DESTINATION: BEAULAH LAND
As the old preacher's family gathered 'round,
He motioned with his hand!
He said, "I just received a message,”
“Straight from "Beaulah Land!"
"Its contents were urgent,”
“For it came from our God's throne!"
"You see, today I'll be leavin',”
“For a mansion of my own!"
"With my lamp all trimmed and burning,”
“And my garment spotless white,"
"My soul is constantly yearning,”
“Just to take that final flight!"
Then, for a while he was silent,
As his mind went back to the day,
When as a young boy of seven,
He'd knelt at the altar to pray!
Right then and there, he made a vow to God,
To follow in His will!
And at the age of eighty-seven,
He was following still!
Friend, at the age of sixteen,
God had called him to preach,
And he spent the rest of his life,
Trying lost souls to reach!
His wife from the days of her youth,
Had lived Holiness to the letter!"
He could have searched the world over,
And never found anyone better!
They worked so very closely together,
Just "Like a hand in a glove!"
God had smiled upon their marriage
And blessed it with His love!
The marriage had produced four children,
Who were Christians one and all!
Like their father before them,
Two had accepted the Master's call!
This preacher's life had been fulfilling,
For he had labored well!
Many souls had been rescued,
From the awful horrors of hell!
Suddenly, he came back to himself,
As he heard the Master's voice!
Someone close by heard him saying,
"My soul it does rejoice!"
"What is that I hear?"
"Is it the sound of angel's wings,"
"And the Hallelujah chorus,”
“Being played on golden strings?"
Then, with a smile upon his face,
He took the Saviour's hand!
For it was departure time!
Destination: Beaulah Land!
Robert F. Dotson © 2007
FOOTSTEPS IN THE NIGHT!
The old man rose from his chair,
And opened the door.
He peered out into the night
As he often had done before!
He knew that he had once again
Heard the familiar sound,
Of "the Rider's pale horse,"
As its hoofbeats jarred the ground.
As he slowly closed the door,
And put another log on the fire,
His mind went back to another day,
As the fire danced higher!
He knew why "the visitor"was comin',
And he vividly remembered his name!
"The visitor" had been an intruder,
The first two times he came.
In memory he saw his firstborn son,
Who had always been well,
Until one day while playing,
He suddenly fell.
The boy held onto life
,
'Til the evening light grew dim.
Then the footsteps were deafening,
As "the visitor"came for him!
The boy's death left an empty spot,
But God gave him a girl and another boy!
And, over the years they had provided,
He and his wife much joy!
Oh, there had been some sorrow
As there is in everyone's life.
But, after the kids left home ,
They were happy, just he and his wife!
Then, one cold and dreary night,
He could still recall when,
She lay so deathly sick,
And he heard the footsteps once again.
He knelt by her bedside,
And silently breathed a prayer,
As once again he felt the presence,
Of "the visitor"there.
When he took his darlin' to the graveyard
And placed her in the ground,
Somewhere off in the distance,
He seemed to hear a joyful sound!
His darlin' was at home in Heaven,
Over on the beautiful shore,
And she would have no pain
Or sufferin' anymore!
It was then and there he realized,
He would not have long to wait!
His precious darlin' would be waitin',
Just inside the Eastern gate!
As he returned to his chair and waited,
For his life down here to end.
He realized somehow this time, "
The visitor" would be a friend!
They found him the next mornin',
Sittin' in his favorite chair,
With a smile on his face,
That death had gently placed there!
Robert F. Dotson © 2006
"I'm a goin' home tomorrow,"
The old man confidently said,
As his legs dangled o'er the side,
Of the nursing home bed.
"Now you tell me Son,
What would be the harm,"
"Of an old man spending his last days,
There on his farm?"
"It was there me and your Mamaw,
Spent many a happy day,"
"'Til the Good Lord decided,
To take her away!"
"Ah, she was my one and only love,
For all those years,"
Said Papaw as his eyes,
Quickly filled with tears.
With warm tears also flowing down his face,
Jim wished he could take his Papaw,
From this place!
Quickly turning away,
He stared out through the window pane,
At the dark night outside,
With its pouring rain.
Suddenly, his childhood days,
Came into his mind
As he remembered his grandparents,
Feing so good and kind!
A broken home,
Had been tough on the little lad.
So, Mamaw and Papaw,
Had become his Mom and Dad!
Thank God, each time life's road,
Had become a bend,
And he had need of a dependable friend,
Mamaw or Papaw had always been there,
With a helping hand and tender love and care!
Jim wondered why everything had gone amiss,
With his beloved Papaw,
Ending up in a place like this.
But, then he knew remembered Papaw's children,
Had put him there.
They said, "Dad is in need of special care!"
As Jim turned back around, Papaw said, "Son,"
"My earthly race Is nearly run!"
"I'll be goin' to see your Mamaw 'bout any day!"
"God knows I've been so lonely,
Since she went away!"
Jim squeezed Papaw's hand real tight,
As he said, "Pa, I'll see you tomorrow night!"
But, acting as if he hadn't heard,
The old man didn't speak another wordl
So Jim hurried on his way,
Since there didn't seem to be any more to say.
Once at home and in bed,
Jim tossed and turned all night,
As he wished for the first signs of morning light.
Then at 5 a.m. his phone began to ring,
And somehow he knew,
The message it would bring.
He heard a voice,
On the other end of the line say,
"I'm sorry Jim your grandfather,"
"Just passed away."
Though he felt so sad,
Jim knew Papaw's race was finally run!
And he could still hear Papaw say,
"I'm goin' home tomorrow, Son!"
Robert F. Dotson © 2007
COAL MINER'S SON
Jake would rise each mornin' ,
Before the sun began to shine,
Take his pick and shovel,
And head for the mine!
Though he dug and loaded coal,
For sixteen hours a day,
"Script," for the company store,
Was his paltry pay!
The best years of his life,
This young man gave!
It was plain to see,
He was the mine owner's slave!
Life in the coal camp was anything but Heaven,
For this young miner and father of seven!
Jake and his young family lived in a "shotgun shack,"
That you could see straight through,
From front to back!
Yes Friend, life in "'coal country" was really bad,
But being a miner was the only choice Jake had!
Like his father and grandfather before,
Jake eked out a livin' that was meager and poor.
In the coal camp entertainment was almost nil.
However, Jake was known to frequent his moonshine still.
And on Saturday evenins',
He and Sally would prance,
To the tune of a fiddle at the local barn dance!
Jake’s life was a vicious circle without an end,
But, that was about to change, my Friend!
You see, the news had quickly spread aroun',
That a "hellfire and brimstone," preacher was in town!
Jake tried not to seem interested in front of his wife,
But, he was sure gettin' tired of their rowdy life!
You see, Jake had been raised "the right way,"
But in his teens he had gone astray.
He started workin' in the mine,
When he was only fifteen,
And he grew up fast, wild, and mean.
At the age of seventeen and still only a kid,
He got rnarried like most folks back then did!
His and Sally's marriage consisted of arguin' and fussin',
And Jake's remedy for that was drinkin' and cussin'!
One evenin' Jake came home,
And found a note on the door,
Saying, "Jake, I love you,
“But, I can't take it any morel"
"That's why we're leavin',”
“Hopefully for just a few days,"
"Until you decide to change your ways!"
"You know Momma's place is easily found!"
“But, if you don't plan on changin',”
“Don't come around!"
Jake said, "I’ll show her!" "I’ll go down,"
"To that little saloon at the edge of town!"
As he was dressin' up in his best attire,
He said, "I’ll get some liquor to "quench this fire!"
On the way to the saloon,
He heard church bells ringin',
And the Summer night air,
Was filed with the singin!
"Are You Washed In The Blood,"
Was the song he heard,
And immediately his soul was stirred!
Then, Jake felt a familiar longin',
Down deep inside!
'Twas a feelin',
He thought long ago had died.
Old satan said,
"What are we stoppin' here for?"
But, he was too late,
'Cause Jake was through the door!
Joke didnt even slow down,
As toward the altar he ran!
And when he got through prayin,'
He was a changed man!
Then, when he finally opened his eyes,
Jake was in for a big surprise!
For there prayin' by his side,
Were his seven younguns,
And his sweet little bride!
Yes, their marriage was mended,
And folks say,
They acted like love birds,
As they walked away!
The last I heard tell of 'em,
He was still workin' in the mine,
From before the crack of dawn,
'Til the sun didn't shine!
But, old Jake not only digs and shovels coal,
He tells everybody he sees,
How Jesus can save your soul!
Robert F. Dotson © 2006
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'Tis So Sweet To Trust In Jesus
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