Unexpected Memories

It is a day of fever, a sore throat

and generally feeling blah.

 

I've cancelled my schedule for Wednesday

in favor of trying to accelerate

recovery from this "bug".

Besides my voice sounds like a foghorn

at the moment and isn't much good for

singing or teaching.

 

Tonight was supposed to be a long

awaited dinner with Michael and Emily

but can you believe she is also feeling

under the weather?

Poor dear.

 

I tell you all of this in an attempt to have

you judge me less harshly when I tell

you the reason I was inspired to

pop on here and write this post.

 

You see

I just noticed something that took me back

to some very special times in my childhood.

Back to the days when we lived in the parsonage

beside the church my Dad pastored.

 

In that church was a study

where Daddy spent many, many hours

preparing for his Wednesday evening prayer meetings,

Sunday morning and evening sermons.

 

In the course of most days he would head next door

with plates and cups in hand.

He would return empty handed.

 

After a while there would be a noticeable shortage

of dishes and glasses in our cupboards.

When this happened Mom would offer my

brother and I an opportunity to earn some

money by gathering all of those things back up again.

 

Off we would go with a basin to carry our treasures in.

We enjoyed this.

I mean, the man had plates, cups, saucers, spoons, knives and forks

everywhere over there.

It was a very real treasure hunt!

 

We were paid in coin

but to us it was just what we needed

 to purchase

Bottle Caps, Gobstoppers and Grape Bubble Yum

at the little grocery store a few miles away.

It was within reach by bike.

 

Now you may have figured out what it was that inspired this

memory today.

Perhaps not....

But it was the moment I looked up at the window sill

and saw not one, not two...

but three cups from today.

My cups.

One for hot tea, one was coffee

and one was orange juice.

 

Apparently the apple doesn't fall far from

the tree when it comes to collecting

cups, at least.

 

And in a time when my dad is on my mind

I just don't feel too badly about that.

I hope I have other traits of his as well....

since this wasn't one that we generally bragged about,

ok, we never bragged about it....

but he could have had much worse vices

than that of eating in his office.

Well, and not returning his utensils.

 

But don't you find that it is the little things that

bring them back to our minds?

These ones not with us now.

I'm thankful that it has come to a point where the

pain of loss is less than the sweetness of the memory.

 

For those who are facing new grief

know that time does help.

Walk the path.

Feel the feelings.

Trust the Lord.

 

Look forward to that day when the

memories bring sweet comfort

and smiles to your heart.

 

Miss you, Daddy.

See you when the time is just right.

 

****

This post is dedicated to two wonderful friends

who have recently lost their fathers

 very unexpectedly.