So, at this point in our journey I feel it important to bring out an amazing move of God to make it possible for our lives to intersect eventually on purpose.
I spent my years from birth to 13 years old living back and forth between Kansas and Missouri. Our last home was a rental in Ottawa, Kansas. My dad had a job as a crane operator’s rigger or assistant. I never knew what brought about the sudden decision, but even mom was surprised. Dad came home about noon one day and said he had quit his job and an auctioneer was coming to buy everything except our clothes. The next day we were on the road heading for Bakersfield (Oildale), California.
(A sad note: The man who replaced dad at work as a crane operator’s assistant was electrocuted and died that next day. Was dad’s leaving God’s rescue? I have never really known how to deal with that).
Ruthi Parker and her family were living in Albuquerque, New Mexico. After she had finished the first grade, the family relocated to Bakersfield (Oildale), California where she entered the second grade at Standard Elementary School in Oildale. By January 30, 1960, both our families were living in Oildale; they were on the west side of Standard School and we on the east side. Jerry and Ruthi were not yet aware that the other even existed.
At this moment in the activities of God influencing two families to the same location, the summer of 1960, having only been in California from January through June, my dad buys a house on the extreme south end of Bakersfield; ten miles from Oildale and I would start High School in a rival school.
I never knew why then, but looking back through spiritual eyes, God convinced dad to sell that brand new built home before the end of my freshman year. We moved to a home in Oildale two short blocks from where my future sweetheart was living, though we had not yet met.
I have always claimed that my sweet Ruthi was God’s gift to me. Do you not yet see? There are no coincidences with God. God even moves two distant families to the same location, and they end up a mere 200 yards apart to make a love story that will last beyond 50 years.
(To be continued)