Thursday, June 9, 2011

a good read....

A book becomes so much more interesting if it involves places you have visited...or people you know...or is about a topic that is close to your heart.  I rather like to read biographies and autobiographies from time to time.  It seems real life is much more interesting than fiction!

I'm reading a book right now called 'Pilgrim of the Heavenly Way'...the autobiography of Daniel Smith...a Plymouth Brethren missionary to Asia for many decades in the past century.  Daniel was born in Yorkshire England to Scottish folks...and tells of the series of extraordinary events that started him on the 'heavenly road' and eventually to China's Yunnan province to work among the Nosu tribes.  He was preoccupied with his work...and never gave a second thought to marriage.  But one day God gave him the name of Catherine McGlashan...and for more than two years he knew she was to be his wife...though he had never met her and did not know who she was.  God's ways are perfect...and eventually he met Catherine while travelling in West Yunnan.  He found her walking alone in a garden one day...and told her his story.  Three days later they were engaged...

 Daniel and Catherine Smith

...and soon they were partners on the mission field!  It was in the mountainous region of northern Yunnan...far from civilization and with no medical help nearby...that their first child (a daughter named Roxie) was born. 

 I won't tell you the whole story...but I find it most interesting...since it happens to be my daughter-in-law's grandfather who is telling his life story.  I never had the opportunity to meet him, since he was 'promoted to glory' long before Broni became part of our family.  But I met his wife...Cathie...Broni's sweet little grandma Smith on several occasions.

 Cathie ~ Broni ~ Roxie 1996

Roxie lives nearby...and we share three sweet grandchildren...and so it is most interesting to read the family history and to see what stories dwell in other branches of my grandchildren's family tree.

Daniel Smith spent his entire life in the ministry.  When the doors to China were closed after the Communist takeover...he worked among the peoples of India and Sri Lanka.  In his book he humbly shares how God worked in and through him during his life.

He dedicates his book to his loving wife Catherine and to his four children 'whom, I pray, I shall meet amidst the unutterable glories before the face of our Saviour, the Lord Jesus, and to their husbands and wives...and to our grandchildren whom, we pray, shall follow on in the highway to heaven'.

Daniel Smith had no great-grandchildren when he wrote his life story...but I am sure his prayer of dedication covers Emme, Spencer, and Ryder as well.  What a blessing to have godly ancestors...who have set such a good example for those who come after.

ETA ~ 'Pilgrim of the Heavenly Way' was originally published in 1979...but was re-published in 2010 by Granted Ministries Press of Hannibal, Missouri and is available on their website.

17 comments:

  1. Oh this brought stinging hot tears to my eyes right off quick. A godly great-grandfather's prayers are the reason I am a member of the family of God so I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that Mr. Smith's prayers extend way down those family lines. What a heritage!

    Just an amazing story...

    ReplyDelete
  2. now that is quite the legacy to leave behind.....it must be a very touching book.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Wow How powerful. God is faithful and He will reward his lifetime of dedication to the ministry by bringing his family all safely home to.
    What a heritage. I would love to read it. Is it available in Christian bookstores? or perhaps online.

    ReplyDelete
  4. What a beautiful story - and a unique legacy for the generations that have come since.

    ReplyDelete
  5. What an interesting story you told, and a lovely picture of 3 generations. Dairymary

    ReplyDelete
  6. What a great story. We sometimes forget that God is interested in the details of our life, and this story removes that doubt. I'm struck by the example of Daniel waiting on the Lord to meet his future wife. Awesome...

    ReplyDelete
  7. Oh Judy. .this one is a tear jerker. I love a biography and knowing your beautiful dil and grands just a little bit makes it more precious. What a wonderful legacy they have been left.

    I'm still smiling at how God reveled the name of his bride .. .just so he could waste not a moment of decision when he saw her.

    ReplyDelete
  8. What a wonderful heritage that is. How great that they have a book about their great grandfather...

    ReplyDelete
  9. What a beautiful story. Wouldn't he have loved to have met his great grandchildren! I've enjoyed my visit today. Have a lovely weekend!

    Mary

    ReplyDelete
  10. Thank you for sharing such a heart warming faith building story. I can't wait to read the whole book now, probably out loud on our deck as an after dinner treat during the summer nights.

    I have known several families that have the written prayers of ancestors who spoke to God concerning the faith of generations to follow. One mentioned great great grandchildren, and his prayer letter was later found by that exact generation, and yes, they too followed the ways of the Lord.

    May I also say the family line created stunning beautiful people? The image of dreary missionary people has been permanently revised with his brood.

    ReplyDelete
  11. What an amazing story that becomes so much more real when you put your own grandchildren in the picture! The umbrealla of blessing that covers them encourages us to do the same for ours. Beautiful photo of the three generations too.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Wow!! Just wow! Thanks for sharing!

    ReplyDelete
  13. Thank you for sharing a lovely story and the great way God works in prayer!

    ReplyDelete
  14. I love hearing of those who have walked so closely with their Lord. What an amazing "How we met" story. Your grandkids have a strong spiritual heritage on both sides.

    ReplyDelete
  15. I love this post. What a great heritage to leave behind. I know that my grandparents prayed for their children and grandchildren, as do my parents, and us, too. A legacy of faith - such a blessing.

    ReplyDelete
  16. Ohh.. that is an amazing story ! I would love to read the book, I'll look for it !

    ReplyDelete
  17. What a wonderful family history your daughter-in-law has, and what a wonderful treasure of a book to pass on through the ages to all who follow!

    ReplyDelete

'The ornament of a house is the friends who frequent it.'
~ Ralph Waldo Emerson