THE RETURN

I returned home to meet my first child a son Edward jr.In the process of reuniting after 3 years. 9 months later had twin daughters Ann and Alice.
Frank came the year after. John 2 years later. Mary my 6th child. Though small and frail was the strength of our family. Paul our youngest. Was also the first to leave us. Serving his country in Vietnam.

FAITH

I grew up in a family that was strong in their faith.
Church every Sunday and holidays. Grace was always said at supper and bed time prayers. Helping at the church with fund raisers and repairs.

My strength of faith was sorely tested in Germany. I wondered how God could let this happen. The hate, destruction and horror of lives taken. Still I prayed. Protect my family, end the war, bring us home safe. Thanking God for the food we had no matter how bad it was. Since many had none.

NEW LIFE

After returning home I worked on the farm and worked fixing cars at the local gas station. Even with all I had I felt something was missing.
I remember so clearly that day. It was fall a crisp clean feeling day. Bright and clear. My brother Jake and I were hunting. We came to our regular resting spot. A beautiful clearing and a quiet brook running along it's edge. We sat by the brook and ate the lunch his wife Anna made. Talking of times past and the fun we had. Darker stories unfolded. We spoke of the war and the changes in me. How I felt a gap in my life. He laughed "maybe God will send you a sign, maybe he has and you just haven't seen it!"

When we got home a friend was waiting Andrew an army buddy was at my home. He was MIA when I had returned home. We hugged, cried and talked through the night. Before leaving we walked in the woods together. Much of our time spent quietly just being glad to be together again.
We stopped at the same clearing my brother and I stopped at the day before. As we enjoyed the quiet Andrew spoke.

Andrews Words

"In the camp" (POW) "the Germans tried to rob us of our hope and faith. Trying to make us believe our Country and God had forgotten us. You know I don't have any blood family. I do think of you as my brother. I kept thinking about you and all our other buddies but mostly you. Then I'd pray every night hoping you and everyone were safe. I said grace when they fed us. I thanked God just for waking up." He looked me straight in the eyes and said "You should have been a preacher because your faith kept me alive."

THE CHOICE

Was this my sign. I didn't sleep that night and many after that day. I spoke with my wife and my family about my thoughts and fears. This would be a big change for us. My wife's words "Do whats in your heart you know God has a plan for all of us. Mine is raising this family baking and quilting. I am very content. If this is Gods wish for you it will happen. But only if you try." Like I said she was a very strong willed lady. A week later I was talking with our minister.

WHAT I DIDN'T KNOW

Faith isn't all you need. You must know your Bible, what Gods words mean, how to use them to help people. Every one who reads this wonderful book sees something different. and every time you read it you see something new. The words are always the same. It's the meaning that changes, as your life changes, as your needs change, as you grow.
The good book has something for every one. Every time you need it!
So I studied and I learned and as I grew as a man of God so did my Bible.
Helping people was easy I had a great teacher my father. But its much harder to make others understand the glorious feeling you get when you help others.

The warm feeling you get inside - Gods love. Knowing you did it not for personal gain - self satisfaction and growth as a person. As we grow and share our humanity we can only move closer to God. The need to share grows stronger and so do YOU.

THE HARDEST LESSONS

The hardest thing of all is understanding Gods plan. A child dyeing. disease, war. Are not something easy to understand or explain. Being there and comforting someone in need is not easy it's not meant to be. It does make you stronger. Sitting at a death bed of someone young is one of the hardest things of all. There is a time when death is more comfortable since you've lead a good and long life. Though it is never easy.
War is a curse we bring on our selves God gave us the gift of choice. There are times when the choice must be to stop evil you must become the evil. Remorse and sadness of this choice keeps us human. If God stopped all war we would loose our right to choose and our humanity. We must as people choose to not wage war!!!

A MINISTER

Yes I did become a minister in the Baptist church.
I don't feel the title of your faith matters. Its Your Faith That Matters!!!!

I kept on farming and fixing cars. These are things God gave me. And I loved doing them. I just had more to do now. Late nights at hospitals, sermons on Sundays. I'd have been there anyway. Sharing hope and love not just to a few but now to many. Bringing a child into the faith through baptism and Sunday school. I finally felt fulfilled. This was my destiny.