Great-grandpa Charles and his young bride Betsy settled their homestead on the Rum River, southwest of Isanti in Minnesota. But, Charles' talents lay in machinery. Betsy was the farmer. Every Monday morning, Charles hiked to Nicollet Island (another cousin's account indicated Anoka) for a week's work in a machine shop. And on Saturdays he hiked back home to the farm.
In later years, Charles lay trapped for three days in rubble at that machine shop. Apparently the water in the boiler got too low and the steam pressure caused an explosion. For the remainder of his life, Charles carried the impression of a beam across his skull from that accident. By that time, Charles' and Betsy's youngest son ran the farm and Charles no longer left home. Instead, he was able to enjoy time with his grandchildren that he had missed with his own offspring. George, Jr., had a particularly close relationship with his grandpa.
And, it is Junior who told me this story. He said his grandpa told him, "There are many temptations in the city. I'm just glad I was a Christian man."
Though I never had the opportunity to know my great-grandfather, this quote from him told me a lot about the man, and about life! What better legacy can we receive and pass along to our own children? That primary relationship with Jesus our Savior, introduced early in life, acts as a fortress against the attacks of the enemy. We can easily see all the problems in the world that we have been spared because we walk with Jesus. Life under the curse of sin and death is a tough enough journey without adding burdens of our own making.
How grateful we can be to echo Charles’ statement: "I'm just glad I'm a Christian!"
My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings. Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine heart. For they [are] life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh. Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it [are] the issues of life. ---Proverbs 4:20-23 KJV
Copyright 2010---Edy T Johnson
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I finally got a chance to read this little gem of yours, Edy. And what a reminder it is to share our faith with our family (even if they may not want to hear it at the time), so they know what we stand for. We never know how many generations down the road it will affect.
Having stumbled around in the dark for many years I still remember the feelings I had when I embraced the light and came to the saving knowledge of Christ. I am forever more glad, and thankful, that I am a Christian!
Thanks for sharing this, Edy.
