Tag: legacy

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The Blessings of a Godly Mother

I’ve heard the story of my birth for as long as I can remember…not that it was all that remarkable or out of the ordinary…it was just that my Mother liked telling the story and I loved hearing it. I was expected to make my appearance toward the end of April, 1967. On the afternoon of Friday March 31st, Mother drove to town for a checkup at the doctor’s office, a hair appointment at the beauty shop, and a few other errands. However, when Dr. Magie examined her, he said she needed to head on over to the hospital immediately because she was about to have her baby. Mother laughed, thinking he was joking. After all, I wasn’t expected for 3 more weeks – she had felt no labor pains – he was scheduled to go out of town for a short hunting trip (planned so he could be back for my birth), and she was headed to the beauty shop! She truly believed he was kidding with her. In fact, she told him she had a hair appointment and asked if it would be all right if she got her hair fixed and then head to the hospital. He assured her she needed to go straight there – so she called Daddy and Mam-ma to come join her, then settled in nervously and excitedly to wait. Dr. Magie was right – I was born just after 4:00 am the next morning, an April Fool’s baby who fooled her family by arriving a few weeks early.

As a little girl, I always smiled a big smile when Mother told me this story. I loved thinking I had played a clever trick on my family with my surprise arrival.

The hospital where I was born closed shortly after my birth when a new hospital was built across town. The beautiful old building sat up on a hill empty and abandoned for years. One day when I was around 8 years old, Mother drove me up that hill and around to the back of the deserted building. She said she wanted to show me something. We got out of the car and had walked only a few steps when Mother pointed up to the unique round balcony on the 3rd floor. “I walked out on that balcony the night before you were born and stood for the longest time praying over your life”, Mother said. “I just wanted you to know that – that I prayed earnestly for you before you were even here.”

Photo credit: Betty Patterson (Thank you, Betty.)

Even as a child, I was humbled by what she said – it seemed like such an important thing to me that day….and it still does. Every time I remember her words, I feel so honored, so blessed by her gift.

I just did the math – I have been on this earth a total of 20,290 days since my April 1 birth all those years ago – and I feel absolutely and 100% completely confident that my Mother has prayed for me on every single one of those days. What an amazing blessing!!!

So, my precious mother prayed for me before I was born and every day since then. I have never lived one single day on this earth without being covered by her prayers. Not one single day. What a difference, what an impact this has had on my life.

It made me thoughtful recently, thinking how I would miss those prayers someday when she is no longer with me…..

…but several weeks ago, Mother was talking to me and thanking me for helping her with some things. “I pray about your future”, she said, “and I’ve prayed that when you get older and perhaps need help, that there will be someone there to help you like you’ve helped me.”

She has prayed for my future! Those thousands of prayers have included specific, thoughtful petitions regarding challenges we all face in this life.

I firmly believe our wonderful, loving Heavenly Father hears our prayers – and I am so grateful that He does. I also couldn’t be more humbled or thankful for the prayers of a Godly mother, devotedly approaching the King of Kings on my behalf.

Thank you, Mother. I love you so very much. I am forever grateful.

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The Seeds We Sow

Anybody out there like fresh peaches? I know I sure do…..but I will never look at them the same way after today…..because I read an article by Cindy Lubbering, a home-town friend I have known for many years. She has written a beautiful, meaningful, and thought-provoking piece paying tribute to her parents….. but also providing a wonderful challenge for each of us…I contacted Cindy this afternoon and asked her if I could post her story, wanting to share with others, and she has graciously agreed. I hope you will enjoy it as much as I did. If so, please comment and let her know – or send me a message and I will pass it along.

The Peach Tree

Fresh Peaches

The Seeds We Sow

By Guest Writer Cindy Lubbering

When you first glance at these pictures you might think, ”What’s the big deal? Nothing special about a few peaches and a peach tree.” But to me, the tree and peaches have a far deeper and more profound meaning.

This peach tree grows just over the fence next to my parent’s home. It has grown in the spot where we tossed food scraps for years. Obviously, a peach seed was among those scraps at one time and happened to take root.

Frankly, I didn’t even realize the tree was fruit bearing until Gregg called it to my attention lately. He brought in the sweetest peaches I have ever tasted. Gregg told me that he picked them from my parent’s peach tree.

The tree that they never realized they planted.

Now this peach tree has been slowly growing through the years and finally bore fruit.

The tree got me to thinking about other kinds of seeds my parents unknowingly planted throughout the years.

They planted seeds about Jesus in the many, many three year olds that attended their Sunday school class for the more than forty years that they taught.

They planted seeds in the community, living and working among friends and neighbors who sometimes needed a helping hand.

They planted seeds within our own family by living Christian lives and being examples of always doing what is good and honorable for my sister and I and their grandchildren.

My parents are both gone, but the seeds they planted are still producing fruit just as the peach tree is that grows near their backyard.

Let us all be mindful that the seeds we plant today will one day bear fruit, good or bad.

Galatians 6:7

Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that he will also reap.

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Roy Clark

Most Saturday mornings, I turn on the stereo when I wake up to listen to Wayne Glenn’s “Old Record Collector” program on KTXR 101.3. This morning, Mr. Glenn introduced an old favorite of mine and when the first notes began playing, I stopped my housework to sit down and listen to Roy Clark singing “If I Had to Do it All Over Again.” I have long enjoyed hearing this song. I think it is such a joyous celebration of love and life. Hearing it makes me happy and hopeful for that same type of relationship someday. Sitting this morning and listening, it also made me think back….

One year ago last month, I made the familiar drive southeast to Nashville to attend a memorial celebration for Lonnie Melvin “Mel” Tillis. Two smaller, private funerals had already been held in his honor. This service was to be a day for family, friends, and fans to come together and celebrate his remarkable life and career. The program that morning was lovely, with many of Mel’s contemporaries and colleagues on hand to pay tribute. Some performed and some paid honor simply by their attendance. Held at the “Mother Church of Country Music”, the Ryman Auditorium, on a bright but chilly Wednesday morning in downtown Nashville, the service was well-attended. If you have ever been to the Ryman (built as the Union Gospel Tabernacle in 1892), you know that the original entrances face 5th Avenue. When the rear addition was added to the building during a renovation several years ago, the main entrance was moved to the 4th avenue side – entering toward what used to be the back of the old building. An additional small entrance opens into the tiny parking lot on the north side of the building. Security guards were at each entrance and the area inside the doors was roped off to help direct attendees. Family and friends were given armbands which allowed them to enter from the north side entrance and sit on the main floor. Fans and admirers entered through the 4th street (main) entrance and were directed to the balcony seating in what used to be named the “Confederate Gallery”.

After the service, most everyone lingered to visit and reminisce a bit longer. Knowing I needed to started on my drive back to Branson, I left sooner than I would have preferred. Before leaving the Ryman, I joined many others waiting in line for a necessary stop at the restrooms just off the lobby. As I returned to the crowded lobby and headed back toward the north exit, I smiled to see I was standing behind Roy Clark and members of his family. At the age of 84, he walked with the help of two canes and a person on each side of him holding onto his arms for support – but his eyes and his smile were as bright as ever. He had a little hat on his head, cocked to one side, and he was smiling at the people in the lobby who waved and were taking his picture as he walked back toward the corded off exit. As guests approached the roped area, the guards would ask to see our armbands and then allow us back behind the cords. When Mr. Clark started through, I was surprised to hear a young security guard ask to see his armband before allowing him to reenter. Polite but mildly taken aback, he showed the armband and started on through. The young guard then asked to see the armbands of the two people who were helping to support him as he walked. “They’re with me”, Mr. Clark stated. I thought about how those three words from Mr. Clark would have opened many doors for others back in the day. The young guard, however, said that he would still need to see the armbands. One lady told him she had discarded it while in the restroom – thinking she no longer needed it since they were leaving and not reentering the auditorium. The young guard started to (very politely) tell her that she would not be able to reenter the roped area and go out the entrance near where they were parked. Another guard walked over about that time and told him to let them go through. It was all very polite and was resolved quickly with no problems. The young guard smiled, opened the roped barrier, and let them pass – it was really no big deal….

….but it made me thoughtful for my drive home. I wondered how many times Roy Clark had played the Grand Ole Opry at the Ryman during his successful decades-long career. According to his obituary in Variety, a long-popular entertainment trade magazine, Mr. Clark played backup for an impressive list of popular singers when he was first getting started in the entertainment industry – Hank Williams Sr., Red Foley, Grandpa Jones, Ernest Tubb, Jimmy Dean, and even Elvis Presley. When Roy Clark was able to break out on his own – his accomplishments were incredible. A legendary musician, comedian, and actor, he performed on many popular shows of the day including “American Bandstand”, “The Beverly Hillbillies”, “The Flip Wilson Show”, “The Jackie Gleason Show”, and “The Muppet Show”.  He gave an amazing guitar performance of “Malagueña” on an episode of “The Odd Couple” in 1975 that is remembered to this day.

He also served as guest host numerous times for Johnny Carson on “The Tonight Show”, starred in a movie called “Uphill All the Way” (with Mel Tillis), and of course – served as co-host on 294 episodes of the highly popular weekly show “Hee Haw”.  He won numerous CMA awards and even a Grammy. He has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. He is a member of the Country Music Hall of Fame. He came to Branson in the mid-1980’s and opened the Roy Clark Celebrity Theater – which completely changed the course of Branson, MO. In other words, HE WAS A BIG DEAL! However, there he stood in the Ryman Auditorium – a venue where he had undoubtedly appeared so many times with so many of his famous friends through the years – and the young guard working there obviously had absolutely no idea at all who he was. I wondered how that felt.

A little over nine months later, Roy Clark passed away at his home in Tulsa, Oklahoma at the age of 85.

Fame and power are sometimes very fleeting. Sadly, some of the notoriety and influence Mr. Clark once had was perhaps partly gone on that January morning last year.  And, in fact, many people who read this blog may or may not remember Roy Clark and/or all of his accomplishments.

Nevertheless, this morning, Wayne Glenn played one of Roy Clark’s hits over the air….and I feel confident that many others, just like me, smiled and enjoyed hearing Mr. Clark’s song. What an absolutely lovely lasting legacy – to bring a smile, to lift others up, to make them hopeful or happy. Thank you, Mr. Clark.

To hear Roy Clark sing “If I Had To Do It All Over Again”, click here: https://open.spotify.com/track/7FNbGMIzuziW72TtinDdfs

Resources:

https://variety.com/2018/music/news/roy-clark-legendary-country-guitarist-and-hee-haw-star-dies-at-85-1203029645/

https://www.tulsaworld.com/homepagelatest/how-i-got-here-from-the-tonight-show-to-hee/article_14dd3f5a-89ed-5716-98eb-b0ded58c3655.html