No Higher Love
()
About this ebook
Bradford Carter Matthews
Author Bradford C. Matthews is “a man for all seasons,” as it is said. He grew up in a blue collar Southern home. After college, his industrial promotions elevated him to positions in Baltimore, Philadelphia, New York City, Boston and Denver, each location away from his homeland. He is grateful and loyal. Brad is world traveled as an adult based on his commitment to life plans with his children. He is a Historian of most things North Carolina. His ancestors came to Jamestown in 1621, and the fourth generation came south. His Christianity sprang from his early family life right after the Great War, in which his dad served. His education and era is greatly influenced by the World War. He loves the Lord, and this is his third book since retiring as a History teacher in 2009.
Related to No Higher Love
Related ebooks
Call Me Bill!: A True Story Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Third Clone Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsWhen Greed Turns Deadly: A True Story of a Twist In the Law to Arrive At the Truth Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5To Raise the Fallen: A Selection of the War Letters, Prayers, and Spiritual Writings of Fr. Willie Doyle Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Pitching the Dream Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsFor Love of Elvira: A Fall from Grace Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsDeployed Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Bob & Earl: An American Friendship Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsBray for the Brave: Quiet Beginnings with a Bizarre Ending Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Real Deal: Boxing's Ultimate Warrior: The Heavyweights Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsA Spool of Blue Thread: A Novel by Anne Tyler | Conversation Starters Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsRemembering Him Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsRobert Wadlow: The Unique Life of the Boy Who Became the World's Tallest Man Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsBlood Money: Bo, the Early Years Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsBilly's Story: Every Parent's Nightmare—The Loss of a Child Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsA Spool of Blue Thread: A Novel by Anne Tyler | Conversation Starters: Daily Books Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsA Spool of Blue Thread: A Novel by Anne Tyler | Conversation Starters Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5One Wild Ride: The Saga of the Dake and Bates Show Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratings406: A STORY ABOUT THE GREATEST BASEBALL GAME EVER PLAYED Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsQuilts & Capers Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsAt the Water's Edge by Sara Gruen (Trivia-On-Books) Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsWhere Should We Have Stopped?: The Story of a Remarkable Family Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratings'Pass It On': The definitive biography of A.A. co-founder Bill W. Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Blind History Lady Presents; John Swearingen-Know Your Place Blind Boy! Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsIn the Shadow of Barrett's Mountain: A Memoir Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsLittle Berry Cooley Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsSummary of David Leeming's James Baldwin Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsI'll Say Yes: The Story of William and Janice Finke Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsFrom Championship Wrestler to Road Rage Defendant: The Chris Harrison Story Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsGrowing up and Finding Her Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratings
Relationships For You
A Child Called It: One Child's Courage to Survive Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The ADHD Effect on Marriage: Understand and Rebuild Your Relationship in Six Steps Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5All About Love: New Visions Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Big Book of 30-Day Challenges: 60 Habit-Forming Programs to Live an Infinitely Better Life Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The 5 Love Languages: The Secret to Love that Lasts Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5I'm Glad My Mom Died Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Running on Empty: Overcome Your Childhood Emotional Neglect Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Dumbing Us Down - 25th Anniversary Edition: The Hidden Curriculum of Compulsory Schooling Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Good Girl's Guide to Great Sex: Creating a Marriage That's Both Holy and Hot Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5She Comes First: The Thinking Man's Guide to Pleasuring a Woman Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Boundaries Workbook: When to Say Yes, How to Say No to Take Control of Your Life Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Maybe You Should Talk to Someone: the heartfelt, funny memoir by a New York Times bestselling therapist Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Polysecure: Attachment, Trauma and Consensual Nonmonogamy Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5What Makes Love Last?: How to Build Trust and Avoid Betrayal Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5How to Talk So Kids Will Listen & Listen So Kids Will Talk Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Boundaries with Kids: How Healthy Choices Grow Healthy Children Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Maybe You Should Talk to Someone: A Therapist, HER Therapist, and Our Lives Revealed Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5How to Talk so Little Kids Will Listen: A Survival Guide to Life with Children Ages 2-7 Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Covert Passive Aggressive Narcissist: The Narcissism Series, #1 Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Feeling Good: The New Mood Therapy Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Your Brain's Not Broken: Strategies for Navigating Your Emotions and Life with ADHD Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Mating in Captivity: Unlocking Erotic Intelligence Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5And Every Morning the Way Home Gets Longer and Longer: A Novella Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5I Guess I Haven't Learned That Yet: Discovering New Ways of Living When the Old Ways Stop Working Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Codependence and the Power of Detachment: How to Set Boundaries and Make Your Life Your Own Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/58 Rules of Love: How to Find It, Keep It, and Let It Go Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Uniquely Human: A Different Way of Seeing Autism Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5
Reviews for No Higher Love
0 ratings0 reviews
Book preview
No Higher Love - Bradford Carter Matthews
Bradford Carter Matthews
38808.pngAuthorHouse™ LLC
1663 Liberty Drive
Bloomington, IN 47403
www.authorhouse.com
Phone: 1-800-839-8640
© 2014 Bradford Carter Matthews. All rights reserved.
No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author.
Published by AuthorHouse 01/24/2014
ISBN: 978-1-4918-5767-0 (sc)
ISBN: 978-1-4918-5766-3 (e)
Library of Congress Control Number: 2014901537
Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models,
and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.
Certain stock imagery © Thinkstock.
Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.
Contents
Setting the Stage
Main Character Emerges
Billy’s Growth Helped
The Christian Church Introduces Christ
Richard Owen, a New April Brother
The Magical Seventh Grade
God’s talent to Billy: Football
Sister Brawl, She Was 16
For No Other Love, Always and Forever
Billy skips the JV, Moves to Varsity Football
Love Does Exist at 16
You’re going Where on Your Own at Age 16?
Stomach and End Runs
The College Example and More
Old Gold and Black
Work Itself: Like Men with Ten Talents in the Bible
A Real Job and the Fast Track Begins
What a Convenience, or a Real Second Love?
Rich Drives Pregnant Marion to Town
Billy Jr., 9 lbs. 8 oz.!
The Sheraton off I-40
Any Newcomer’s from Hanes here?
The Count Goes to Four
The Ms. America Project
Good News, Bad News?
Katie Makes a Call in Denver
Billy and the Red Hanes
Miracle in the Mile High City
The Cash Register Rings On
Where does the School Bell Ring?
To Forgive or Live Alone
Living in a Smaller Ranch Home
Did Someone Ask About Tories?
Share and Share Alike
Son’s Sign at Promise Keepers: Let’s Do It
Kathryn Leaves Again, Forever
The Long Road to Wholeness
Where Does Billy Go From Here?
Billy Closes Up Shop
About the Author
Setting the Stage
Right after the Great War, men and women were returning to their lives, and were busy building new homes. The families that sprung up were not like the Southland’s rural homesteads that had been tied to farming for so many eons. Instead, small communities, where houses cost less than $4,000, were burgeoning in great number.
Image%202_402%20Cape%20Fear%2c%201942%20vintage%20cost%20$3%2c275.00%20WWII%20Mortgage.jpgRoscoe and Sara’s 1942 Home
Money was scarce for everyone, but after the rationing coupons of the war, a regular job was more important. Credit was given to many just on their good word, or simply a firm handshake. Billy was a product of this new society as neighborhoods continually popped up across the country. It was not like the urban centers or port cities; after all, it was the South, and other than Atlanta, there was not much happening in regional towns that began to enlarge and grow. Christian homes were abounding as everyone seemed joyous to have the killing war behind them. Gratefulness and opportunity was evident in each neighborhood.
Main Character Emerges
Billy was a sickly child. He suffered from double pneumonia at a time when the drug of choice for lung infections was sulfur and liquid iron. He was in and out of hospitals for infant years. In fact, when Billy was about five, he endured eight hospital visits in a single year. This was often under the solitude of an oxygen tent during the more medically primitive years in the 1940s’. Billy would ask a quarter from each visitor, and then stuff them into tinfoil chewing gum wraps until each was full. He would give them to his mom. This was the only activity Billy had to stay occupied.
He continued to grow up. While in his home during night time, Billy could hear noises from the crickets outside his window and the rumblings from Downtown Cary. He lived a good two or three miles from the train station, but the musical train’s whistles and clatter that sounded several times each evening were actually calming. It was a regular noise in the days before air conditioning, and widows stayed wide open.
The single, colorful print hanging on the bedroom wall made Billy think. He had observed that animated print for over nine years. The boy sliding into home plate. All the neighborhood kids were playing ball. Billy he could see the frisky dog in chase of the boy sliding. It was a great picture (probably a cheap one), but it made him dream about the neighborhood games and sports played in his streets or open lots in Ridgemont.
The Owen home that was built in 1942 was typical of the post-war homes. It was a simple two bedroom, one bath. Roscoe Owen would eventually expand the back portion of the home, creating a bedroom, bath and den. Years later, the family would pave the driveway.
Moreover, a garage would be added, though it was seldom used for cars. It was often the keeper of tools and a storage room for boxes of items Sara no longer wanted. Roscoe cut a small doorway in the bottom of the front door to make way for the dachshunds they owned. He built a pallet inside that provided more care and attention than the beds on the inside of the new home.
Image%203_Sara%20and%20Billy.jpgSara and Billy at the Coast
His mother, Sara, was broken hearted with Billy’s sickness, as she had lost her previous son to SIDS in 1942 when he was just three-months-old. His dad was working to pay all the bills that came with the illness and keep the house mortgage on time for older sister, Adele. She was a healthy girl. She was the brown-eyed tomboy that could do most anything a boy could do, especially in basketball.
Sara Owen, Billy's MomSara Owen on a Sunday
During winter, his mother kept Billy at the Carolina coast in an inexpensive, cold room so that the salt ocean air would help relieve his asthma and ease his labored breathing.
When the family was together later in years, Billy’s asthma and weakened lungs greatly improved, almost as if he outgrew the condition. His father led him to football, which became his primary activity. Billy had seen the inside of Duke Hospitals so often that it was easy to pull for the Blue Devils with his father. They and just a few other Cary men went to college football games at Wallace Wade Stadium in Durham.
Duke%20Football-HospitalBilly felt right at home at Duke, but he didn’t speak up much as he was a bit of an introvert. This was due to many things, like his sickness and his parent’s sadness over his older brother’s death to SIDS. Plus, his teeth rotted from using iron and sulfur. Billy was the planned child to replace James, who was born on Christmas in ’42 and died during that following Easter season. Billy didn’t know why Jimmy’s death was his fault, but he felt that way as he attended graveside tears on many occasions while his parents visited James’ gravesite.
Image%206_Billy%20at%20Duke.jpgBilly and Roscoe at Duke
Billy’s Growth Helped
By the time he was 11 or 12, Billy had made some good