Where the Meadowlark Sings
in Spoon River Country
by
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Come with me on this journey that starts with a family just beginning and the trials and tribulations
of life which haunt their pathway. Can the “Faith of Our Fathers” really get us through the disasters
and the suffering that is a part of this life? Is God really there ? Does He care? Did Jesus, himself
really weep at the tomb of Lazarus-the brother of an ancient earthly family that He loved? John 11:35
Ecclesiastes 3:1-13 “To Everything there is a season and a time to every purpose under heaven...A time to be born and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pull up that which is planted;
A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up;
A time to weep, and time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;
A time to cast away stones and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;
A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and time to cast away;
A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;
A time to love and a time to hate; a time of war and a time of peace.....
He hath made everything beautiful in his time: also he hath set the world in their heart, so that no man can find out the work that God makes from the beginning to the end.
….every man should eat and drink, and enjoy the good of all his labour, it is the gift of God.”
The story of life is contained in these poetic stanza's from the Holy Bible. They are filled with the plenty and richness of youth that feels like it will last eternally. There is a lot of hard work in store for the youth as they nourish and raise the next generation who will again experience all the similar challenges
as the previous one. Then their green leaves of summer too will fade into autumn and finally
winter. Once again the tree will rest through the winter bare of its beautiful leaves, until spring awakens it to life and puts on green leaves of summer once again. In these poetic lines, I could envision the characters of my book and yes, myself and my own generation.
Again, I invite you to share this adventure and wonder of life from a home spun country point
of view. We are blest that we might bless and may it be so.
Betty L. Clifford
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About the Book
Family—the very word evokes foundation, roots, genealogy, warmth, and belonging. A family is a treasured gift from God, our heavenly Father.
Due to circumstances beyond our control, our family was broken by our mother's untimely death. By faith and God's grace, our father was able to keep us together as a family unit. It takes much prayer and wisdom to raise a child and especially four of them.
Now in my own elder years, I am very thankful for this gift. How very empty and alone I would have been without knowing my father and brothers. Without being a part of this common ancestry and lineage. Wondering forever: Who am I? Why am I here? Instead I have inherited this unity, singleness of heart and bond of understanding that begins on the day of birth upon bonding with mother and father.
Family! Treasure it. Hold each member to your heart and never let them go.
About the Author
The author was born in 1938 in Waterford Twp., Illinois. She grew up in Bernadotte Twp., Illinois, on a 250-acre farm with her father and brothers. She attended local schools and two years at Western Illinois University. She later married a minister and had five children. She attended nursing school after her children were grown. Retired, she now lives in Richmond, Virginia.