WAY---BACK---WHEN?

Today I'd like you to walk with me down paths of yester years.  It was the summer of 1926 in Sisseton, SD and a tent had been erected in an empty lot about 4 blocks from our home.  In that tent a lady by the name of Blanche Brittian was preaching each evening and always had an altar call for folks to come and meet Jesus.  I still remember seeing Mother looking up to Dad's face and I heard her softly whisper, "Ole, would you like to accept Jesus, tonight?"  He did.  He was wonderfully saved and the joy of salvation was his.

One evening, Sister Brittain preached on "hell" and I, almost nine years old, was greatly convicted.  I had noticed that a lady gospel worker would approach someone and ask that one if he or she would like to go to the altar.  I hoped she would ask me, but she did not, so I did not go forward.

The tent services lasted for some weeks and then the tent was taken down.  Other evangelists came to town and services were held at different times in town halls.  Our family continued going to these meetings.  

It was January 1927, when Arthur and Anna Berg, return missionaries from Belgian Congo, came to Sisseton and rented a hall over the Golden Rule store.  Services continued and summer came on and we were still gathering in the upstairs hall.  It was Sunday, August 21, 1927, and I and my friend, Vonnie, were softly whispering together while our parents were at the altar praying.  Brother Berg came to us and he asked, "Girls, how old are you?"  Vonnie said, "I'm ten," and I proudly offered, "I'm ten tomorrow!"

"Ten years old and you haven't given your hearts to the Lord!" and then he asked us to promise to think about giving our hearts to the Lord.   We both promised, but I forgot all about it and I don't know if Vonnie remembered.

The following Sunday evening I and my two younger sisters, Esther and Yvonne, were sitting on a bench just ahead of Mother and Dad.  As Sister Berg was giving an altar call, Mother reached forward and endeavored to embrace us and said, "Girls, will you give your hearts to Jesus tonight?"

Yes, we went forward and knelt and oh, how the tears flowed. There were no Kleenex in those days but Mom shared her handkerchief with us.  Three little girls started on the "glory road" and have continued through the years.  Jesus took Esther home to heaven, Dec. 1998.  Yvonne, now 86 years, and I Avis, now 91 are living here at Maranatha in Springfield, MO.

It's true Jesus can make Himself real to a young child.  The challenge is given in Ecclesiastes 12:1 "Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth."   Jesus says, "Let the children come onto Me."  

Love For Our Parents

Let me first introduce myself: I was born August 22, 1917 in Sisseton, SD.  I graduated from the Sisseton High School, and three years later, I completed a course at North Central Bible School in Minneapolis, MN.

September 20, 1946, I married Chester Osland and together we pastored churches in North Dakota.  God blessed us with three children whom we dearly love. The Lord took Chester Home to Heaven, July 16, 2003, and since that sad day, I've lived alone.  It seems my children's love is more abundant now, probably because I'm alone.

Their visits, phone calls, e-mail, gifts and prayers are such a blessing to me.  I've said to them, "I mothered you and now you mother me."

I'm aware there are lonely parents whose children never come to see them.  Days and years go by and there are no phone calls, no cards and these lonely parents wait and wonder where that child may be.  

Dear friend, if you have a living parent or parents whom you have "put on the shelf" and  have made no effort to see them, I admonish you to head homeward.  Ask God to help you and direct you.  A package of forgiveness and love and both that lonely parent and you will be blessed.