God's Ford On The Go - Media Sabda Org

GOD'S FORD ON THE GO
By
Luella Marsh Ford
PART 1
CLAY IN THE POTTER'S HAND
Early Childhood and Teens
My oldest sister, Lillian, and two older brothers, Wellington and John, were visiting some friends
the rainy day I was born on the farm. When they came home, my Dad told them they had a new baby
sister who had slid off the rainbow. My mother was happy because now she had two girls and two
boys. That didn't last too long, however, because in a year and a half twins came to our house — a
girl and a boy, Viola and Victor. Then another boy, Oliver Roy, was born later making a total of four
boys and three girls.
Dad was a successful wheat farmer in the Red River Valley Inkster, North Dakota.
My mother after a short illness at the age of 34 years passed away. This is a shock to any family
— to lose a good mother.
My oldest sister, then only 14 years old, took on the full responsibility of being a little mother to
us children. I do not remember what mother looked like. Often I longed for her even until I was 10
or 11 years old. I still hoped she would come back.
My Dad, now a widower with seven children, wondered what to do. Different farmers wanted to
adopt us children. Lillian didn't want the family torn apart so lived under a strain.
Dad had to make a choice: 1. He could let the children be adopted out, keep the farm and be a
wealthy man. 2. He could sell the farm, keep the children and be a poor man. He chose to sell the
farm and keep the children. I am thankful for the choice he made and admire his courage. Let me
add, I have heard Dad say it would have been better for him to have died than our mother. A man
bereaved of a wife, the mother of his family, doesn't get public sympathy and help. The public
attitude usually contends, "He is a man and can pay his way." A woman who loses her mate has it
much easier.
The youngest of our family was still a babe and some friends of my Mother and Dad asked if they
could adopt him. Dad said they could take care of him, but not adopt him. They wanted to raise him
and did. When they passed away, they left most of their property to him.
I, as well as the other children especially the twins, owe much gratitude to our sister, Lillian, who
cared for us. With no conveniences she had more responsibility than a 14-year-old should have.
She loved our mother and when Mother was alive, Lillian was her helper. At the young age of 9
years, she baked bread, washed clothes by hand and when the twins were born, she took care of