Life's Lessons
Each of has stories that resonate with us. Some have hidden meanings that we don't discover till years later while others never leave us. John's story is one that I can relate. My mother grew up in the Ozarks and was born at home.
His story sounds like some I've heard before. When you don't have much to give someone, you give what might mean something money can't buy.
My father taught me a lot of lessons as I was growing up. One was at the end of a belt for lying…but that is another story. He was a quiet man that didn’t think much of conversation. He was a welder by trade and never spoke much about work or co-workers.
I know this story happened when I was in elementary school, probably in the late 50’s. We all hear and read about tragedies, suffering, losses and hardships that life gives us. A common reply is; “If I can do anything to help…”.
Sunday mornings we attended church as a family. This Sunday only he and I got dressed for church. He said we were going to visit a family of a co-worker. The worker had just lost a child in a car accident. As a young kid I was scared of being anywhere around dead people or hospitals. I had no idea where we were going. Instead of a funeral home or hospital we drove into another neighborhood across town.
I gathered from the conversation when we arrived at the home that my father didn’t know the family at all and the co-worker didn’t seem to be a close friend. I would guess the house full of visitors were mostly family and close friends. My father knocked on the door and we were greeted by a family in very visible grief. Again, my father, who was known for not having much to say, asked for their shoes. I am sure there was a puzzled look at that request but in couple of minutes several pairs of shoes were delivered to the front porch.
For the next half an hour we sat on the front porch and shined their shoes. I don’t remember any conversation as we sat there doing what we normally did at home on Saturday evenings. I think we just left their shoes on the front porch and left without speaking to anyone.
My father taught me many a lesson by example.
He passed away on a Sunday morning. I try to use those mornings to thank him for life’s lessons as I sweep the street.Visit: www.JohnGJohnston.com
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Pray as if no work would help, and work as if no prayer would help.
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