Gladys Bertram lives in the same house she moved into nearly 70 years ago after getting married in 1948. And she still has the same stove, refrigerator and hot water tank that were installed in the home when her husband built it.
"My husband, George, wanted things that would last so he decided on the Crosley brand, which was top quality," she says, noting that she and her husband raised cattle on their ranch in Colorado.
"We literally saved up penny by penny to buy those appliances. That stove was really heavy. We could barely get it into the kitchen."
The Crosley stove was fancier than anything else on the market at the time, including two ovens, a timer, and a boiler. Gladys, 94, worked at that stove for many years to feed her family and every hired hand who ever worked for them. The Crosley refrigerator, which was the first to patent shelves in the door, has likewise held up well. Amazingly, so has the water heater.
Nowadays, Gladys is more likely to use the microwave than the oven. She's not ready to shut down the appliances, though. "I'm saving them for my grandchildren," she says.
From FARM SHOW magazine; Vol 41, No 1, 2017; Written by Carolyn White
My how things have changed! Back in the 40's and 50's Gladys Bertram's way of thinking and doing things was considered normal, especially among rural folks. Even though this was the way people lived their lives, (believers and unbelievers), I doubt if they even gave much thought of how scripturally fundamental their lives were. Likewise today, people (believers and unbelievers) give little thought to how unscriptural we are living our lives. We simply gaily follow the pack and the undertow down the river..towards the rocks and the falls.
Grandma's example of just living her life gives us lessons that no sermon or sermon series, or even a lifetime of sermons can possibly teach us. She shows us that the Scriptures meet us where we are and the utter practicality in which they are filled. Teaching is best NOT done in the classroom or sanctuary. We are able to observe Grandma on daily basis to see her strive and overcome, while maintaining love for those around her. And then we see her at the end of her trail with a smile on her face and contentment in her heart..still giving love..It never ran out.
I am going to take the liberty of identifying a few of Grandma's Bible lessons that hopefully we will all consider. My list is not meant to be exhaustive, and encourage everyone to search and identify more.
1) Whatsoever you do, do as unto the Lord. Producing a quality product that lasts a long time is a moral issue and quite Godly. Planned obsolescence and exaggerated sales promotion is immoral. Where is Crosley today?
2) Husbands, care for your wives as Christ cares for His Church. Gladys' husband George, wanted the best for his family, and shouldered the responsibility to make it happen. Did not have hirelings build his family's house..He built it.
3) Wives, submit yourselves to your husbands.
A quiet and gentle spirit is precious to the Lord. Gladys, out of respect for her husband's obvious love for her, supported his decision to buy Crosley appliances, even though they would take much longer to acquire.
4) A borrower will become the slave to the lender.
Good things shall come to those who wait. George and Gladys did not think it strange to wait and do without, while saving for the purchase. It was much cheaper to simply avoid the interest charges of the banker. They identified their goal early, and then worked together to obtain it and further bound their hearts together as a result.
5) Let your conduct be without covetousness, and be content with such things as you have. For He, Himself has said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you."
Same stove, same refrigerator, same hot water tank, same house, same husband and same wife! Hallelujah, Praise you Lord Jesus!
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