 |
| Life Has Been Wonderful: A photographic autobiography of Muriel Linton. |
A Photographic Autobiography of Muriel Linton
Self Published, Undated
by Mary Katherine May of QualityMusicandBooks.com.
180 numbered pages, many photographic illustrations, A Short Story by Francis D. Decker: Muriel Linton: From Broken Dream to Creative Children's Ministry.
Muriel Winifred Linton, a woman who developed her many talented gifts throughout her life, was born in Montreal, the fourth and youngest child of John Linton and Winifred Mary Purdom Linton who had emigrated from Scotland and England, respectively. John was a Baptist minister, one of fifteen children of whom four died at a young age. Winifred was an integral part of the ministry.
The Rev. John Linton makes an interesting story in his own right. During his lifetime he served many church as their pastoral shepherd, but perhaps more importantly to Linton was the role he took on as evangelist because he could reach so many more people for the cause growing Christ's family. Sermons by Rev. Linton can be found in books of the Great Preaching Series published by Sword of the Lord, a fundamental Baptist ministry organization. I don't know if the brief biography of John Linton I read as an introduction to his sermon printed in Great Preaching on Prayer appears in every book in which he is included, but the one I read states that he was one of twelve children while Muriel's autobiography says he was one of fifteen. This biography of Rev. Linton also tells the story of how he gave his life to Jesus Christ.
After the family moved to New York, Muriel at the age of 24 went to Nigeria as a missionary. When her health was compromised by malaria and exhaustion, she returned to the United States. The Lord leads people in mysterious ways, and Miss Linton was led to Edina Baptist Church (now Grace Church) in Edina, Minnesota. She was invited to serve as community missionary. After several years, feeling the need change, Muriel accepted a position as parish worker at Elim Covenant Church in Minneapolis, where her ministry included work with young people.
Muriel Linton was a creative person who was inspired to develop the gifts given to her by God. This led to a ministry that included dolls, puppets, and learning ventriloquism. She toured with the program she had written as Aunt Muriel and The Little Preacher, and then later with Candy the Talking Doll.
Taking inspiration from her brother, David, Muriel began painting, giving her art as gifts and also selling it as well. Muriel was also an author with a sense of humor as her written works include two joke books. Along with the book Life Has Been Wonderful, she also wrote about her time in Nigeria. Muriel enjoyed travel with her good friends and especially enjoyed playing Scrabble.
I do not know how many copies Muriel Linton published of her autobiography. It is spiral bound using letter size paper. This is not an "I am wonderful look at me" autobiography. Instead, it is a "Life is wonderful" autobiography, as the title implies. It is a simple telling of life experiences prolifically illustrated with her own photographs. As the Linton family moves throughout their lives, and specifically Muriel, the reader will see how God leads his children on the path on which they go--something that none of us ever see until after the fact.
Muriel Linton traveled to her final home, in Heaven with her Savior Jesus Christ, on December 10, 2006. At this site you will find a wonderful memorial and comments for a woman I would have like to have know.
Works by Muriel Winifred Decker
Tackling a Leopard Barehanded in Primitive Africa 2003
The Funniest Jokes I Have Ever Heard
Life Has Been Wonderful (not dated)
Laugh or Get a Refund 1980
No comments:
Post a Comment