“Lord, if our ship sinks, don’t let us drown.” My great grandmother had this written in her address book; it’s an old tattered thing, about 4 inches by 4 inches, with a cardboard cover and thin leaflets of paper bound with twine.
She had grocery tabs recorded in there, telephone numbers, names and addresses of friends and family who had moved out of state, and at times little scribbled prayers. It would have been written during the depression, and this particular articulation provides a lot of insight as to what that was like for a woman with a husband out of work and 9 hungry children.
The good news is, they never did “drown.” They made it through the depression. Granny said they not only had enough to eat, but by the grace of God, they were all chubby. At one point they had to eat biscuits made of lard and grain intended as cow feed, but her mother’s prayers were answered. She always managed to find something to fix to feed hungry tummies before bedtime.
To turn to God in moments of destitution is the wisest thing a person can do, and I find myself often uttering this prayer, of a woman who I’ve never met personally, but worked so hard to make sure I could be here.
My great grandfather was born in Harlan KY, but my great grandmother was born in Germany; she was 6 months old when she arrived in the United States. Her parents eventually settled on a farm in Otter Tail County, Minnesota.
My great grandfather, a mechanic by trade employed by the railroad, took a train around the country, presumably to sow his wild oats and do what young men do when they’re single and have some extra money to throw around, and he met my great grandmother in Minneapolis at the train station, where she was visiting her elder sister who had just given birth to triplets.
They exchanged contact information and became pen pals for about a year before he proposed by mail. By all accounts, it was a very happy marriage. They lived in Otter Tail county for a few years, but when my G-Grandfather was hit by a drunk driver (thank God he survived it), they ended up moving to Sampson, Kentucky, to be near his ailing mother. This is where they were living when the depression hit.
—Jacob Rodgers
I’ve been studying on the phrase “Lord, if our ship sinks, don’t let us drown” ever since the above comment was left on one of my videos.
To quote Quay Smathers, the phrase will make you go down the road talking to yourself.
There is power in the earnest plea, a humble servitude in the acceptance that the ship may actually sink, yet amazing hope that they might still be saved from the tragedy.
Last night’s video: Huge July Garden Tour in the Mountains.
Tipper
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All of these stories warm my heart and to think of the grit it took just to survive. Even I tough times, we can always rely on God’s promises. Thank you Tipper for all the lovely stories and sharing your videos with us. Always uplifting and positive.
Rhonda
Stillwater Oklahoma
Loved this post so much as well as all the comments.
“Lord, if our ship sinks, don’t let us drown”, sure is a fitting prayer for today’s times.
The Holy Spirit inspired my granny’s creativity during those awful times. From gardening, to doing odd jobs for rich folks to talking the grocery into giving her their expired produce and food, she managed. She’d take that produce and trim off the bad parts and cook it. If the meat smelled just a little off (not completely, just a little), she would wash it; boil it; then fry it. None of them ever got sick from bad food.
I will be thinking on that prayer and the woman who wrote it while I make supper. I can just see he’s stopped over a table in the dim light, calling out to the Lord. Getting glimpses of those moments of all the women who’ve gone before are encouraging to me. My grandpa is from Harlan, ky. I’ve not been there but I’d love to visit and see my roots.
The part of the story that really touched my heart was making biscuits of lard and cow feed. I’ve written before about my close relationship as a young boy with my great aunt Helen. She told me a story once about hard times she went through during the depression. Her first husband died leaving her with two little girls and no income. She said she lived near a construction site and each day after the workers ate their lunch and returned to work she would go over to the dumpster and search for scraps of food to feed her family. She also said that once a neighbor gave her a jar of sausage grease from when she had fried sausage. Aunt Helen said she cooked some oats and added some of the sausage grease, made the oats into patties, rolled them in flour and fried them. Her little girls thought they were eating sausage. They ate “sausage” till the sausage grease was gone. I’ve told that story many times over the last 60 plus years to make a point that sometimes you just have to figure out a way to survive. Thanks Tipper for keeping our Appalachia ways alive. Give Granny a hug from this West Virginia Hillbilly. All the best, Fred
I love this proclamation of faith! Loved last night’s video! I would love to have eaten with y’all. Thanks for the continuing blessings, Tipper! Praying for y’all as always. From SC, your friend, Jane
My parents taught me to pray during the good times and pray during the bad times. God will provide.
Loved the huge garden tour last night, especially seeing the corn!!
That sentence could be an everyday prayer. None of us know what could happen as we journey through this life. Prayer to our loving God sure does help, though.
On the subject of subsistence rations in hard times, a friend in West Virginia told me about snaring rabbits during the Depression. He was good at it, and taught neighbors how to make and set snares. Those who could afford a few cartridges or shells hunted with intensity to help feed their families, with not much thought for the few game and fish laws then in effect. I would have done the same.
Some of my favorite Bible verses have become a prayerful reminder for me. “Yet hope returns when I remember this one thing: the LORD’S unfailing love and mercy still continue, fresh as the morning, as sure as the sunrise.”
Ships don’t sink because of the water around them. They sink because of the water getting in them.
It’s about not letting the physical world get “inside of you” and weigh you down.
My Granny never saw an ocean or ship but I can hear her saying the same prayer. She raised eleven children during the depression while Pap was too sick to help. Mom has told stories that would leave the listener wondering if their survival was a miracle only the Lord could be responsible for.
Powerful words. I like “make you go down the road talking to yourself” too! Wow!
This reminds me of when my mom would talk about growing up during the depression. They didn’t have a lot, but they always had enough. The Lord does provide.
What a lovely story! God is faithful! Yes Randy God knows our heart.
Oh my. My roots too were once in Harlan County on my mother’s side. My dad had a Gr Gr grandmother from Germany. I continue to want to learn more about them. None of my family had much that is for certain and they constantly moving.
I often wonder how my Gr Grandmother had the will to go on. She came to married in the US from Poland. Speaking little English, she did not read/write and expecting her sixth child, she became widowed. Then to lose a ten-year-old daughter, she only had faith to rely on.
When we think our ship is sinking, if we only believe, God will throw us a lifeline to hold on to. but boy howdy, that is hard when things look impossible. There is where our faith comes in. Walk by faith and not by sight. I have always heard, it came to pass, it didn’t come to stay. Have a blessed Thursday, Tipper and enjoy those babies.
Matt should be having that tomato sandwich anytime. I mention all of your names daily to
our Heavenly Father.
Tipper, I just love this and your YouTube. I’m from New York. Grew up in the city. But as an adult I moved around married an army guy. I’ve lived in Oka. Tex ‘ been to Roanoke VA. I’m very familiar with your family eats. So TY for sharing your life with us. I follow your girls too. I’ve had private conversations with Katie. Congratulations on being a grandma 2xs. I’m also grandma 2xs. Except my grandson is 24 and his sister 19. Alot of your culture mixes in with my British side. My mom. WW2 Era. I love green onions with salt for a snack. And cornbread with soup beans and onions. Again ty God bless you all and you all are in my prayers. I’m 68 yrs old….
“Lord, if our ship sinks, don’t let us drown.” My first thought was that this is the prayer we all need during these times; however, for us humans, all times from Adam and Eve to today are rife with trouble/sickness/loss and deceptions/corruptions of every make and measure. The good part is that love and happiness are still possible because our Father in Heaven loves us, and when we love Him back, in the end and no matter what comes, we don’t drown. Immanuel/Emmanuel/Jesus means God is with us. We’re good to go.
God never changes and He still answers prayers today. They may not always be how we want them, but He never fails us.
Thank you for sharing this. Randy’s comment really touched me this morning too.
I had Christian parents and was raised in a Christian home. Many times I saw both of my parents pray, not only when things were going good, but also in times of need. I remember Daddy getting sick one year and being out of work and in the hospital and not being able to have the garden we usually had. Mother telling me we are out of food, I don’t know what I will fix for supper. That same afternoon, men my Daddy carpooled with came home from work with a car full of groceries -back seat and trunk, His coworkers had gave him a pounding as it used to be called. Along about the same time, another neighbor bring a pickup truck load of firewood to us. Sometimes I think God hears the simple from the heart prayers more than the “fancy” prayers.
oh thank you Tipper for this timely post during a somewhat trying time. It will pass though and Gods joy hasn’t left,it’s sown throughout the day and night ..if we remember. Now to listen to some of your families music! You each are a blessing .