Cod and The Cowboy
A Tribute to a Real Christian Father
By Jettie H. Tadlock
The Cowboy’s spare time throughout the years has been used for preparation of messages for a mission, a men’s meet ing, a prayer meeting, or Sunday School lessons. He and Miss began teaching the Word at an early age and soon became the favorite Bible teachers of many. His unquestioning faith in God’s prom ises is not surprising in view of his de scent from preachers and missionaries, although the Cowboy himself went into the cattle business. But in spite of the pressure of business, he continually fishes for the souls of his associates, be lieving that “He that winneth souls is wise.” A characteristic answer to our many questions about the Word is: “Honey, it means exactly what it says, or our blessed Lord would have said it some other way.” No wonder that those in trouble, bereavement, and distress de clare to him: “Mister, I don’t know what religion you have, but it must be the right one or you wouldn’t help me as you do.” To disobey God seems my father’s only fear, and the promises in the Word his chief security. He often declares, “ I don’t really walk by faith at all. I walk by sight because I love to see the Lord work out circumstances to bring about His will.” For seven years I taught in the public schools, too independent to heed his gen erous offers: “Won’t you teach Bible and deal with souls for me and let me pay for it, since that is the chief interest of both of us? You won’t have to work double all the time and can do more for the Lord too.” When I finally gave in, and began working with him, at each temptation to quit and work else where, he and Miss would say, “You are going to be somebody’s missionary and we are going to pay somebody to be our missionary. So won’t you work for Him through us?” His remark to me when I left home to attend the Bible Institute of Los Angeles was typical: “Hon, remember you are not the only one who loves the Lord Jesus and is seeking to serve Him, so take others along with you through Bible School; we are praying for you.” When men borrowed money from him, and failed to repay it, the Cowboy would dismiss it with a grin: “ They can’t hurt me because they’d have to hurt the Lord first. I do it as unto Him.” Eternity alone will reveal the money that these two have given for the spread of the (Continued on Page 19) Page Fifteen
with the rod, he shall not die . . . Cor rect thy son, and he shall give thee rest; yea, he shall give delight unto thy soul” (Prov. 22:6; 23:13; 29:17). I believe I owe my soul’s salvation to my parents’ obedience to these verses. Cer tainly my surrender to the Lord was the result of their discipline administered in love and prayer, in accordance with God’s Word. Whatever order issued from one parent was always loyally backed by the other: “ That is the word with the bark on it, young man, so if you are told to hop, you hop, with a smile on your face and without murmur or de lay.” Do not get the idea that ours was a somber household. Miss and the Cow boy were full of fun and the house usually rang with shouts of laughter. The Cowboy’s sternness was but a minor characteristic. He is better known for his humor, common sense, loving favor,
I F all fathers towered as high for God as does my dad, their sons and daughters would not find it so diffi cult to find the Lord and to live for Him. Actually my parents lived the lives of home missionaries,, although their incentive, remuneration, and prep aration for Christian service came only through direct dealings in prayer with the living Lord Himself, and from their simple childlike faith in His Word, without benefit of formal religious training. “ Miss” and “The Cowboy,” as my parents have been fondly called, early established a family altar and, as years went by, this brought together morning and evening the five children (two died in infancy) and any guests that might be present for worship around the Word of God. People said they liked to hear the Cowboy pray. No wonder, for it was evident that he knew well the One with whom he was speaking. Sometimes he would take us children by surprise with the announcement, “ Brother (or some younger member of the family) will lead our prayer tonight.” Although we prayed with beating hearts and faltering words, we learned that prayer was real. Obedience in the home was expected as a matter of course. We responded cheerfully without any “ sass,” or the fat was in the fire. This unwritten law was based upon such Scriptures as, “ Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not de part from it . . . Withhold not correction from the child: for if thou beatest him In the May issue of THE KING’S BUSINESS we published a personal tribute to the author’s mother, by her sister, Mrs. Herbert Kann, wife of the pastor of Oliver Presbyterian Church, Minneapolis, Minn. We are happy to print this seqttel by another daughter, who is a student at Wheaton College. We feel that the example of parents of this caliber is good for our present god less generation. — (Editor’s note.) / J U L Y , 1 94 9
Mr. J. A. Tadlock, Ft. Worth, Tex. “ The Cowboy”
and absolute truthfulness. His business associates have thus variously described him: “ Best man that ever lived” ; “He must live right or things wouldn’t dove tail for him the way they do” ; “He’s no sissy” ; and “ There’s not a dishonest bone in that man’s whole being.” When Miss, whose cooking is excellent, entertained preachers, Bible teachers, or Sunday School groups, which composed our family’s typical visitors, the Cowboy would listen attentively to the table talk. After everybody had expressed their various views, he would with un intentional wit and with real insight, either set the group to laughing or silence them by some apt observation.
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