Preacher Boy

By WILLIAM BRADBURY

This is the story of a small family and their grandpa, through his work, held them together. He is the one who fixes all the problems, and he is listened to by all of his family. His idea for the first boy is to be a preacher. And in the time of his growing up, this grandpa adopts two other children, and that gets him married again. His daughter marries his grandson. Before he dies of old age, he is told about his grandchild, and his great-grandchild as the same person. Hope you enjoy.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Christian Faith Publishing, Inc.
• Release date: Jan 3, 2018
• ISBN: 9781641141871

WILLIAM BRADBURY

Born in January 1939 came into this world as a farm boy. Raised in southeast Kansas. He became a farm worker at the age of four. He supported himself from age sixteen on. He wanted to be a farmer, but God wanted him to be something else. He has done about every kind of work thinkable. At twenty-four he moved his family to Indiana for seven years. Michigan for twenty-five years. There he married his second wife. He became very sick and they moved to Arizona for ten years then moved back to Michigan, and Virginia for five years then back to Michigan. He has lots of short and long stories along with thirty books. Some day he will attempt to publish more of them. If they ever sell he wants the proceeds to go to help children through Missions in the U S A. He and his wife Carole the painter lives in Michigan. Grandkids are important to them. Check out (Williamlbradbury.com)

Book preview

Introduction

This is a story that I have wanted to live and never had the chance. All is not made up; some of it are from the Word of God from the Living Bible. So you might say this is a fiction with some nonfiction built into it in places. The people and the places are from my own mind, made up from a lot of dreaming on my part. If you feel like being one of the people in this story, then place yourself within and enjoy.

This story is about a man’s plot to live and love life and those who lived within his world. He has the ability to change the hearts of his family. He wants to change history with and through his teaching to his children and his grandchildren. He believes he has this right given to him by his God and Savior, Jesus Christ. He is one who believes that not only his voice but also his actions are being heard and watched by everyone he has contact with. His story is about one thing: loving the Lord your God with all your heart, mind, and soul. His belief of the law of the Bible is no different from anyone else’s, except he lives by the law. It is love and wait.

Story Prayer

Dear Lord God, Father in heaven, it is you who put us here through the love of our Son, Jesus Christ, and we are to live these lives in helping others. I pray that some way the people will come to you and be proud of their efforts in your cause. Help us to join together in one big movement to help all the people to join us in the great commission of your Son, Jesus Christ. Bring us together with your love and strength to unite and keep us focused to carry your power forth throughout this world. Lift us up and help us by the mighty hand you have for us to reach for. Lead us forward and protect us at all times. Jesus, we love you, we adore you, and we want to follow you forever. We pray in your precious name, amen.

Story Song

I Lit My Candle by William L. Bradbury

1. There is a darkness that surrounds me and is holding on too tight. I keep climbing upward to where I think I see light, and I now hear God calling. There is a dread pulling on me back to the darkness where I cannot see.

2. The voice of Jesus keeps calling to light up your candle and follow me. Come along, come along, and let your light shine for all to see, when the darkness is gone and the beauty of life shines on you, leading all to my kingdom.

3. I have lit my candle and now holding it up high for others to see. I am asking for you to light your candle and help brighten the path for more to see. Come all to be a bearer of light for Jesus and lead others by your light for Him.

4. I lit my candle so I could see and let others follow me. Come and light your candle so more can see. Light your world to help Jesus shine, and help me to light up this world.

Chapter 1

Before

Spring is the most beautiful time in the farm country. Dogwoods and red buds were in bloom, with the flowers bringing forth all the colors of the rainbow. The grass was growing, and soon it would be ready to mow. It was like a lush green carpet. Planting time on the old farm was getting into swing. Even the garden was ready. Lottie had found out that she was with child and would need help in the garden before it was over. John was excited. He was going to be a dad after five years of trying. He would be very busy with all the work this year since, during the winter, he had purchased eighty more acres of land. His dad had asked him to farm the eighty acres that joined his place because he did not to want farm it anymore. His dad was getting up in age and alone since his wife passed away. He just did not have the energy anymore and really did not care. That was winter when he had told John he was through with the farming and was going to retire, but he would help some if John needed any help.

Grandpa Bill was excited when he found out he was going to be a grandpa for sure and was looking forward to the time of the baby’s arrival. Today he was supposed to be disking while John was planting the field he had disked two day ago. Yet he was in no hurry to get started. He was not ready like he used to be when his wife had food on the table by the time he had his chores done. After milking the old cow and taking care of his chickens, now he had to fix his own breakfast and supper. Lottie usually fed him lunch if he was helping John in the field. Now he would get to the field by nine o’ clock and sometimes ten. He knew that John was upset sometimes, but grandpa was going to be grandpa, and it did not matter if he got a full day’s work in or not. His son John was just going to have to expect it and go on.

As Bill looked at the clock, it was nine-fifteen, and he had to eat before going out. Where had the time gone? Maybe he would have to take less time with his Bible reading and praying. Then what would God think if he gave up some time to help his son with the planting? He decided against that and thought John would have to get used to his timing because that was all he had left: his chores and his family. He had read the Bible through a lot of times, and today he had finished it one more time. Tomorrow being Saturday, he would start one more time, and he could not wait to get to the first book of Genesis. It was where God started, and he liked that part the best. It was all about how God had wanted his people to be a family for the time they spent here on earth until death.

Looking at the clock again, it read ten-thirty, and he had to eat yet. After pondering for a bit, he decided to not eat breakfast this morning. John wanted to get done before the rains came, and that left about two days according to the weatherman. He went to get his tractor and start the disking job. It was his land that he had given to John to farm. As he left the yard, he looked up and saw that John was almost done with the field he was planting, and that would put him in the field he was supposed to be turning, and he had not even started yet. He was ready to go when he thought about his water jug. He turned around and went back to the house to get the jug, and as he left, he grabbed some bread to nibble on until lunchtime. When he got to the field, John was walking over to where he was to start. Stopping to say hello was hard because he thought John was going to get on him for starting so late.

Hello, Dad, are you feeling okay this morning? If not, you do not have to be out here. I can do it later.

Oh no, I am okay, just being lazy and thinking about mom, so getting a late start. I will try to stay ahead of you. I know how important that we get these two fields planted by tomorrow night.

Dad, it is okay. Your help is much appreciated, and I want you to work when you feel like it.

I had better get going. You can plant faster than I can dish it up. How is Lottie? Is she okay, or does she need some help?

Dad, she is fine. She is just two months along, and she will not need any help for another three or four months from now.

Son, you know how time flies. Now, you remember, she is a different woman now during this time, and it is your responsibility to make sure her workload is lighter.

Yeah, Dad. By the way, your tires are not turning. Have you noticed?

Very funny, I just might get two rounds done today.

Dad, I love you for just being yourself. See you for lunch. I will come and get you, okay?

John had to jump back as his dad started, or the disk would have hit his feet. Bill just kept looking forward and giving the tractor the right amount of gas to speed up. John had finished the field he was planting, so he took his tractor and the planter over to his dad’s field and returned to get his pickup before stopping Bill for lunch. As Bill came to the end of the field, he turned around and started another round. John just looked at his dad, wondering just what his dad was doing, or was he just thinking about something else? At the end of that round, Bill turned as if he was going to make another round before he pulled to a stop.

Hey, Dad, are you not hungry? You did not stop, or did you not see me?

Yeah, I saw you, but I looked at my watch, and it was about one o’ clock, and I thought I was not hungry, or I should have already eaten. Well, I am starved. I did not have any breakfast this morning.

Sorry, Dad, I wanted to move the equipment over here before we ate, and moving everything over here took more time than I thought. Let’s go. Lottie will throw our lunch out to the chickens, and we will have to get it later when they lay them eggs.

As usual, at lunch, they just sat and talked about things about why the crop prices were so down. They knew if they got a good crop and the price was up, they would be almost debt-free by the end of the year. They knew that all the other farmers around them were planting more corn because of the price last year being up and the government issuing that the corn harvest had been down.

Bill asked John, Are we doing the right thing by planting everything to corn and maize, or should we be planting more soybeans? I see that a lot more farmers are planting corn. So maybe we should be planting more beans. There are not many being planted that I have noticed.

We are going to plant late beans after the oats are off. That will be twenty acres. Do you feel we should plant more and less maize? We need the maize for animal feed. Soybeans would just be a cash crop for us.

I know, but, son, what if we have less rain? What would we do with no crops? Sometimes I feel you should do something a little different than the rest. You know, sometimes, or always, we should let God determine our actions, and I feel we should be one-half beans and rest maize. That would give us enough for feed, and if the weather holds for us, we could come out very well this year.

Dad, you may be right, so let’s pray about this and then get back to the fieldwork. Lord, You have put this in my dad’s mind, so there must be something for us to think about. We want to be in Your will, and our goal is to be out of others’ debt. If this crop change will help us do that, then give us the wisdom to go about it the way you guide us to go. Give us these two days to finish these two fields and then show us what we are to do with the last field, and show us what You want us to plant in it this year. If Dad is right, then let there be peace in my mind to do as he thinks, and then show us where the different seed will come from. We now have corn seed to fill that field. Thank You for my dad and for his health and the safety you surround us with, amen.

Lottie, thank you so much for lunch, and you take care of that little one God has entrusted to us. I have to go, or I will not get that field half done in time to do my chores, Bill said.

Thanks, hon. I will see you at chore time, and I will carry the feed to the chickens for you. And I will till the garden tonight so we can start planting in the evenings. This year, I want to help with all of it so you will not have to be bending over so much. Love you forever, John told his wife.

Love you too, John. But while you are out there planting, remember it took me six hard, enjoyable years to get this way, and now I will leave it up to my Lord to see me through to the end, and then we will discuss what I am supposed to do. We women have been having babies forever, and we will keep up our end as long as Jesus is Lord of this family and earth.

Yes, ma’am. I will be going on that, and yes, I will praise God for this gift He has given to us. Dad, you stay awake out there, and I will tell you what time you need to go do your chores.

Okay, but remember, I need to get half of this field done today, and since I started late, I may have to work a little longer to get it done. I may have to come back after I have done my chores to accomplish my goal for today.

The afternoon went well. John knew that he was gaining on the disking and would have to quit early, but that was okay. He had homework to do anyway. He would make sure that Bill did not work after five-thirty no matter where he was in the field. At four-thirty, he had caught up, and he refilled his planter then waved at his dad and went to the house. First, he would work on the garden. He should have enough time to finish the tilling, and then he would do the chickens, and then he would go and get his dad from the field so he could do his chores.

Everything went well. The garden was ready, and the chickens were taken care of. It was five-thirty as planned, so he went back to get his dad out of the field. Arriving and waiting for Bill to come to the end, John sat thinking just how God had been with them all along for the baby and what they had accomplished in life so far. He knew that it would not be long before he would no longer see his dad doing fieldwork, and then it would all fall on him then. John was thinking at what time Bill would have to tell him that he could not do it any longer when the tractor noise woke him up.

After Bill shut down the tractor and got off, he knelt down and smelled the aroma of the ground that he had just turned over. When John came up, he heard his dad praying for the ground to be fertile and multiply the crops this year and let his son know about his idea of changing the crop he wanted to plant. John stopped and went no closer, and when his dad got up, he went and put his arm around him and thanked him for his efforts of the day.

Dad, how do you feel? You have bounced around for a long time today. Are you okay, and can I help you with your chores, like milking the cow for you?

Lord, no. I feel fine, and I can still do my chores. Don’t you know that work is what keeps us going? And I am going to be here for my first grandbaby. You go on home and take care of its mother, and I will see you in the morning earlier than I was today.

As John dropped his dad off at the house, he said to him, Dad, thank you for all that you have done for Lottie and me. I want you to know that we care and love you with all of our being. Now, you have a good evening, and remember, Lottie is okay, and she wants you to not worry about her.

Okay, I love you both. You are all I have left in this world as we know it. God bless you for caring about this old man.

When John arrived home, there was a car in his drive, so he wondered who would be calling. He did not know the man. As he got out of his pickup, the man came toward him.

Hi, I am your neighbor up the road, well about six miles, and the seed corn man is out of seed, and he said you might have some extra you would sell me.

Well, he just might be right. My dad and I were just talking, and we have ’bout two bushels too much, and yes, I will sell you two bushels. Do you need it now?

If that would not be a problem, yes, I can take it now.

I might have some more if you need more. I will finish my corn tomorrow afternoon, and you can buy the rest if you need more.

How much more will you think you will have when you are through with your planting?

Maybe a half bushel or less, and if I can help you, it would be better than trying to save it until next year.

Great, if I need more, I will be back in the afternoon, and thank you so much. I put my rows closer together and forgot to figure the extra seed it would take.

I should be through by three o’clock, and I will have it all in one bag for you if needed.

Thanks again.

The man closed the car door and drove off.

Lottie came from the house to tell John he had better get the milking done, or he would be late for dinner; it would be ready in half an hour.

Sweetheart, you are not going to believe this. You remember Dad saying at lunch that we need to plant less corn and more soybeans? Well, that man came and needed two bushels more of seed and will probably come and get the rest I have left tomorrow. I think that Dad knew this would happen even at noontime. I can’t wait to see his face when I tell him what God has planned in our crop planting.

He turned to go do his milking and added, Be back in twenty minutes.

Lottie could see the large smile on his face.

The next morning, when John had finished his chores and eaten, he told Lottie, I am off to the field. We will see you at twelve for lunch. I will bring Dad with me. Hon, get your garden seed ready as to how you want it planted. You know what, where, and how, and this afternoon, I will be here to plant what needs to be planted now.

Okay I will be ready, she answered as she kissed him longer than she normally did. You be safe and come back to me.

Don’t you worry. I can and will always be here for you.

As John got to the field, his dad’s tractor was gone, and there was a good five rounds already disked. Then he saw his dad come from behind the trees at the pasture corner. When Bill slowed down and stopped, John ran over to say hello.

Dad, you have been out here for a while. What got you started so early today?

I knew that we had to get this done today, and I needed to get started early, or it would not happen.

I need to tell you something about your planting idea. Last night a man came and needed corn seed, and I knew that you were right, and God answered that prayer. What do you think of that?

Bill just looked at his son and said, God is good. Without a smile, he turned and went to his disking.

John ran up and asked him, Dad, how did you know this was going to happen?

Son, all my life, when things are set in my mind, I believe the Holy Spirit is telling me what I should do, and then I let it out and as I go and do it. That is something you need to start doing and then keep an open mind to see if it works for you as it has for me. Now, I started early to get done so you would not have to be waiting for me, and now you are holding me up. Then he let out the clutch and gave the tractor the right amount of gas.

John stepped back and watched his dad pull away, thinking, No matter how old I get, my old man and his God always has one on me.

After a short break and back to the field, Bill was done with the disking at two o’clock. He took the disk to the house and cleaned and greased it, ready for the next time, then pulled them together into the shed. He walked back to get John’s pickup and returned to the house, waiting in the porch swing and thinking how he had loved farming all his life, to see the new crops coming up and producing like the Bible said they would. When John came up, Bill got in John’s truck and followed him home, where they could sit and enjoy a good glass of sweet tea. Lottie did know how to make good tea. When the tea was gone, they went to empty the seed from the planter, and the same man drove in again.

Dad, will you hold this sack so I can empty all these bins?

Sure, and you have company too.

You hold this sack, and we will be done in one minute. I believe it is the man who brought the other seed yesterday. There, now it is all back into one sack. John then addressed the man, Hi, we just got through. Do you need more seed?

Yes, I have four long rows left. How much do you have?

Well, maybe a little over half a bushel, and it is yours if you want it.

How much do you want?

Bill said, What do you mean how much? It is just part of a sack, and you cannot sell it unless it is full. So take it and make good use of it and pass this on to someone else someday. Hi, my name is Bill, and I am his dad, and sometimes I am wiser than he is. So take it and give God all the glory for this act.

Thank you, Bill. With neighbors like you two, I am glad I moved here. This has been good for me. I thought I was going to have to let some of my ground lie fallow this year with no crops on it.

By the way, do you see them clouds coming up over there? You had better get, or you will not get done before they hit. I will say in about one hour, we are going to get a good soaking.

Thanks again, and I will be calling on you again sometime.

Dad, we need to get to the garden. I told Lottie I would help her when we got done.

Good, I will put the tractor in, and you go and get started, and I will come and help for a while. Then you can take me home.

In one hour, the storm hit, and all got a good bath. But the garden was almost all planted; what was left could wait for another day. The rain came down in sheets, and John had trouble seeing to get his dad home.

Son, remember, there will be a rainbow after this is over.

Can’t argue with you on that. Our God is good.

Chapter 2

Life

This year was great. Spring and summer were beautiful. The rains came at the right times. The oats were good, and the late beans were in good shape. The corn, beans, and maize were all laid by and waiting for the harvesttime. What little hay they put up for the cows was in the barn. Their garden had produced much more than John and Lottie could handle, so a lot of it went to their church friends who had more time. Lottie was going through her seventh month, and there were a lot of things she could not or did not have the energy to keep up with, and bending over in the garden was the biggest one of them. Yet each day seemed to get started much later than the one before, but she was determined to not let what was left go to waste. John and Bill were fixing up some fence that was down; the post had rotted off. Their days were getting longer, and the time was getting shorter; and like most cases, they were just worn out at the end of each day.

One night, when John came in, Lottie asked him, John, how much longer will it be before the apples are ready to pick? I would like to know if it will be soon before I run out of energy and the baby is due.

Well, it will be about one month, and there will be a lot of them. The trees are really loaded this year. We may have some to sell to the neighbors, and we need to think about getting rid of some of our eggs. Dad said he was way ahead of what he needed. What do you think?

How many do we have in the cellar now?

I counted about twelve dozen, and Dad said he had to move about ten dozen. Do you think we should go to town and set on the side of the road to see if we can move them?

That would be a good idea. I could do that on a Saturday morning if someone would load them for me.

I will talk to Dad in the morning, or we could put up a sign, except not too many people travel down our road. Since the bridge is out, I wonder when they are going to replace it. I will have to ask some questions from the county guys someday. It does cause a burden if we need to go that way. It sends us four miles out of our way, not to mention the people who live down by the river.

John, can you help me with the tomatoes in a couple of days? If you can, the garden will be done for this year.

Yes, I will be glad to help you. Dad and I should be done with the fence by then. It is something I should be doing for you since you are doing all the work of that baby as it grows. What do you have, about two more months left? I can hardly wait. I hope it’s a girl for you, and then I hope it’s a boy for me, some help someday. Dad is about worn out, but he keeps going, I think on sheer willpower.

The next morning, after chores were done, John went to the house for breakfast. After washing up, he went into the kitchen.

Good morning to the most beautiful girl or lady I know. How do you feel? I am here to do your bidding and to let you now use this humble man of your choice for this whole day as long as he gets some real good food.

Well, I have planned that, first, I would like to take a walk to see the apples and then another walk to pick the tomatoes, and then a long time in the rocking chair while I watch this humble man peel and dice all them tomatoes. After that, I should deserve lunch on the porch while I swing and look at the birds. They will all be gone before long, except the bluebirds and the blue jays. Then we can take a nap if all the tomatoes are in jars, ready for the pressure cooker.

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