The Sunday Sermonette – Old Lady Ramsey and the Dog Sled.

In the 1970s, Wednesday Night suppers at dear ol’ First Baptist Church Gulfport were hot ticket items. The Fellowship Hall was a bustling beehive of clattering restaurant china and well-worn stainless steel cutlery. The tempting aroma of fried chicken, cornbread, and turnip greens beckoned from the kitchen. The room echoed with high-pitched laughter and bubbling conversation. It was a midweek rest stop for those needing a little spiritual rejuvenation and delightful interaction with dear friends and family.

               I enjoyed talking with the older church members who, due to their age, had lived through much of the history that enthralled me. Old Lady Ramsey was one of those members. I’m not being disrespectful, calling her by that name. In fact, that’s how she referred to herself—that should give you an idea of her personally. She was tall, athletic, very talkative, and always had a story to tell. My favorites were those from the 1930s when she taught school to Eskimo children in a little village on the outskirts of Fairbanks. During most of the year, she arrived each school day, not by car but via dog sled.

               Old Lady Ramsey said she’d raised her team of friendly, faithful Huskies from pups, teaching them with a sturdy leash and a pull harness. Like children, each dog had its own personality. Some quickly took to being harnessed, some didn’t. Through days of patient teaching, she and the team became one. “A well-oiled machine,” she often said with a smile. They loved her, and she loved them.

               Isn’t our relationship with Father God like this? To train us to do His will, He must lead us with the sturdy leash of His word and the harness of His love. As we mush onward through the snows of life, we can be comforted by the knowledge that we are loved. Our gracious, heavenly Father draws us to him. He is a loving teacher and a marvelous Master who is always present, guiding, and caring for us. 

               Ponder this and go forth.