Memories of Dad

I’m at the age of thirty-three and still I think of you and me. With such fond memories of the past, the years how they went by so fast!

I remember almost everything, how you and me we loved to sing! You always worked so very hard, we had a very pretty yard.

TV trays became our forts, you encouraged us in sports. How I loved you lots and lots! As much as you loved tater tots!

You loved your milk and ice cream, and thought our mother was a dream. “Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep,” lights out sweetheart, count the sheep.

I don’t think you saw anything funner than Bugs Bunny and Road Runner! Maybe Gleason on TV, they all made you go chee-hee-hee!

You’d talk about Korean War, go on Daddy, tell me more! Did you ever dream you’d get a gift — six kids to give a special lift!

Citrus groves and lots of freedom — those were the days you couldn’t beat ‘em! We’d ride our bikes to the store, spend our weekends at the shore.

Gumby, Pokey, Thumbalina — I tried to be a ballerina. Building castles in the sand, to me you were my biggest fan!

I think I’m ten now or eleven, I hope someday to go to Heaven. We left for Gram’s on the train . . . and left you standing in the rain.

The months went by — where was my Dad? I could not answer this. I didn’t know I would not see you for such a long, long time.

Golly Dad, the years fly by! Sometimes I find I still ask “why?” And though we have been far apart, you’re very close to my heart.

Now I’m all grown up and fine, I see you now and then. And I’m so glad that you’re my Dad, and I remember all we had.

Your love, your prayers across the miles, have brought me many happy smiles. No matter what this life may bring, I have you . . . that’s everything!

I have come to believe there are no coincidences in God’s world. Truly all things work together for good to them that love the Lord. When I stopped asking for “burning-bush-type miracles” and asked instead to be willing to do God’s Will on a daily basis, it was then I was given the spiritual eyes to “see” how I could truly be a channel of God’s saving Grace.

Only God could have “staged” what follows …

It was Christmas-time and I found myself at the Post Office along with many other holiday shoppers. As I tried to make my way out of the parking lot, I noticed a very old man making feeble attempts to cross the street. Nobody stopped — the cars sped by. Their angry horns seemed to blare out, “watch out old man!”

I felt God calling me and in an instant I was at the old man’s side. I gently placed my arm in his and said, “we’re going to do this together.” The dear old man had tears in his eyes and asked — “Who are you? Where did you come from?” For a moment I felt like an angel of God!

Having somehow donned wings, we made it safely to the other side of the street. I looked back to see how we had done this and discovered that my car — with my baby in it! was blocking the exit to the Post Office! I felt my wings collapse. I quickly gave the old man a hug and a kiss on the cheek and said, “Merry Christmas, goodbye!”

I arrived home a few minutes later to a ringing telephone that carried the sad news of my Grampa’s hospitalization. My Grampa died a few days later and although I couldn’t be there, I got to walk him across a busy street, kiss him good-bye and tell him Merry Christmas!

I thank God for my “Post Office miracle” and I still wonder “whose Angel was whose?”