How a young life was shaped by the Gospel: Bogal Ridge, West Virginia 1954
Flowers along life's path
Proverbs 22:6 (KJV) Train up a child in the way he should go: And when he is old, he will not depart from it.
Looking back, it’s incredible how the simplest moments of childhood—wildflowers, gravel roads, and a tiny worship space—can plant seeds of faith that shape a life forever.
Reliving the memories of growing up in “wild and wonderful” West Virginia brings to mind some of those things. Like how my early life was shaped by the Gospel of Jesus Christ. My first memories of "church" are of walking around the bend of the road on Bogal Ridge to the worship house that my Dad, my Grandpa Joy (Mom's father), and the neighbors had built. The worship space stood in a field bursting with wildflowers, a reminder of the beauty and simplicity that surrounded our faith-filled lives.
The materials for our new worship house came from an old one-room schoolhouse that had stood down off the east side of the ridge on Little Run Road. That road eventually dropped down to a local area called Slate. My older brothers and sisters didn’t attend that school; they went to Mud Lick School, where Izzy Summerville taught. Later, we all attended another one-room schoolhouse at Slate, taught by Mrs. Garrison.
We started each school day with the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag and a prayer. So, it didn’t seem out of place to rebuild that old schoolhouse into a place to worship God. Grandpa Joy, a well-known preacher, pastored out on Kites Run and was respected throughout Wood County. Travel was difficult for most people then—many still plowed with horses and used them to visit neighbors. It was rare to see women driving the motor vehicles that occasionally stirred up dust as they passed our houses. Having a place of worship built so close was an exciting time for the community.
There were seven children in my family, and I was the youngest—around four years old at the time. As far as I know, my mother was the only real singer in our family. But when my two older sisters and I would sing a special song during the service, Grandpa Joy would wipe away tears and ask us to sing another verse. God truly blessed those services! The people shouted, Grandpa Joy preached, we sang, the neighbors rejoiced, Grandma Joy walked down the aisles waving her hanky, and God blessed us all. I still have Grandma’s old paper fan from the funeral home that she used to cool herself when it got especially hot during church services.
One night, my aunt’s father-in-law, who was part Cherokee and looked the part, attended the worship. My two older sisters and I decided to step outside to what we called the “outhouse” since we didn’t have indoor plumbing on the ridge. We hadn’t gone far when we heard a loud whooping sound. The woods surrounded the worship house, and we didn’t know what might be lurking there. We forgot our purpose for leaving and hurried back inside the chapel for safety, only to find that it was Mr. Collins whooping praises to God while Grandpa Joy was preaching!
My earliest memories of flowers—Black-eyed Susans—come from seeing them bloom in the field across the gravel road from the meeting house. I remember wandering among them and picking some for my mother after worship. The seeds from those flowers are likely still producing a beauty that only God can create. Similarly, those early memories of worshiping God in the rebuilt old schoolhouse planted seeds, much like those flowers, in my young heart that continue to inspire me to serve him.
Key Takeaway
Your actions have the power to leave lasting impressions—both positive and negative—on the lives of others. It is a profound blessing to recognize the opportunity for change, to turn from past wrongs, and begin creating new, positive memories that reflect love, faith, and Godly living.
Your everyday choices create the story others remember. How will you use your actions to inspire hope, rebuild trust, and leave a legacy of love and faith in God? Pray, embrace growth, and choose to replace harmful patterns with uplifting ones. Seek to be a vessel of encouragement and transformation, planting seeds of hope and faith that will flourish in the hearts of others for generations to come.
In a world filled with distractions, it’s never too late to refocus on what truly matters. Take one step today—whether through a kind gesture, a moment of prayer, or a decision to rebuild relationships—and start creating positive, lasting memories for those around you.
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