Old School Dating #101

Get this, I accidentally found a website where a woman can share a text message from her man so the public can vote and tell her if the guy is “into her”, “not that into her”, or if “the jury is still out.” Dear ones, dating really shouldn’t require a committee. Allow me to illustrate with a family story….

Several weeks ago I had the privilege of speaking in a small country church where five generations of my family have worshipped. If you’re thinking I may have been emotional, you would be correct. Although regular services are no longer held at Hickory Springs, this small church built in the 1800’s in the woods of north Louisiana, it is well kept by descendants of the May family and once a year everyone that can do so returns for a reunion/worship service. While there my cousin Joyce gave me a thick record of our family history and as we traveled home that afternoon, I found the following story and read it aloud to my husband. In my way of thinking, it is a treasure that I was delighted to find!

Many years ago my great-great-great-great grandfather, Joseph Monroe May, returned from serving in the Revolutionary War to discover that his young wife had died, leaving him with three small children. Being more confident fighting Redcoats and Indians than he was rearing children, Joseph struck a bargain with his brother who was himself due to report for duty. Joseph offered to serve in his brother’s place- if his brother and sister-in-law would take and raise his children along with their own. The brother agreed and Joseph went back to war.

He survived, again, and traveled home anticipating a happy reunion with his children. Instead, Joseph found his kids, bedraggled, hungry and gathered around a fire in his brother’s front yard! They’d been forced to live outside while his brother’s children were cared for inside. Family history records that Joseph gave his brother a polite cussing. I’d elaborate on that for y’all but I’m not sure where the line is. Regardless, Joseph left on horseback with a promise to go get himself a wife and his children a mother.

Joseph rode straight to the home of a buddy who had died beside him in battle, fully aware his friend had left behind a wife and children of his own. Widow McLean asked Joseph to come in but the determined young man said, “Not until I tell you my business, ma’am. I’m hunting a wife. If you’re not interested, I’ll be moving on.”

Widow McLean decided on the spot that she was indeed interested. Joseph dismounted and after a brief discussion, Great great-great-great-Grandpappy left an engaged man. Now that is a record setting courtship, y’all, and Joseph didn’t need a committee to pull it off! As a matter of fact, High Speed Internet would be choking in his trail dust.

Hugs, Shellie