Today, when I talk about my childhood, I thankfully and truthfully can confirm with the Apostle Paul, “I have learned… Take “guardian angels,” for instance – no one ever told us anything about guardian angels. The only angel we knew anything about was the angel Gabriel who came to Mary – certainly, he had no association with us, but I have learned. Does not the Bible plainly state in the Book of Hebrews regarding angels, “Are they not all ministering spirits sent forth to minister to those who will inherit salvation.” (Hebrews 1:14). Me! A guardian angel watching over me! Never! Angels were for those holy people in the Bible. Uncle Clem used to say, “Don’t ever compare yourself with the people in the Bible, they were God’s holy people.” Again, I have learned, for doesn’t the Book of Matthew (18:10) read, “Take heed that you don’t despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that in heaven their angels always see the face of My Father Who is in heaven.” (Jesus is speaking.) This, of course, means me – you too, dear reader. Now I understand from where the songwriter took his words, when he wrote, “All day, all night, angels keep watch over me.” He got them from the Bible! As a child, we use to sing this song; at that time, it had no special meaning for me; but again, as the Apostle wrote, “I have learned.”

My learning comes now in retrospect. Everyone knows tuberculosis is contagious. We all slept in the same room with mother – none of us contacted the dreadful illness.

Sister Beth died from polio – none of the rest of us caught it. How did Mr. Gordon always happen to be at the right place at the right time? Did he know what Uncle Clem was planning to do? Was this a made-up thing? We had no telephone.

Whenever we did things Uncle thought bad enough to take us off into the woods to hang us, Mr. Gordon was nowhere around, but he always managed to show up “just in time.” (I get chills thinking about it!) The day we sat discussing, “where babies come from,” and only Aunt Landa was there; Uncle Clem came home from work and she promptly told him about it. He didn’t leave the house again to possibly run into Mr. Gordon and say, “I need your help; I think I’m going to have to hang them bad children again.”

Only God – I am convinced – because I have learned that the believer’s greatest asset is “prayer.” Through prayer the believer can “Come boldly to the throne,” as written in the Book of Hebrews. I have learned that, if we pray believing, God hears and will answer our prayers. Mother prayed. Big Mama prayed. Same request, “Take care of my….” God heard. God answered. How can I not believe in guardian angels? How can I not believe in prayer – for, to believe in God is to believe in prayer?

What about Ronny? I slept in the bed right next to him – flesh touching flesh. Does a drunken man know a woman from a child when he’s touching flesh? I was but ten years old. What happened? Nothing. God again. Not only did He answer the prayers of my mother and grandmother, but also He allowed grace and mercy to sleep between Ronny and me.

What about the beatings? We could have been scarred for life! Perhaps, in ways, we were; but, not so I would live all my life seeking revenge; not so I became full of hate; not so that I needed to be in a mental institution; not so that I went for the rest of my life singing, “Nobody knows the troubles I’ve seen…” Yes, I have learned, and the most important thing that I have learned is – God’s grace is bigger than anything I can imagine! So ends my first story in this series I plan to write.