My dad, Poppy, found and purchased this picture to hang in their home. As he aged, he became more and more thankful and proud to tell the many ways God worked through circumstances in his life to set him apart for Himself. Dad believed the LORD also set him apart in a timely way for Mom (haha!). He obviously didn’t want there to be any confusion as to whose love story this picture referred to, so he placed a photo in the top corner of the frame <Smile>, and it remains there today, thus this post!
After Dad retired, he spent a lot of time at the computer writing an autobiography, collecting, editing, and compiling historical records and stories for additional books. Needless to say, one of his numerous hobbies was writing and telling stories. The number of individuals Dad corresponded with, near and far, were many!
The email below highlights one of many stories Dad was especially fond to tell.
He never tired of telling us about the night he met Mom.
I am stirred to tears to remember the joy he had for communicating God’s goodness, and faithfulness in his life, and of his love for Mom. I’m thankful for a father who consistently pointed our eyes, our hearts, our faith, our hope, and our rest to Him! He always encouraged us to trust the LORD!
I miss his fellowship so very much!! He was more than a father to me. He was a friend, a confidante, and a spiritual encourager.
I’m thankful his grateful heart continues to tell His story, and theirs also. It’s possible Dad copied and pasted the contents of this email to other recipients as well, because his heart was deep and wide! Whatever the case, Dad was happy to tell as many as would take time to listen and learn how the LORD brought he and Mom together.
We will not hide them from their children, but tell to the coming generation the glorious deeds of the LORD, and his might, and the wonders that he has done.
Psalm 78:4
I still enjoy reading Dad’s emails…
“On Jun 6, 2016, at 7:09 PM, Thomas Earl Cleland wrote :
Perhaps every married couple thinks their “Love Story” is the most beautiful of all; The Story of Sylvia and I is so unusual, that we think it’s the most beautiful.
Starting with our introduction; We met in a small rural town where most families were farmers. Both Sylvia and I were brought up in urban communities; quite a contrast from the forest-laden surroundings of Brantley County, Georgia. Most of her adolescent years were spent in Jacksonville, and mine were in Waycross. Neither one of us had resided in Nahunta for more than six years, and both at different times; me from 1942 – 1948, and her from about 1949 – 1954. Yet, this was where the Lord brought us together; a time when I was destined for England/Paris, and Sylvia graduating from High School, destined to leave Nahunta.
I had never seen Sylvia until a couple of nights before her high school graduation, when she was dressed in a beautiful white ballerina dress hanging on the arm of a big six foot-two guy. She was beautiful!
The question is, what providence of the Lord brings these two people together with so little knowledge of each other, into a marriage that is approaching 61 years (at the time of his writing)?
(Note: They celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary alone during their mandatory Covid lockdown just a few short weeks before Poppy fell, and subsequently passed away within 24 hours.)
…
We have often said that our introduction was similar to “two ships passing in the darkness of night.” I had been away from home with the U.S. Air Force traveling across the Western World, and was home for only 30 days, en route to England/Paris when Meme was graduating from [Nahunta] High School. She and her high school graduating class left the following morning for a two-week trip to New York. That didn’t allow much time for a serious court-ship or cultivating a relationship. I doubt seriously of ever using the words, “I love you,” during that time.
Grandma Thelma, Meme’s mother’s comments were, “Two fools met that wanted to get married.” I’ll counter her statement with, “I don’t believe The Lord blesses the actions of two fools.” Regardless, both of us had been under the scriptures long enough to know that “you don’t rush into marriage.” After my arrival in England, it began to “bear-heavily on my heart” that Meme would not be available after my three year tour overseas unless I expressed my feelings and made a commitment. I proposed marriage [through Air Mail] and bought her engagement ring in a fashionable diamond store in London, England. After returning to Nahunta the following year for marriage, we enjoyed our first three years of marriage in Paris, France. Our apartment for the first of those three years was just a few blocks from the Arc de Triomphe on the Champs-Elysees. Tommy was born while we resided there. And Oh, that guy that Meme was with the first time I saw her, he just happened to be my cousin.”
Everyone who knew Dad, know his life was set apart in ways that were very telling of God’s many faithful and fruitful works. I’m a product of a tender man and wife who had jealous hearts for telling their children God’s ways were faithful. I pray the outcome of this heritage will be just as fruitful to bear in the lives of those who follow them.
One day, like Poppy, my living and telling will cease, but I pray many more stories of God’s faithfulness will continue!! However, and by whomever, I pray those who follow after us will come to know the LORD and His boundless, unchanging love in Christ!
Photos:
1-Dad’s purchase of a picture to hang in their home, for reminder, just in case they forgot. 😂
2-Mom’s Senior Night photo, wearing the white ballerina dress Dad saw her in the first evening he laid eyes on her! 😍
