A Post by Mary

Papa Duck My Grandfather, Walter Robert Duckworth

We went to Tifton, Georgia often to see my grandparents.  It was the “gathering place”, much like my home is today.

I was a teenager the last time I saw him.  He had been sick for what seemed like months.  The first time I had an inkling that something was wrong was when we “went to town”.  That was the all-in-all destination on Saturdays in Tifton.  The kids waited and waited for the adults to get dressed up to go to town.  Mama Duck put on a pretty dress but left her hair in pin-curls so it could be combed out the next day for church.  She would wrap a scarf around her head and off she’d go.  I think I saw her in pin-curls more than I saw her without them. It always struck me funny, even at my young age, but that was the way it always was and always would be.

It seemed like it took forever before we would all climb into the car for the ride down the old red clay road until we reached the paved roads that meant we were almost there.

Mostly it was one street but it had everything!  There was a movie theater, two five and dimes, a drugstore with a soda fountain, and Belks, where we could usually find Mama Duck and Mother, and an aunt or two. Then there was Papa Duck’s barber shop, where we loved to go and see Papa Duck and Uncle Bob. We were always treated with a five cent bottled Coca Cola.  I remember when they went up to a dime of all things.  But we were special because we knew the owner and he would open the coke “machine” up like a refrigerator door and give us kids our own for free.  On one such trip to town I was told to go with Papa or follow him or some such, and keep an eye on him so he wouldn’t get lost.  They said he had hardening of the arteries.  Sadly, it wasn’t long before he was bed-ridden.

On another trip to see my grandparents I was standing by his hospital bed that was set up in his own bedroom, ready to say good-bye. He was holding my hand and squeezing.  And squeezing.  It must have been my class ring, or rather Richard’s.  All I could think of was the pain.  For such a frail little man he had the strength of someone much younger.  I couldn’t wait until he was through loving on me.

Then there was one last time, probably a couple of weeks later.  I can see him as if it was yesterday.  Papa was reclining in one of those fold-up aluminum and plastic “lawn chairs” by the front door.  My Daddy was standing to the side as we all said our good-byes.  Papa reached for my hand and said, “if I never see you again, I want you to know how much I love you”.  I just stood there, tears beginning to fall on my cheeks, without saying anything.  I couldn’t.  That was one of those moments I wish I could have a do-over.  If only.  I loved him so much.  Grand-parents were different back then.  At least for me.  I only remember one or two occasions that stood out to me when we really interacted.  I’m sure there were more but I remember only a couple.  One was when he was going to the barn and invited me to go with him to gather eggs.  The other was when he was in the kitchen, washing dishes.  I asked him if he liked washing dishes, to which he replied that he did, as it gave him time to think about things.  That was rather odd to me since it was my most hated chore.  Since then I have stood at my own kitchen sink washing dishes, even though I have a dishwasher, thinking, mostly of my Papa Duck, standing in front of his sink, thinking.

He was a quiet man.  If only I had pulled up a chair and asked him about some of his thoughts.  I would probably be a lot smarter.  I know I would have gained more insight into this mystery of a man I longed to know better.  As I stood there taking in the fact that my Grandfather had just told me he loved me for perhaps the first time, at least the first time that I remember, my Daddy took me by the shoulders and hugged me as he led me out of the house.  Yes, it was the last time I saw him alive.

He died on Good Friday and was buried on Easter Sunday.  Ironic.  The day that Jesus arose from the grave, Papa went into it.  But because of that day, I have the hope and promise of seeing him again.  And I promise you that I will pull up a chair and ask him all those questions I’ve been storing up for him.

Later my Daddy told me that those were the last words Papa had spoken. Perhaps he’s going to have a lot to say too. Just perhaps.

Mary Reid
March 8, 2022

A post by Mary

Today I had the most unusual and pleasant experience when I called AT&T to change my service.

The young man in customer service I spoke to was from Asia.

He said his name was

Bart

Bart told me that I would be able to call him Super Bart once he had helped me.

And he would make me an offer I couldn’t refuse.

During our conversation Bart sang three songs for me.

Three Whole Songs

First he sang “Country Road” by John Denver.

Have you ever heard an Asian person sing with a country accent?

It was funny and cute.

Next he sang “In My Life”.

This was followed by I’m on the “Top Of The World” – all the way through!

I mean the whole of all three songs!

Now I ask you, what kind of person sings not one, but three songs to their customer? More than that, what kind of person sits there and listens to it?

Well, I didn’t listen the whole time; I sang with him. I guess we really made a connection.

When we hung up we were probably both smiling. I like to think so.

He even invited me to his country. Maybe I would go sometime if I understood what country he said it was.

By the way my cable and wireless bill was reduced from $250 a month to $103.

~

MDR

A post by Mary

Today the Lord came to me in the form of the man collecting trash.

I had failed to put my little bag of trash out last night, so I put it in the car and was going to drop it at the curb when I left this morning.

About that time I heard, then saw, the garbage truck pass by.

So I got out of the car and took the bag out and left it in the garage instead of taking it to work with me. As I turned around to get back in the car, this young man was standing there.

He told me that he always looks out for his customers.

I was overwhelmed with his kindness.

It literally brought tears to my eyes. I asked him his name.

Meet Maurice Jones.

I told him I was going to pray for him today. If you feel so inclined please pray for him, too…He is going the second mile. I reached out and hugged his neck, not seeing a man collecting trash.

I saw Jesus.

The Lord bless Maurice Jones!

Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by this some have entertained angels without knowing it.
Hebrews 13:2 NASB

~

MDR

Critters seem to find their way into my house and usually I find them after they’ve gone to the great beyond – thank goodness!

But while cleaning the family room

–

A

Lizard!

We came upon each other suddenly…

as he was sunning himself on the back of the sofa.

While spiders and bugs get a swat or a spray, lizards get a pass.

I can pick it up by that long tail and take it to the door and gently let it go to a new lease on life.

I reached for him and his eyes grew large.  I could see the fear in his eyes or so it seemed.  I pulled and he held on for dear life, no kidding, and those little feet dug into the tapestry fabric.  I said, “come on little fella, let go; I’m not going to hurt you.   I’m going to set you free”.  I just wanted to put him back into his natural habitat, but all he saw was something bigger than life and he wasn’t about to let go.

It became quite funny, a battle of sorts. The more I pulled, the more he held on. I could almost hear him crying, “somebody help me”!

Finally, I was able to peel him away from the sofa.

As I made my way to the door I began to ponder, isn’t that what God has to do with us when we think we’re in a “safe place”, comfortably living our lives?

He knows it’s not the best plan for us.

Sometimes it hurts and we become afraid as He “pries us away” from what we thought was good only to find we can experience something far better. His aim is not to hurt us, even though at the time we can only think of our pain and fear.

If we could pause and remember that in all our ways to acknowledge Him, then He would direct our paths, and would do a better work in us that, even if we tried, we could never imagine. God, in His providence, has only our good in mind.

In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

Proverbs 3:6 KJV

MDR