GRAMPS
May 14, 1998
The Experience of Studying Hebrew as a Student Who is Blind
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Gerald Erickson married my grandmother, Ferne Schneider Toombs, in 1971. He spent the remainder of his life as a close, much-loved member of my family. We all called him Gramps. Even the people at church called him Gramps.
Gramps graduated From Anderson Theological Seminary and served for several years as a missionary in Grand Cayman. He also served as the Dean at Gulf Coast Bible College, now Mid-America Bible College. In the later part of his life, he was active in various ways at the Southmore Church of God, now known as Parkgate Community Church. He served on the Board of Missions and Outreach, the Board of Trustees, and the Pulpit Committee. He directed the prison ministry and was a member of Prison Fellowship. He often opened his home to people in need of temporary housing. He taught the Sunday school class for senior citizens until his death.
Gramps was very involved with his family. He had four children of his own, as well as the three stepchildren. He loved his grandchildren and spent a lot of time with us. He loved to tell stories--usually the same ones--and we all loved to hear them, even if we had heard them just yesterday.. My favorite was the riddle about the skunk family.
Once there was a mother skunk who lived with her two baby skunks. They were named In and Out.
Now sometimes In went Out and Out came in, and other times Out was out and In was in. The mother skunk had a hard time keeping up with them.
One day In was out and Out was in. The mother skunk said, "Out, would you go out and bring In in?"
So Out went out and quickly came back with In.
"How did you find In so quickly?" asked the mother skunk.
"Oh, it was easy," Out said. "... Instinct."
There were others which I don't remember as well. Some were just plain silly. Some taught a lesson. A story always meant we could sit on Gramps' lap and snuggle--and the nonverbal lesson in that time was as important as the lesson in the story.
His story-telling even extended to his testimonies at church. He would often launch into a story and lose track of time. Once, when I was a teenager, he gave a report about a trip he had taken. "I'm only going to talk for 15 minutes," he said resolutely. After 22 minutes had gone by, he said, "Well, Ferne didn't lend me her watch, so I'm home free." I always thought he must have planned it that way.
Gramps had a reputation for being a prayer warrior. Whenever any of us was worried or something was pressing, we called and asked him to "get on the hotline". Granny wrote the following about his prayers:
The children still pray. They not only pray, they ask us to pray with them and for them. They seem to have confidence in Gerald's prayers. It's not unusual to receive a phone call, sometimes long distance, requesting that "Gramps get on the hotline".
Often the prayers have been answered. Was it because Gramps prayed, or because the children themselves exercised their faith and prayed? God knew all the time what the need was, but for some reason He wants us to unite our hearts, to recognize and voice the need. He is a prayer-answering God. He is also a faith-giving, reminding-us-to-pray God. He reminds us to pray for the need He wants to supply. He gives the faith, the prayer and the answer. What a wonderful God!
I learned many things from Gramps. He was patient, no matter what was going on--I do not recall ever hearing him raise his voice. He did not question anything, even when I am certain things confused or upset him badly. I think the most important lesson he taught me was about compassion. Because of Gramps, I have learned what it means to love and serve others and to accept them as they are. I also credit Gramps with helping to instill in me the faith which is now so important to me. I would not be where I am today without God, and I am thankful that I had someone like Gramps to teach me who God is and how to love and serve Him. I miss you, Gramps! You will be remembered! Thank you for sharing God's message with the world and with your family.
Sarah J. Blake