Recently I searched for pictures in the Library of Congress digital collection to illustrate the Supreme Court decisions of the early 1960s about school prayer and school Bible reading. I wasn’t successful with finding anything that was really what I wanted. I did find children praying and a girl learning from the Bible. However, the praying children were at a private school over 20 years earlier than I wanted.
Library of Congress caption: “School opens with prayer. This is the private school in the Farm Bureau building. Pie Town, New Mexico.” June 1940. Photo by Russell Lee. Courtesy Library of Congress.
The child learning from the Bible was at Sunday School. She was also over 20 years to long ago.
Library of Congress caption: “Reading the lesson from the Bible at the Sunday school at the Community house of the Casa Grande Valley Farms. Pinal County, Arizona.” May 1940. Photo by Russell Lee. Courtesy Library of Congress.
Though I wasn’t successful with my search, I did find a photograph of a mother who made me think of you. Here she is.
Courtesy of Library of Congress.
Maybe I had better quote you the caption from Library of Congress, so you can see what I mean:
Mrs. Hull drying corn. She hopes to sell enough to help her son through Bible school. Dead Ox Flat, Malheur County, Oregon. Photo by Dorothea Lange. October 1939.
This is why she reminds me of you. She was a dedicated mama making sacrifices to provide her children with what she believed they needed — just like you. Thank you. Oh, that all of the world’s children had a mama like you.
Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you entirely;
and may your spirit and soul and body be kept complete,
without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Faithful is He who calls you, and He also will do it.
1 Thessalonians 5:23-24
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