Alice Walked
by Indi Raine
Many years ago a great, great grandmother walked.
At the time she was young and searching for God.
She walked through the woods to a little church
where she was known as Sister Alice
and the preacher came twice a month.
There she found the Saviour and
grew in the knowledge of
His peace, love, and joy.
Times were hard, but
Alice walked.
Alice came from a hurting home where her daddy
was more drunk than sober, and there was no ma.
Yet Alice prayed and read her Bible and
God was there in the darkness and fear.
Though she was berated and scorned
Alice went to church, walking
through the wind, sleet, and snow.
Through trials her faith
just grew stronger.
Alice walked.
Eventually Alice grew into a woman
of marrying age, and a circuit preacher
made her his bride; so with blushing cheeks she
walked away from her old home to a
new place with new people to hear
the gospel of Jesus. And
there she walked to help the
sick and hurting folks
and share God's love.
Alice walked.
The next several years were happy and prosperous.
Alice watched her family grow, at church and
in her home; she gave birth to six children
and four lived to grow healthy and strong.
Now she walked with her children and
husband to church where they were
blest to meet with others
to sing and rejoice.
Life was good, and
Alice walked.
Then the dark illness came and struck many with death.
Alice helped others all she could, but then her
own family was struck with the plague and
she was left helpless to watch her own
children and husband slip away
to the pearly gates where she
longed to go herself but
could not. Through the dark
valley of death,
Alice walked.
One child, the baby, had been spared from the grave where
now laid her loved ones. So Alice walked away
to find a safe and new place to raise her
tiny daughter in the fear of God.
She found a place in a city
where she could help others
find the faith of her youth.
And although she was
sad and lonely,
Alice walked.
Alice lived a life of serving others and her
Lord and Saviour, and her daughter learned to place
others before herself as she followed
her mother's example. As Alice
grew older and could not do as
much, her daughter took her place.
And Alice was peaceful
as she slipped away.
Through pearly gates
Alice walked.
When I read in my Bible about the heroes
of faith I miss one name that seems like it should
be there-it is Alice, because Alice
is one more example of how I
can walk after God in this life.
She may not have done something
that the world would see as
great or wonderful,
but I know that
Alice walked.
Alice is my great, great grandmother, and because
she walked by faith she started a heritage.
Because Alice walked, her daughter, Katherine,
would walk after God. After Katherine
walked her daughter, Martha, who then
had her own daughter, Ruth Ann.
Ruth Ann walked also, and
her daughter will too,
For with God's help,
I will walk.
Indira "Indi Raine" Trowsdale is a member of Summerside Fundamental Baptist Church, Summerside, P.E.I..