LET US REJOICE AND BE GLAD
A Testimony from the life of

MILDRED ADAMS JONES
1898 – 1985

by her daughter,
Marguerite Jones Utley

“This is the day the Lord has made; Let us rejoice and be glad in it.” Psalm 118:24

Mother and I loved to start the day with this verse. When you know the Lord Jesus Christ as your Savior, you can rejoice and be glad every day regardless of your circumstances because He said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” Heb. 13:5
May this testimony help you to find the joy in your life that my sweet mother so richly enjoyed and radiated in hers.

Only a very few people in life seem to be truly happy, well adjusted, appreciative, satisfied with themselves and with others. Such a person is rare and unique in today’s world. My mother, Mildred Holladay Adams Jones, was such a person.
In 1965, she wrote me a letter and said, “I do not think anyone is completely happy—but I feel that I have come just as near being completely happy as almost anyone.” And to what did she attribute that happiness? In a 1973 letter to the “Students of My Yester-years,” she wrote, “I have enjoyed a long and happy life except for the sorrows and sadnesses that come to most of us, and I attribute my joy in living to the fact that I accepted Jesus into my heart as Lord and Savior when I was only nine or ten years of age.”

She spoke of a happy life but, more significantly, she spoke of her joy in living, which was constant and something quite different from what we usually think of as happiness. To most people, happiness depends on happenings—if this happens, I will be happy or if that happens, I won’t be happy. That kind of happiness depends on circumstances beyond our control and can change from moment-to-moment. Joy, on the other hand, comes from the peace and security of a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

Galatians 5:22-23 summarizes my mother’s good qualities and identifies their source: “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control….” Some people have some of these fruits, and some people have others. But very seldom do you find all the fruit in one cluster, manifested in one life. This happens only when a person is walking in the Spirit, in obedience to the Word of God.

Mildred Holladay was born on December 28, 1898, in Cresson, Texas, to Rev. and Mrs. David Elijah Adams. Her father was a Baptist preacher and, as she would say, she was born and raised on the Bible. She had been taught Romans 3:23, “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” She knew I Cor. 15:3-4, “…Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried and that He was raised again on the third day according to the Scriptures.” She had learned John 3:16, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth on Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”

She knew these truths and believed them, but that was not enough. The Bible says even the demons believe. You have to act on that belief by placing your faith in Jesus Christ alone for your salvation. Ephesians 2:8-9 says, “For by grace are ye saved through faith, and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not of works lest any man should boast.”
One night in 1909 or 1910, in an old brush arbor revival meeting, Mother said she felt a little tug at her heart. We might think of it as a knock, for Jesus said, “Behold I stand at the door [of your heart] and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come into him…. (Rev. 3:20) But she would quickly explain that not everyone feels a “little tug” because trusting is not an emotion. It is an act of the will, a choice. After she had made the decision to trust Jesus Christ as her Savior, she made a public confession of faith and was baptized.

At that time, she was born again—this time a spiritual birth into the family of God. John 1:12 says, “For as many as received Him, to them gave He the power to become the children of God.” And she received the Holy Spirit to dwell in her the rest of her life—to guide her and give her the ability to do His will.

In an evangelistic crusade in 1917, she dedicated her life to special service for the Lord. She didn’t know what it was that He wanted her to do, and there were never any startling revelations. But the Lord worked faithfully—closing doors here and opening doors there—quietly leading her in accordance with His promise in Proverbs 3:5-6: “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart and lean not unto thy own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct thy paths.”
In 1918 she started teaching school. In 1920 she had a contract to teach in Haskell, Texas, but she resigned at the last minute when she learned her brother would be in her class. Instead, the Teaching Registry sent her to a little country school where a 29-year old bachelor by the name of W. C. Jones was the principal. It wasn’t love a first sight, but they had a lot in common: both were Christians; his parents were teachers, hers a Baptist minister and wife; they were each the second child in a family of five siblings. First came respect, then friendship, and finally love. By the end of the school year, they were engaged. They were married on June 9, 1921, with her father performing the ceremony. On their wedding day, her mother said, “W.C., it won’t take a lot of money to make Mildred happy—just a lot of love.”

They continued as a teaching/administrative team with the exception of the years 1931-1940, when they built and operated a grocery store in the little West Texas town of Balmorhea. It was during that time that I was born. It was a wonderful place—a wonderful time in which to live. And we were an exceptionally happy family.

Around 1943 my father began having some personality changes. By 1946 he was also experiencing physical and mental impairments. In 1947, at the age of 56, his condition was diagnosed as (Early Onset) Alzheimer’s Disease, which was virtually unknown at that time.

When Daddy knew he had an incurable disease, he wanted to know for sure that when he died he would go to heaven. Although he had made a profession of faith when he was a boy, he wanted to hear assurance of salvation. Mother called our pastor, and he came to our home and read some scriptures. I don’t know which verses he read, but one of my favorites is 1 John 5:12-13, “He who hath the Son has the life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have the life. These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God in order that you may know that you have eternal life.”
It became impossible to keep Daddy at home, and Mother admitted him to the Veteran’s Hospital in Temple, 500 miles away. She said the hardest thing she ever did was to leave him there. At that time, she was a principal, teaching fifth and sixth grades, working on her degree, and raising a twelve-year old daughter alone. She prayed continuously—yet, she worried, heartsick and helpless. Finally, one night she asked the Lord to take the burden—it was more than she could bear. And He did. She was obedient to the Lord, and He was faithful to His Word in Philippians 4:6-7, “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God which surpasses all comprehension shall guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

The last time we visited with Daddy, he said, “Let’s pray that God’s will be done.” He died on April 6, 1948, and we never doubted that God had answered that prayer. Jesus Christ was glorified through our faith, which grew even stronger because of the close relationship we had with the Holy Comforter.

The comments I remember my parents making to me about each other were: My father said, “Your mother is a good woman.” And my mother said, “Your father was a good man.” They were both right.

Mother continued to teach in the Mexican-American elementary school in Pecos. When she first started teaching there in 1944, virtually all of the students dropped out after sixth grade. Mother said she probably did as much loving and encouraging as she did teaching, but it was a winning combination. Every one of that first class went on to junior high, and six of them graduated from high school. It was a breakthrough! Among her “children” she could count teachers, businessmen, supervisors, secretaries, a psychologist, a school nurse, and a priest. How proud she was of them! As I read over the letters she received from former students, telling how they loved her and how she had influenced their lives, I am so proud of her—and so humbly grateful that I, too, am her child.

She received her Master of Education degree in 1951, and accepted the position as first Visiting Teacher for the Pecos Schools. Her goal was to help solve any problems that would keep a child out of school. She served as liaison between the school, homes and community—bringing churches, civic organizations, medical professionals and merchants together to meet the needs of the less fortunate.

In her notes for a talk to an organization, she wrote, “In closing…let us remember that Christ has said, “Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.” And she wrote to me, “At times in my life, I have been inclined to feel sorry for myself but then I would say, “How could I be sorry for myself when God has blessed me so graciously by choosing me to do His Will in so great a mission as to serve a minority group who so needs help.” –Not because I deserve any praise but because He has blessed and enriched my life so greatly in this service. I have said many times in my talks that it has been the greatest blessing that God has ever bestowed upon me.”

After retiring in 1967, she enjoyed working on her genealogy. She was proud of her ancestors, but I found this note in her files: “READ THIS DEVOTIONAL FIRST!” The title was Joint Heirs with Christ (Rom. 8:16-17) and it closed with the praise, “Thank God for the privilege of being His child.” After this, Mother wrote in bold red ink, “MY GREATEST HERITAGE.” She wanted there to be no doubt that the Lord always came first in her life. Whatever she did, she wanted it to be to the honor and glory of God.

About the time that she retired, she started giving a Living Bible New Testament to every student who graduated from the eighth grade at one of the junior high schools. She didn’t hand out the Bibles at school, but took them into the homes where she could talk about the Lord. When she left Pecos, the program was continued and expanded by the United Church Women. The Bibles were given in her honor, and then in her memory, for many years.

Mother came to understand her ministry of giving Bibles and witnessing through them to be God’s ultimate plan for her life. It was wonderful to help children get an education so that they might have a better life where on earth. But how infinitely greater to help them know the Lord Jesus Christ as Savior so that they might have eternal life in heaven.

In 1977 Mother fractured a vertebra and her health deteriorated rapidly. Although she had always said she didn’t want to live with me, it was necessary for her to do so. In 1975 my husband and I had taken custody of five adopted grandchildren (ages 4, 5, 6, 7 and 9), so we had a large family. I didn’t have any children of my own, and Mother thought she had missed being a grandmother. How thrilled she was to suddenly have five! Even when the children were little, they helped me take care of Grandmother. I don’t know how I would have managed without them. The Lord is good.

In 1978 Mother broke her left hip and the next year she broke the other hip. After that she was confined to a wheelchair. However, she could get in and out of the chair by herself, which allowed her to have a great deal of independence. Again—as always—the Lord is good. The last few years, she was disoriented, crippled, had softening of the bones, curvature of the spine and arthritis. Amazingly, by the grace of God, after the broken bones mended, she seldom had to take as much as an aspirin.

While she was afflicted with many ailments, she never suffered (or made others suffer) from self pity, a complaining spirit, a grouchy disposition or idleness. She was always loving, happy, contented, grateful, busy and had a terrific sense of humor that never ceased. Like the Apostle Paul, she had “learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am.” Phil 4:11.
The time came when it wasn’t safe for her to drive, and I had to take her car keys away from her. She was so resistant that I finally had to call my husband to come home and talk with her. That night at the dinner table, my husband said the blessing. Then, before we could raise our heads, Mother started praying. She asked us to forgive her and she asked the Lord to forgive her. And she asked Him to help her never cause dissension in our home again. That was one of the most profound lessons she ever taught me. What a wonderful example!

A year or so before her death, I took Mother with me to run some errands. We used to sing in the car when we traveled, and that day we sang a favorite old song, “There’s a long, long trail awinding into the land of my dreams, Where the nightingale is singing and the white moon beams. There’s a long, long night awaiting until my dreams all come true, Till the time when I’ll be going down that long, long trail with you.” As we finished, Mother added, “That’s when we get to heaven.”

During her last illness of about two weeks, her first niece, who was a Licensed Vocational Nurse, came to take care of her at home. One night after I had read from the 23rd Psalm, Mother said she wanted to write it down. My cousin gave her pencil and paper, and in a shaky hand Mother wrote, “And I shall…And I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever and forever.”
A few days later, on Sunday, May 26, 1985, she lapsed into a coma and then peacefully passed from this life into eternal life in her heavenly home.

How she looked forward to seeing all of her loved ones who had gone on before her! And she told me, “Your Daddy and I will be waiting for you.” Her fondest hope and prayer was that she might see all of you there also. And I join her in wishing you the joy and peace on earth that comes only through a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

Top | Return | The Story of God and Man