How will I afford the health insurance increase? How will I help Ian to pay for college? What if the furnace breaks this winter; after all, it IS 18 years old. What if...... What if......... What if..........
I know I'm "supposed" to trust God. I mean............ I really, really KNOW I'm supposed to trust God. And I have a history with Him coming through for me AND for my family, time after time after time - in crazy, insane, unbelievable ways! But when life gets chaotic and unpredictable, my default is - I worry.
But thank God, He knows me. And He knows EXACTLY how to stop me in my tracks. And I mean, stop me, right in my tracks, and allow me some time to remember that He is my shepherd, and that I lack nothing, that He has given me green pastures in which to lie down, and He has lead me beside still waters, and refreshed my soul. He has guided me along all of the right paths, for His name's sake.
Today I had the pleasure of running into one of Dad's old friends. Not just any old friend - One of those friends who, I remember growing up and hearing stories about, someone I know was a true, honest-to-goodness, once-in-a-lifetime, kind of friend. How could I not then spend the rest of my day remembering (and missing) Dad.
My Dad was the best Dad EVER. (No, really, he was). He worked, often, 7 days a week - and he never complained. Never! We would see his truck coming down Hemingway Street at 6 p.m., and would get so excited! He'd get out, put down the latch on the back of his pickup, and all the kids in the neighborhood would jump in the back. It was the MOST fun to sit on the "hump" that went over the wheel. Then, we would drive down Elmira Street, make a right onto Laverne. We would all wave at the old man on the corner (I don't remember his name), and then wave at the Mr. and Mrs. Campbell. We turned right onto Orangelawn Street, then another right back onto Hemingway where most of the kids were then waving at their parents as we drove past their homes. Then, Dad would pretend like he was coming to a stop back at the house, and off we would go again for another ride around the block! I remember poking my head around and telling him to go faster; I loved to feel the wind blowing in my face, and I loved giggling with my friends, Julie, Mary, Debbie, and Christina in the back of the old truck.
In the winter, Dad would collect buckets and we would all line up from the bathtub to the front door out to the front lawn with bucket after bucket to "smooth out" the ice on the home-made ice rink that took up our entire front yard. It used to feel like a hockey-size rink to me back then, but now when I drive by, I realize how very, very small it was. Nonetheless, Dad was willing to make a huge mess out of our lawn so that the whole neighborhood had a place to play hockey, for the boys to pretend they were Bobby Hull or Gordie Howe, and for my girlfriends and I to pretend we were figure skaters.
The five of us lived in a very small bungalow house - maybe 800 square feet, yet when we played hide and seek, we somehow never ran out of places to hide. We played "store" in the cellar where Mum's canned jars of pickles and peaches were. We watched "The Osmond's" every Saturday night, and the "Walt Disney Movie" every Sunday night. We were always home together in the evenings as a family, we always ate dinner at our kitchen table, and we always thanked God before we ate.
In the summer, we played outside all day, every day. On rainy days, we would all play in the garage, clean it up really well and put on a "variety show" for all of our parents in the evening. We knocked on all the neighbors' doors to tell them what time "the show" would begin, and how much admission was. We set up lawn chairs for our hopeful audience, and practiced our skits and our dances all day. It was great fun.
Dad was often sick when I was growing up, and many times he was unable to work. Mum had to pick up the slack, and I remember coming home to Dad at home on many days after school. Between Mum and Dad, with each of his health complications, they adjusted, shared, and at times even traded roles, cut coupons, and saved pennies, but most of all, they sacrificed, and they ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS put themselves last, and my brother, sister, and I first. (I can't stress "always" enough) And God ALWAYS provided for them, just as He has ALWAYS provided for me.
I wouldn't trade my childhood for ANYTHING, and I wouldn't trade life's most simple pleasures for all of the luxury of the world.
Thank you, Lord, for reminding me today that just as you blessed Dad with good friends, you continue to bless my family with good friends. Thank you for reminding me that the most cherished things in life don't cost money, and that the most beautiful things in the world are not seen or touched, but are often felt with the heart. Thank you, Lord, for stopping me in my tracks and reminding me of not only the incredible earthly father you blessed me with, but also for reminding me of the green pastures you have allowed me to lie down in, the blessings that come only from You, and for always knowing exactly how to show up in the middle of my day.
You are good, ALL of the time....
No comments:
Post a Comment