamb listed in my record that I walked at 9 months, talked at 6 months. I listened with growing interest to the sermons Emory Gasaway preached.  Mother saved the Cradle Roll Certificate and I found Mrs. Gasaway signed it. (Dad used his Mother’s spelling of Emily again.)

When I entered my eighth year of life, I wanted to be baptized into the Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit. Dad and Mother said I was too young. They wanted me to talk to Brother Gasaway. I walked there.  He reported to my parents, “She knows exactly what she is doing.”  So at the age of eight, I was baptized.  I still remember coming out of the water, feeling so very clean and ready to go to Heaven and be with Jesus forever.

I never regretted my decision I made in 1937, eighty-four years ago.  There were many times I strayed from following the commands of Jesus. It seems that each time, He reminded me Who I belonged to.

God reminded me that pride goes before a fall, literally.  The evening I played a piano duet with Mother for a prelude on Easter Sunday evening, pride slipped in.  Afterward, I descended the carpeted stairs, and my new shoes caused me to slip and fall with a splat in front of everyone.  That verse came to my mind.

Once in Bible College, I thought I was a ‘good’ girl, and then I learned jealousy was a ‘Thou shalt not!’  There were many times l asked forgiveness for behaviors as I learned they were not acceptable to God, who desires Righteousness and Holiness.

I went to Bible College, I wanted to be a missionary in China before I married but was unable to do so. Then I met my husband, Edgar Combs.  We married and in rapid secession we had a family of four. The first birth, I learned about death, for I lost one of the twin boys, Donny.  Dan, Paul, Tim, and Anna, gifts from God, taught me more about being the Lord’s child.

Later, I met my friend, Linda from China. She became a Christian, before she returned. I told her about the joy of being baptized.  She has been a blessing to me for many years.

I taught school and enjoyed learning how to teach.  I learned so much more than my students.  My parents died in 1979 and 1998. They taught me how die trusting in the Lord.  Then my husband of 60 years was diagnosed with Lewy Body Dementia. We prepared to move away from our home of 38 years and moved to be near to our son Tim and his wife, Karen.

As Ed’s descent into confusion of dementia, my days of Care-Giving changed from Hands-On, to visiting as often as possible. We listened to hymns, prayed, and talked about Heaven together. After over six years, Ed lost his sight, ability to walk, or talking very much, he slipped away a month after we celebrated our 66th Wedding Anniversary.

The years have passed quickly, and I call this my Longest Journey.  My Lord gives me gifts to help me grow in faith and trusting Him.   I have learned that life is too short for Anger.  In times of trouble, shame, hurt, death, God taught me to love.  Learning the beauty of being God’s child is learning to serve and love others!  Love is not complete until we learn to forgive, as Jesus forgives us.  The steadfast Love of God is what draws me to Him over and over.

For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:38-39.

This journey would be empty without the Love of Jesus and promise of Eternity, and surety of reunion with my parents, brothers, grandparents, two sons, grandparents, and extended family and the friends I knew.

As I remember the times, I heard my parents welcome me home with open arms and smiles. His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your Master.’  Matthew 25:21. Then the journey that began climbing the steps will be over and then the promise is true.  And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. John 14:3.

4 Comments

  1. Oh, Jana, I pray and think of you often!!! May God continue to comfort you and show His Mighty Love to you!
    Thank you for sharing — Thank you, Jana!

  2. Oh, Jana, I pray and think of you often!!! May God continue to comfort you and show His Mighty Love to you!
    Thank you for sharing — Thank you, Jana!

  3. I read your Longest Journey this a.m. 4.24.2021. Thank you for your words, they so comforted me. God is so good to lead me to find comfort. Thank You!

  4. I read your Longest Journey this a.m. 4.24.2021. Thank you for your words, they so comforted me. God is so good to lead me to find comfort. Thank You!

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