On The Side of A Hill

This photo is precious to me. These are the "old maids" that reared my Grandma Pledger in Arkansas following the death of her mother as an infant nearly 100 years ago. It was these Blanscet sisters that read her the Bible by firelight in a rustic log cabin when Mae was just a young girl. Their walk with God laid a foundation for her as she would oneday rear eleven children of her own. Four of her sons would become Baptist preachers in spite of their being raised in a home of poverty and the ridicule of my God-hating Grandpa. One of her boys would later become my father, Dr. Ken Pledger. He would overcome the adversity laid upon him in his childhood while growing up on the side of a ridge in Coal Hill. His early struggles would not destroy him, but make him ready for his future years of service in the Gospel Ministry. The grit and determination that these dear, old saints of God possessed was passed onto my Grandma and then to my father. I hope in time will find its way into my soul as well. "The lines are fallen unto me in pleasant places; I have a goodly heritage: Psalm 16:6