| 2 Timothy 1:14- “You have been entrusted with a wonderful treasure. Guard it with the help of the Holy Spirit who lives within us.” |
I came home from work today and read a text from my wife that she was starving. I did not come home to feed her lunch because I made it last night and gave it to her to hold onto until the designated time. It was a sandwich, peanut butter (crunchy) and raspberry preserves (Smuckers). It had to be something that would be ok outside of the refrigerator. I gave her corn tortilla chips, a red delicious apple, and a banana. She has water and ice. But her “I’m starving” s.o.s. text left me feeling like I had left a child in a hot car all afternoon. So, I grabbed a pack of microwave popcorn and had it on her doorstep in 3 minutes, along with two granola bars and some Fritos scoops. I knock to let her know I have delivered food.
Later, as I was getting dinner ready, I picked up the popcorn bowl with a bit of leftovers. I grabbed a handful and had it nearly in my wide open mouth when my brain woke up and stopped me. A good way to catch Covid. After dinner (grilled chicken thighs, mashed potatoes, southwest salad, kernel corn, green beans), our son, Jackson, and I cleaned up the kitchen. It is not as gourmet as it sounds, but it was good. I did grill the chicken over charcoal, but the green beans and corn were microwaved from the freezer. The mashed potatoes were instant from a pouch, and the salad was a kit. But I supplied the labor and love.
As we cleaned up, Jackson was looking at pictures hanging on the wall above our sink. “Is Bennie younger than your dad?”. In the photo he saw, my dad was 10 and his brother Bennie is 4. “Is that your grandfather?” He pointed at an employee of the family bakery. “No, this is my grandfather.” My dad and uncle wore smart looking uniforms.
I began telling him about their furniture still in the family. “My brother Pat has the bed my dad was born in. He was born at home. The doctor came to the house. Tony’s son may use it next. And Hope’s daughter just got Papa Bennie’s spool bed from us.” We ate on my grandmother Hope and Papa Bennie’s dining room table tonight. Made in 1923. It is now 100 years old. We have a milking stool that David Michael made in 1913. We have a ladder back chair made out of timber cleared from the basin of Lake Murray in Oklahoma. The Lexington Water Power Company built a dam and cleared the land. They even made furniture for sale. Trying to pull our country out of the great depression. Heirlooms.
They remind us of our forebears, who they were and what they did. A part of them with us. Jesus sent us the Holy Spirit. Part of God with us.
Father in heaven, thank You for those who have run the race ahead of us, in Jesus’ name, Amen!
- Jeff Beall
