Friday December 12, 2014 We met on the basketball court. At that time, the place was ‘way out Methodist Farm Road, an extension of Sunset drive. It felt rural. As a matter of fact at that time, where the Jackson Medical Mall now stands, the Baptist Children’s Home was to be found. Five or six of the boys were playing basketball when I drove up. I got a quick “Who are you?” look, as I walked toward them, “Hey,” I said, “I’m Keith—your new senior counselor.” A couple of handshakes went around, a mumble or two, and they went back to their game. One under- the- basket shot missed, the ball bounced toward me and I laid one in the center of the net. A rarity for this player, believe it. “Hey,” said one of the boys, “Good shot.” Nice kid, who was to become my little brother later. One of my part time college jobs was at the Methodist Children’s Home. They had tried me at the in- town campus, but felt I was a better fit with the teen-age boys. The house was interesting. At one time a large private home, it had been ‘rebooted’ for special use by the ‘Home.’ The bedroom was more of a second floor dormitory with single beds for about eighteen kids. We had fifteen at the time. There was one bathroom upstairs. One tub, no shower, one sink, one potty. To make it all the more interesting, we had ten thousand cows to milk each morning before the bus came to take the boys to school about 7. (I think there were,actually, about thirty cows.) The ‘Home’ was also an active farm helping provide food for all the residents out here and in town. You should have seen us trying to clean up after cows, and before breakfast and school in that one- everything bathroom. The boys loved it that I couldn’t make milk come out of the cows. I squeezed and squeezed, but nothing. Then Edward, the young man to become son and brother in our family took pity on me: “Here, let me show you.” I learned the ‘pull down then squeeze’ and got a little milk. Later, after I had gone to Capitol Street church where I also had a part time job, I mentioned in a devotion how much of a challenge the getting to school on time and the milking was. The end result after a year or so, was a brand new facility and some automatic milkers! Talk about an answer from heaven by way of God’s people! The Farm home was overseen by Mr. and Mrs. James Pool. Mr. Pool really cared for the boys, and was the one to wake us up every morning about 5. The new dining area and rooms with a shared bath, for all, were wonderful. They even added a ‘mud room’ for us to come in and clean up after milking and before breakfast. This was an institutional world, but the Pools and even Brother Long who was superintendent at that time really wanted the best for the children that came under their care. Of course it wasn’t all the kids wanted it to be, they were away from their families of origin. But the care was good and extensive: I remember trips to the dentists, the boys and girls being sent to college at Home expense, much good came out of what was not always a happy option for some of the kids, but was salvation for others. I wasn’t out there all the time, but for time enough to come to know and love the Pooles and their family and the kids too. One Christmas I called my family in Florida where Dad was now working, and asked if I could bring a couple of the boys from the Home with me for the holiday. “Well,’ Mom said, “The house is not very big, but we have that porch upstairs.” Dad added, “How many? And you know we are not making much money here just now.” “Of course bring them,” Mom said. I did, and one of them became ‘ours’ from then on. The other, his brother had a special family relation in Jackson, but how grateful we’ve been and how blessed by Edward’s part in our lives. Talk about a Christmas gift! So many of these young people have gone on to become successful and contributing members of society. Some continue to make outstanding achievements. While their lives at the Home or at other homes like it, was not what they might have preferred, much good came from it—many fine young men and women. As we think of holiday celebrations and gift giving, we might consider some of these groups that invest in young lives. It’s more than a plea for money. It’s a call to become part of the lives of kids who have it in them to become able and successful. An unusual twist of this story is that this very home where the boys and their caregivers lived became part of the ministry of Wells Church. We bought it with big help from the Methodist Children’s Home, and for over eleven years provided a place for folks to live who couldn’t live alone any longer. It was good ministry. My own dear Mom ended up there making that most difficult change from one’s own home to another place. That ministry failed. Not because it was bad, but because it was too good! We were licensed as a group home, but went on so long that some of our residents needed nursing care and we were not able to pull off that licensing. Special thanks to God and Jim Young and Tom Vinson for their very able work with us at WellsHouse. Providence plays a part in things—when we see it clearly and when we don’t. After our closing, the Methodist Children’s Home rebought the place, added to it, and continue a life changing and much needed ministry there to young women. I wonder if they still play basketball out in the yard these days… Always love, always, Keith
Posted on: Fri, 12 Dec 2014 11:05:36 +0000
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