Over Yonder A Ways...
As a little girl, I was a most impatient child--I could hardly wait to get wherever it was the family was going. Daddy was a minister; it was not unusual for us to spend several hours in travel on Sundays. He would smile in a way only he could and answer my frequent inquiries about how much further with, "Over yonder a ways." He once explained "over yonder a ways" as "just past where you cannot yet see." I remember the old brush arbors and the tent revivals, with their accompanying noise and insects. Ever so often there would even be a slithering creature just beyond the fringes of light. (We never told Mother about those.) Our childish imaginings took my twin brother and me on many wonderful adventures on these trips away from home! Yet, I also remember the wonderful works performed at the always crowded make-shift altars: people saved--delivered from their bondage of sin. Once in a while, services would be interrupted by the entrance of a drunk, but this never seemed to perturb Daddy. The person may have intended to disrupt the service, but Daddy never allowed them to. I never knew what he said to them to penetrate the alcohol fog, but they always grew quiet. Daddy had once existed in the same manner. With only a momentary break to quieten the rowdy person, he would then resume his sermon and steadily continue. During the altar call, he would again make his way to that person and when they left that time, they were under a different influence altogether. He never turned anyone away. Time passed, but my patience never improved much and Daddy kept to his faithful reply of, "Over yonder a ways." He seemed to understand that the principles of time and distance were still beyond my concept; I learned to trust in his unswerving "over yonder a ways". Surely enough, we would arrive just as Daddy had predicted: "over yonder a ways" would unerringly become right where we were. And again, Dale and I would be off to high adventure. Through the years, Mama faithfully accompanied Daddy wherever he went to preach; brother and I went along. I sang wherever Daddy preached. I remember asking Mama and Daddy where Heaven was, and sure enough, their answer was, "Over yonder a ways." They explained that life was a race to be run, through mountains and valleys, deserts and oases. If we were faithful to God in running this race on earth, Heaven could be our reward. Still, to me as a child, "over yonder a ways" seemed very far off. Time went by far too quickly--early one Sunday morning I answered the phone to learn that Daddy had died. Now, he too, was "over yonder a ways", yet this time, it wasn't a place I could get in a car and go to. Time and distance took on a whole new meaning as I learned life's lessons without Daddy's guidance through them. "Over yonder a ways" grew even more distant as I left behind that which I had been taught in my early years. Stubborn and hard-headed, I lived a life of rebellion against God and all I had learned. I was a miserable creature, yet I refused to yield and surrender my ways to the Lord. Even though my brother and I were adopted, our "Grandmama" had always treated us as her own grand-children and we loved her dearly. Within a few years of Daddy's passing, Grandmama, too, went to be with Jesus, "over yonder a ways". My twin and I took separate paths in life, losing touch with one another after we both were married and began our own families. Then, "over yonder a ways" came close again as our six-year old child passed from my husband's and my lives. Still, I did not return to my early teachings and continued to live a life of disobedience to God. Too quickly, Mama went to be with Jesus, "over yonder a ways". Without her reality checks, I steadily worsened until my heart became cold and without compassion for anyone. For appearances' sake, my husband and I would attend church, but only sporadically. When we did go, it was because someone else expected it of us. Through the years I had more than one occasion to call on God, but it was never with complete repentance--my life's direction never changed as it should have. Yet God always seemed to have mercy on me and hear my cries from the pit I was in. Only a few short years ago, God allowed me to be in a situation where there was no getting out of facing the person I had become. It wasn't just my life I had wasted--I had grossly neglected teaching my children as I had been taught. It was consequence time. This time, I truly repented, with a broken heart and asked God to make the needed changes in my life. In His infinite mercy, He did. I returned to the teachings of my youth and God restored that which I had rejected. I realized that "over yonder a ways" was, in fact, only a heartbeat away. At any time I could have left this life, but God saw fit to have mercy on me. "Over yonder a ways" is much closer now, as the years speed by and things of this earth change to fulfill Biblical prophecies. "Over yonder a ways" is very nearly here, either by the grave or Jesus' returning. Then I, too, will be with Jesus and loved ones forever...
Over yonder a ways... just past where you cannot yet see...
"Over Yonder A Ways" Copyright © 1998 by Patricia Sikes. All Rights Reserved.
I hear sermons like Daddy used to preach and I'm reminded that God's Truths never change. I hear songs that Mama used to sing and I know they are still good for today. I smell a certain fragrance and Granny is close for a moment. I see wee children run and play and I know Stephanie is now whole. "Over yonder a ways" is getting much closer now-- I can almost see the lights of home.
Till We Meet
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