Aunt Arabelle

I'm always looking for new ways to stretch myself graphically. I got the idea for this layout from a page Nicole Young did where she put a reflection of her photo underneath it. I started playing to duplicate the effort, when my experimenting went in an unexpected direction. As is often the case, it headed right in the direction of Heritage. ;)

Aunt Arabelle was my great Grandfather's sister. Some of my "cousins" and I on our My Family site have been talking about Arabelle this week. I was a baby when she died, so I never met her personally, but everyone I have talked to who knew her, loved her.

Aunt Arabelle and Uncle Boone couldn't have children, but they loved them dearly. They always had sweets tucked away for when the kids visited them. They finally decided to adopt a son and daughter and give them a loving home. Unfortunately, their daughter Goldie died at the young age of 18 in a pregnancy related affliction, and their son Warner died in a hunting accident when he was in his early 20s.

Maybe it was those trials - of not being able to have children, then losing the ones they were blessed with, that strengthened their faith. Aunt Arabelle was the godliest woman in most people's memories. Uncle Boone became sick and she cared for him. Then toward the end of her life, she suffered heart problems and took to her bed. From there, she consistently praised the Lord. Every conversation was about God. She prayed fervently and her prayers were answered.

My aunt Geneva, Arabelle's niece, told us that one evening, the Lord impressed upon her and her husband to go stay with Aunt Arabelle and Uncle Boone. When they arrived, they knocked at the door, but there was no answer. Aunt Arabelle was hard of hearing and didn't hear them knocking. They went around the house and listened at the window, and there, they heard Aunt Arabelle praying "Lord, send someone to stay with us. Boone is awful bad sick." Little did she know that at that very moment, her prayer was being answered. Even in the midst of her prayer, there came a tapping at the window. There was Geneva and Ora, who had come to stay the night. They had brought some coffee and sandwiches and she was able to eat and get some much needed rest.

Even on her meager income, she tithed right off the top. She had so many material needs, but the Lord got His share first, and He blessed her for it. She taught us all a lesson about giving. It reminds me of the story in the Bible about the widow's mite.

While some may have considered her faith overboard, her sincerity proved that she was not a religious zealot, but someone who knew the Lord personally and walked with Him daily. A sign hung above the door of her outhouse that read "Jesus Saves". Maybe it served as a reminder to her that she was never alone.

The journaling on my scrapbook page (above) reads: Aunt Arabelle Porter Walker was a reflection of everything right and good. She was a godly woman who treated everyone with kindness and respect. She loved children, even though she couldn't have any of her own, and adopted a son & daughter & gave them a loving home. She didn't have much when it came to worldly goods, but she departed this life praising the Lord.

It is my hope and prayer that I would have, even a little of the character and faith that Aunt Arabelle had. She serves as a godly example to the generations that come behind her. May those who come behind us find us faithful!

I am reminded of a song recorded by Steve Green called Find us Faithful.

We're pilgrims on the journey
Of the narrow road
And those who've gone before us line the way
Cheering on the faithful, encouraging the weary
Their lives a stirring testament to God's sustaining grace

Surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses
Let us run the race not only for the prize
But as those who've gone before us
Let us leave to those behind us
The heritage of faithfulness passed on through godly lives

CHORUS:
Oh may all who come behind us find us faithful
May the fire of our devotion light their way
May the footprints that we leave
Lead them to believe
And the lives we live inspire them to obey

Oh may all who come behind us find us faithful

After all our hopes and dreams have come and gone
And our children sift through all we've left behind
May the clues that they discover and the memories they uncover
Become the light that leads them to the road we each must find

REPEAT CHORUS

Oh may all who come behind us find us faithful
Oh may all who come behind us find us faithful