All She Had Was Faith and Five Dollars

By Elizabeth Blake
http://www.elizabethblakeonline.com

When the economy is bad, I stop and remember a story about my great-grandmother.

My Dad was raised on a dairy farm just outside a tiny Iowa town. When he was young, his grandmother lived with them for a while. Her family tree boasted many German ministers in Pennsylvania, Indiana and Ohio. She shared their strong faith and belief in God, hard work, and giving to the Lord. The Midwestern Protestant work ethics were deeply engrained in her.

On cold Iowa winter nights, the fireplace in their living room invited the family to be together. Dressed in her high-top button shoes, floor-length dress, and ever-present apron, Great-grandma loved to sit in front of that fireplace, reading aloud every night. Dad curled up beside the rhythmic creaking of that rocking chair and listened as she read Bible stories, making them come to life. She believed God would take care of you if you did your part first, no questions asked.

In 1932, Dad graduated from high school. The depression was at its darkest stages and the family had just lost their farm. Without money, any dreams of going to college seemed hopeless.

But a recruiter from a private college called Carleton, 230 miles away in Minnesota, came to his town looking for potential students. Dad had been an outstanding athlete and was a straight-A student all through high school, excelling in math and science. The recruiter was impressed and Dad won a scholarship to attend Carleton. But there were obstacles: no transportation, and not a penny for food. He didn't want to miss out on this opportunity of a lifetime, but there were no jobs to earn money. Discouraged, he feared he might not be able to go to Carleton.

It was then that my great-grandma took control. She said, "You have to stop thinking so negatively. It's not what you don't have; it's what you do have. And what you have is a scholarship, the ability to work hard, and a God that will provide the rest. Quit worrying about the rest. It'll come. Just go to college and work hard. Everything else will fall into place."

And then she took her wrinkled hands that had labored for 83 years, hands that had cradled 13 children, and dug into the folds of her long skirt, withdrawing from her pocket a five- dollar bill. She tucked the bill into Dad's shirt pocket. "You take this five dollars. It's all I have. But with this, and faith in the Almighty, all your needs will be provided for. I'm sure of it." She had faith in God, and in Dad's abilities.

With nothing but the clothes on his back and a five-dollar bill in his pocket, Dad set out on the road to his future, leaving his childhood home behind him forever. He hitchhiked 230 miles. Throughout his four years at Carleton he worked as a dishwasher in a restaurant and eventually married the owner's daughter, my mother. He graduated in 1936, having studied zoology and chemistry, and then became a science teacher.

Great-grandma died in 1939 at the age of 90. Her faith never wavered. She didn't need money to know the Great Provider will meet our needs even during difficult times as long as we fulfill our tasks and keep moving forward.

Faith and five dollars was all my great-grandmother needed. During tough times, I hope I will always remember that God will provide for those who don't give up. Just like my great-grandmother believed.

© 2008 Elizabeth Blake

About the Author: After working 20 years in a medical laboratory as an ASCP certified Med Tech, I searched for my life's purpose and switched careers to teach high school science. I taught at-risk students in an inner-city school. After retiring, I started writing. I also wrote a memoir about the joys of teaching and the obstacles I fought. No Child Left Behind? The True Story of a Teacher's Quest. The book celebrates triumph over adversity. To read the first page, visit http://www.elizabethblakeonline.com