I grew up and still live in a small community called Jackson Creek , in North Carolina…We are in the Uwharriee Mountain Range…I am told the oldest mountains on the continent!
I attended Piney Grove UM Church most of my life…Recently I have not …
Today was the fourth Sunday in August. That is all ways the Homecoming Sunday at Piney Grove. Grandpa called it The Big Meeting..I suppose it was back when he was a boy.
Grandpa all ways sat in the 2nd row on the left side of the church going in. Grandma in the choir. She was a Nance and could sing …Delks are not known for their singing ability! Stand beside one ! You will see! I sure can’t sing but I love singing!
So today I journeyed back to my church home.
Before I got to the door and went in I heard the voices and saw the faces of those that have gone on…
My first one was Daddy..walking me up the steps the day Les and I got married. He offered me a new Cadillac to NOT get married! It was just his way of testing me I suppose! (I have all ways told Les if it had been a Corvette He would have been in trouble!)
My next was Grandpa sitting on the pew, speaking to everyone and wiping his sweet face with his handkerchief because of all the memories that caused his sweet tears to flow…
Aunt Blanche was there, and Aunt Lala, Uncle Mitchell, Joe and Adleta Delk. Adleta playing Amazing Grace for all to sing. JC Delk and all his beautiful flowers he would bring…Sweet sweet Aunt Grace and her friend , Ruby Arnold and her big beautiful strong voice (she should have sung opera!) …Rev Bill Farmer my good friend, Rev Disher a kind good preacher, Wan Hunt the choir director and many many others …more of a low rumble of voices talking all at once…But oh yes they were all there!
Of seemingly long hot days and long hours spent on hard benches! While some preacher preached and hand fans pushed hot air and the struggle to stay awake…Of Bible School and cool aide cup cakes and potato chips. Volley Ball and youth group…
Now I know and now I understand what Grandpa felt and talked about on those Homecoming Sundays. Why they were so important to him.
It is good to remember, but it is sad too…Hard even…For sure today I was surrounded by a cloud of great witnesses! And when each one left here they took a piece of my heart with them…
