"Thelma, would you get me a glass of milk?" my husband mumbled in the middle of the night. I was too sleepy to comply, and this morning at breakfast Howard said, "I had the craziest dream last night about when I was working in my dad's store and drinking that delicious raw milk!" So that's what it was about. I laughed and asked him to tell me more.
"Well," he said, "We had a Wonder Bread bread man named Sparky Sparkman who was a great friend of my dad's. After he made the delivery at the store in the mornings, Dad let him take our bank deposit and deposit it!"
"Really?" I responded, but knowing how my future father-in-law was always too busy to leave the store, I understood how he would have a good friend take care of it.
"Then when Sparky came back by to check our bread supply, he would go behind the meat counter, get out a chub of bologna, run it through the slicer, and make sandwiches!" He said they all enjoyed an impromptu lunch of cheese (Sparky sliced that, too!) and bologna sandwiches on Wonder bread. I asked if he opened a jar of mayonnaise, too, but Howard told me they kept a jar open for that.
"I remember Sparky getting out the cardboard "boats" (paper meat trays), shaking up a quart of milk with cream on the top, and pouring us all a boat of milk to go with our sandwiches!" He was shaking his head wonderingly at the memories.
"The bread man sounds like quite a character," I remarked, to which Howard responded, "Oh, he was! One day he got in a fight with the Bond bread man!" It seems there was a dispute over the invisible line of demarcation where the competing brands of bread were lined up, and the Wonder bread man invited the other, younger, man outside to settle it.
"Johnny, the Bond bread man, was a good friend of Dad's, too," Howard explained. "My dad had to go out and break it up." Then he broke out laughing. "But not before Johnny knocked Sparky into the big Buick belonging to Jack, the Cake and Cookie man. It made a huge dent in his front fender!" he went on.
"What happened then?" I prompted him.
"Well, Jack was also a friend of Dad's, but he just shook his head and reached back and got an empty quart milk bottle, put it under the fender and popped the dent back into place with the bottle!"
It sounded like quite a day at Harry's Grocery and Market, and I'm sure quite entertaining at that. Howard told me the two guys apologized to each other, and his dad took a grocery marking pen and drew a line on the shelf defining both brand's space. I guess he thought it was better than a line drawn in the sand by two explosive personalities, one of whom was aptly named Sparky!
Friday, July 13, 2012
Wednesday, July 11, 2012
Right Under My Nose
"Home Sweet Home," I noticed written in big, blue, letters on one of the rolls of paper towels after the checker had bagged them. "Look, Howard," I smiled.
"That's confirmation," he grinned. We were shopping for cleaning supplies to freshen the house we were about to move back into after the tenant vacated it yesterday. We had been sharing our son's family's home for the past several months, and, as much as we enjoyed it, I was having nesting instincts for my own place. Now we as excited as new householders!
I can't wait to use my favorite dishes again and take up the creative roles of cooking, cleaning, decorating and managing my own home once more! It has been nice to have a cleaning lady, cook only twice a week (we take turns), and have less responsibility, even in a busy household. We were even considering moving nearer our daughters, but relocating nearly a thousand miles away seemed too big a hurdle.
We are still in for a lot of work, but we can take our time, and it is nothing like moving across the country.
As I took in the dear, familiar rooms when we inspected the house, I wondered why it had seemed too small. It was huge! Most other houses we had seen didn't even have a dining room, but this one was commodious enough to hold the dining room furniture we'd had for nearly fifty years, and then some.
I'd forgotten how much I loved the high ceilings, wide baseboards, fireplace and built-in bookcase. This house was pretty! Besides, it had a screened front porch. The swing will have to be hung again, unless I decide on different porch furniture. Decisions, decisions. Thank you, Lord, for making it all fall into place.
Last night I heard a television message by Joseph Prince, and he said it is unnecessary to plead, "Jesus, be with me today," and prayers like that, for Jesus has said he will be with us always! My daughter wrote a post that once when she had a disagreement with her husband as a newlwed, she dashed out into the pasture and was telling God all about it, wondering if He heard her and telling Him He seemed a million miles away. Just then a bull she had forgotten about advanced toward her, and running for her life, she barely beat him to the fence she went under. Thanking God, she said she would never pray a prayer like that again, because He was there all time "closer than our nearest breath."
God knows the desires of our hearts, and he had my answer all along, delivered just when I was ready for it. He knew I wasn't ready for assisted living yet!
"That's confirmation," he grinned. We were shopping for cleaning supplies to freshen the house we were about to move back into after the tenant vacated it yesterday. We had been sharing our son's family's home for the past several months, and, as much as we enjoyed it, I was having nesting instincts for my own place. Now we as excited as new householders!
I can't wait to use my favorite dishes again and take up the creative roles of cooking, cleaning, decorating and managing my own home once more! It has been nice to have a cleaning lady, cook only twice a week (we take turns), and have less responsibility, even in a busy household. We were even considering moving nearer our daughters, but relocating nearly a thousand miles away seemed too big a hurdle.
We are still in for a lot of work, but we can take our time, and it is nothing like moving across the country.
As I took in the dear, familiar rooms when we inspected the house, I wondered why it had seemed too small. It was huge! Most other houses we had seen didn't even have a dining room, but this one was commodious enough to hold the dining room furniture we'd had for nearly fifty years, and then some.
I'd forgotten how much I loved the high ceilings, wide baseboards, fireplace and built-in bookcase. This house was pretty! Besides, it had a screened front porch. The swing will have to be hung again, unless I decide on different porch furniture. Decisions, decisions. Thank you, Lord, for making it all fall into place.
Last night I heard a television message by Joseph Prince, and he said it is unnecessary to plead, "Jesus, be with me today," and prayers like that, for Jesus has said he will be with us always! My daughter wrote a post that once when she had a disagreement with her husband as a newlwed, she dashed out into the pasture and was telling God all about it, wondering if He heard her and telling Him He seemed a million miles away. Just then a bull she had forgotten about advanced toward her, and running for her life, she barely beat him to the fence she went under. Thanking God, she said she would never pray a prayer like that again, because He was there all time "closer than our nearest breath."
God knows the desires of our hearts, and he had my answer all along, delivered just when I was ready for it. He knew I wasn't ready for assisted living yet!
Tuesday, July 10, 2012
Ocean Lure
"They that go down to the sea in ships, that do business in great waters; These see the works of the Lord, and his wonders in the deep," Psalm 107:22,23.
One of the best memories I have of our trip to North Carolina was my glimpse of the Atlantic Ocean! My first time to see it! Mark and Rhonda had taken us to the sea side town of Wilmington, where we had a seafood lunch with a wonderful view of boats, yachts and gulls flying, seen through the huge glass windows as we ate in air conditioned comfort. It reminded me of Gulfport, Mississippi, or Pensacola, Florida, from our days of living near the coast.
But we had to get up close and personal. Parking was at a premium on the crowded beach, but going through a hotel, we found a sand path through sea grass that led us to a wide vista of majestic beauty. There it was! The Atlantic Ocean! Colorful umbrellas dotted the beach for sun protection, but the breeze off the water was cool on this hot 4th of July day. I was awed by the grandeur of it: the blue water, the white surf on the waves breaking in their regular, rhythmic roll to the shore, the blue sky and fluffy white clouds above. It was Nature's free amusement park! Too bad we couldn't stay long, but our hosts had further treats in store.
Soon we were wandering down cobbled streets closed to traffic, seeking the shadows of the historic brick waterfront buildings in a quaint shopping area. They knew a fabulous ice cream store where we pondered over delicious selections. These places never have seating, but right next door was a shop whose doors stood open in welcome. We enjoyed our ice cream while browsing their wares, exclaiming over funny signs and plaques in the cool air-conditioning. Bath tub "ice cream" in pastel scoops that fizzed in the water made perfect take-home gifts for granddaughters.
I remember from school a poem by John Masefield called Sea Fever. The poet said, "I must go down to the sea again, to the lonely sea and the sky; And all I ask is a tall ship and a star to steer her by..." His poetic words and phrases like "grey mist on the sea's face," "running tide," "flying spray and blown plume and sea gulls crying," paint lovely sea pictures in the mind. The poet finishes with the line, "And a quiet sleep and a sweet dream with the long trick's over." A quiet sleep and a sweet dream. What a lovely way to end our trip!
One of the best memories I have of our trip to North Carolina was my glimpse of the Atlantic Ocean! My first time to see it! Mark and Rhonda had taken us to the sea side town of Wilmington, where we had a seafood lunch with a wonderful view of boats, yachts and gulls flying, seen through the huge glass windows as we ate in air conditioned comfort. It reminded me of Gulfport, Mississippi, or Pensacola, Florida, from our days of living near the coast.
But we had to get up close and personal. Parking was at a premium on the crowded beach, but going through a hotel, we found a sand path through sea grass that led us to a wide vista of majestic beauty. There it was! The Atlantic Ocean! Colorful umbrellas dotted the beach for sun protection, but the breeze off the water was cool on this hot 4th of July day. I was awed by the grandeur of it: the blue water, the white surf on the waves breaking in their regular, rhythmic roll to the shore, the blue sky and fluffy white clouds above. It was Nature's free amusement park! Too bad we couldn't stay long, but our hosts had further treats in store.
Soon we were wandering down cobbled streets closed to traffic, seeking the shadows of the historic brick waterfront buildings in a quaint shopping area. They knew a fabulous ice cream store where we pondered over delicious selections. These places never have seating, but right next door was a shop whose doors stood open in welcome. We enjoyed our ice cream while browsing their wares, exclaiming over funny signs and plaques in the cool air-conditioning. Bath tub "ice cream" in pastel scoops that fizzed in the water made perfect take-home gifts for granddaughters.
I remember from school a poem by John Masefield called Sea Fever. The poet said, "I must go down to the sea again, to the lonely sea and the sky; And all I ask is a tall ship and a star to steer her by..." His poetic words and phrases like "grey mist on the sea's face," "running tide," "flying spray and blown plume and sea gulls crying," paint lovely sea pictures in the mind. The poet finishes with the line, "And a quiet sleep and a sweet dream with the long trick's over." A quiet sleep and a sweet dream. What a lovely way to end our trip!
Sunday, July 8, 2012
Road Trip
"Mom, Andy Griffith died today," our son, Jamie, said over the phone. We were on our way to his brother, Mark's, house in North Carolina last week. I hadn't heard it, not having been too connected to anything during this vacation.
"That is so strange!" I exclaimed. "We were just talking about visiting Mt. Airy on this trip!" Now I really wanted to go. We were there a couple of years ago and his presence was felt all over town in the place where he grew up. We saw Andy's childhood home, the drugstore (think Ellie) where he made deliveries on his bike as a youth, the diner, and Floyd's Barber Shop.
We at last didn't visit "Mayberry," but Mark and Rhonda did take us to the lovely, historic town of Wilmington, NC. I found out later that Andy Griffith had worked out of a talent agency there when he first got his start in acting.
Like millions of others, I felt I had lost an old friend. His show was so wholesome that churches have used them as Bible study lessons, calling them modern day parables, reflecting the positive character traits and concern for his fellowman that Sheriff Andy Taylor exhibited.
In some of the information written about this well-loved actor, I read that he had considered becoming a minister before he went into acting. Maybe he inadvertently was one through his influence and the Bible studies.
In a sermon at church yesterday, a missionary from Africa titled his message, "A Christian's Job Description," as found in Acts 1:8, which says, "But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and you shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost parts of the earth."
The young, black African with the crisp British accent said we should all ask ourselves the question, "Why am I here?", in light of the probability that we all have had narrow escapes many times in our lives and wonder what we are still doing here. The answer is that we are saved to be a Christian witness. He said we are not told how, but we are just told to do it. We will all have our own way to be a witness, but the important thing is to "just do it."
We had our share of narrow escapes, or brushes with danger, on our 2,000 mile trip. Coming back, we were caught in a sudden freak weather condition with strong winds coming out of nowhere, debris flying thick and fast over the road, and billowing dust engulfing areas around us. I made a 911 call and was told by the responder that she didn't know what was happening, but that the town we were passing through was being slammed hard. We ran in and out of this unsettling phenomenon for many miles before we got beyond it, often having a difficult time keeping the car on the road.
At one point, our road took us through a tunnel. As soon as we entered, coming out of bright sunlight into the darker tunnel, Howard exclaimed, "I can't see!" There were lights, but it took awhile for his eyes to adjust. We had some anxious moments before we saw "the light at the end of the tunnel." God also brought us through traffic tie-ups due to detours in several cities. We arrived thankfully safe at home just at dusk. Thankfully, because my husband has poor night vision. We know what we are still doing here.
"That is so strange!" I exclaimed. "We were just talking about visiting Mt. Airy on this trip!" Now I really wanted to go. We were there a couple of years ago and his presence was felt all over town in the place where he grew up. We saw Andy's childhood home, the drugstore (think Ellie) where he made deliveries on his bike as a youth, the diner, and Floyd's Barber Shop.
We at last didn't visit "Mayberry," but Mark and Rhonda did take us to the lovely, historic town of Wilmington, NC. I found out later that Andy Griffith had worked out of a talent agency there when he first got his start in acting.
Like millions of others, I felt I had lost an old friend. His show was so wholesome that churches have used them as Bible study lessons, calling them modern day parables, reflecting the positive character traits and concern for his fellowman that Sheriff Andy Taylor exhibited.
In some of the information written about this well-loved actor, I read that he had considered becoming a minister before he went into acting. Maybe he inadvertently was one through his influence and the Bible studies.
In a sermon at church yesterday, a missionary from Africa titled his message, "A Christian's Job Description," as found in Acts 1:8, which says, "But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and you shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost parts of the earth."
The young, black African with the crisp British accent said we should all ask ourselves the question, "Why am I here?", in light of the probability that we all have had narrow escapes many times in our lives and wonder what we are still doing here. The answer is that we are saved to be a Christian witness. He said we are not told how, but we are just told to do it. We will all have our own way to be a witness, but the important thing is to "just do it."
We had our share of narrow escapes, or brushes with danger, on our 2,000 mile trip. Coming back, we were caught in a sudden freak weather condition with strong winds coming out of nowhere, debris flying thick and fast over the road, and billowing dust engulfing areas around us. I made a 911 call and was told by the responder that she didn't know what was happening, but that the town we were passing through was being slammed hard. We ran in and out of this unsettling phenomenon for many miles before we got beyond it, often having a difficult time keeping the car on the road.
At one point, our road took us through a tunnel. As soon as we entered, coming out of bright sunlight into the darker tunnel, Howard exclaimed, "I can't see!" There were lights, but it took awhile for his eyes to adjust. We had some anxious moments before we saw "the light at the end of the tunnel." God also brought us through traffic tie-ups due to detours in several cities. We arrived thankfully safe at home just at dusk. Thankfully, because my husband has poor night vision. We know what we are still doing here.
Tuesday, July 3, 2012
Surprise Meeting
"Let's get this parking place," my husband said after we had driven past several impromptu lots with signs posting, Parking, $5. This was $5 too, but it was the closest to the festivities. We asked where the celebration began, and the attendant said, "Just go past that store and around the corner, and you are there!"
Trying to stay out of the full midday sun, we turned the corner, saw a colorful booth and headed for the shade of its awning. "Howard and Thelma Summers!" a voice exclaimed. I looked in the direction and saw Howard talking to the proprietor. Who could have known us in this town we'd lived in for only 4 months, and that 5 years ago? I heard her tell my husband her name, but he didn't recognize her.
"It's Kim, the lady whose house we rented!" I told him, realizing who she was. We had seen her mainly at church when her then long hair was coifed to perfection and she was in Sunday clothes. Now it was in a shorter, more youthful style and she was dressed casually to beat the heat, her face glowing with perspiration under her visor. She looked years younger. We greeted her warmly and gladly accepted the free iced tea she was giving out.
What were the chances that the first person we saw would be an old acquaintance in this town where we knew only our kids? It was a phenomenon we had experienced before. Once at IKEA in Houston, and again at the Galleria when we were with our granddaughter and she ran immediately into a person she had known years ago in another city. At a festival in rural Texas a few years ago, we heard someone yelling, "Summers, Summers," and turned to see friends who were hundreds of miles from their home, also. I could only conclude that it is indeed a small world after all!
There are many instances in the Bible when people didn't recognize Jesus. Mary at the tomb thought He was the gardener. The disciples on the road to Emmaus didn't know who he was. The woman at the well said he was a prophet. And blind Bartimaeus could only recognize the voices of the throng calling his name.
But later, the hearts of the Emmaus Road travelers burned within them at His words. The woman at the well accepted His cup of living water. Mary became the first evangelist spreading the news that Jesus had risen. Jesus gave sight to the blind man. Our "small world" still largely has blinders over its eyes and doesn't recognize Jesus. It is our job to introduce them.
Trying to stay out of the full midday sun, we turned the corner, saw a colorful booth and headed for the shade of its awning. "Howard and Thelma Summers!" a voice exclaimed. I looked in the direction and saw Howard talking to the proprietor. Who could have known us in this town we'd lived in for only 4 months, and that 5 years ago? I heard her tell my husband her name, but he didn't recognize her.
"It's Kim, the lady whose house we rented!" I told him, realizing who she was. We had seen her mainly at church when her then long hair was coifed to perfection and she was in Sunday clothes. Now it was in a shorter, more youthful style and she was dressed casually to beat the heat, her face glowing with perspiration under her visor. She looked years younger. We greeted her warmly and gladly accepted the free iced tea she was giving out.
What were the chances that the first person we saw would be an old acquaintance in this town where we knew only our kids? It was a phenomenon we had experienced before. Once at IKEA in Houston, and again at the Galleria when we were with our granddaughter and she ran immediately into a person she had known years ago in another city. At a festival in rural Texas a few years ago, we heard someone yelling, "Summers, Summers," and turned to see friends who were hundreds of miles from their home, also. I could only conclude that it is indeed a small world after all!
There are many instances in the Bible when people didn't recognize Jesus. Mary at the tomb thought He was the gardener. The disciples on the road to Emmaus didn't know who he was. The woman at the well said he was a prophet. And blind Bartimaeus could only recognize the voices of the throng calling his name.
But later, the hearts of the Emmaus Road travelers burned within them at His words. The woman at the well accepted His cup of living water. Mary became the first evangelist spreading the news that Jesus had risen. Jesus gave sight to the blind man. Our "small world" still largely has blinders over its eyes and doesn't recognize Jesus. It is our job to introduce them.
Monday, July 2, 2012
You Are What You Eat
"Mimi, what is your favorite cake?" my 14-year-old granddaughter, Corrin, asked, taking out bowls and utensils from the cupboard after supper one night last week.
"Um, I don't know!" I answered. "Why? Are you going to make me a cake?" She smiled and nodded. Tomorrow would be my birthday, but since we were leaving in the morning and we had already celebrated by going out to eat that day, I wasn't expecting a cake. "I guess chocolate, maybe, or lemon?" I suggested.
Checking out the supplies in the pantry for ingredients, she asked, "How about pound cake?" I told her that sounded good, and when I passed through the kitchen later, I saw her intently peering into a cookbook with flour, eggs and milk set out on the counter. This was to be homemade! I'd heard she was getting to be a great cook! On the next pass through, she was slicing strawberries on a cutting board.
Finally she called, "Mimi, it's ready!" I went in to see a beautiful, glazed bundt cake with strawberries filling the center and spilling down the sides. I was so proud of her! She even found a representative candle which she lit as they sang Happy Birthday. It may have been ten o'clock at night by then, but it was a sweet ending to an evening of fun after a long game of Scrabble with her mom, sister and niece.
Something my daughter, Julie, said the other evening reminded me of this. We had been talking about God's goodness and blessings, and she told of a time when she was sitting in church listening to one of her husband's sermons. As she focused on what he was saying, she suddenly saw an outline of Jesus surrounding him. "I could still see Steve's face," she said, "but he seemed to be overlaid with a transparent image of Jesus! Just then he stopped and said, 'I feel Jesus all over me!'" She said she thought, Oh, if you only knew!
Jesus was in my sweet Corrin as she thoughtfully labored to make my birthday cake. This week she is off at church camp, no doubt soaking in His presence, taking in and learning of Him, strengthening her faith. Just as the bundt cake pan impressed and molded its image into the lovely fluted design of the cake, she is being impressed with his image. As the strawberries soaked the cake with its sweet flavor, so we absorb and give of the flavor of Christ when we have been with Him.
"Um, I don't know!" I answered. "Why? Are you going to make me a cake?" She smiled and nodded. Tomorrow would be my birthday, but since we were leaving in the morning and we had already celebrated by going out to eat that day, I wasn't expecting a cake. "I guess chocolate, maybe, or lemon?" I suggested.
Checking out the supplies in the pantry for ingredients, she asked, "How about pound cake?" I told her that sounded good, and when I passed through the kitchen later, I saw her intently peering into a cookbook with flour, eggs and milk set out on the counter. This was to be homemade! I'd heard she was getting to be a great cook! On the next pass through, she was slicing strawberries on a cutting board.
Finally she called, "Mimi, it's ready!" I went in to see a beautiful, glazed bundt cake with strawberries filling the center and spilling down the sides. I was so proud of her! She even found a representative candle which she lit as they sang Happy Birthday. It may have been ten o'clock at night by then, but it was a sweet ending to an evening of fun after a long game of Scrabble with her mom, sister and niece.
Something my daughter, Julie, said the other evening reminded me of this. We had been talking about God's goodness and blessings, and she told of a time when she was sitting in church listening to one of her husband's sermons. As she focused on what he was saying, she suddenly saw an outline of Jesus surrounding him. "I could still see Steve's face," she said, "but he seemed to be overlaid with a transparent image of Jesus! Just then he stopped and said, 'I feel Jesus all over me!'" She said she thought, Oh, if you only knew!
Jesus was in my sweet Corrin as she thoughtfully labored to make my birthday cake. This week she is off at church camp, no doubt soaking in His presence, taking in and learning of Him, strengthening her faith. Just as the bundt cake pan impressed and molded its image into the lovely fluted design of the cake, she is being impressed with his image. As the strawberries soaked the cake with its sweet flavor, so we absorb and give of the flavor of Christ when we have been with Him.
Sunday, July 1, 2012
Heartthoughts: Reflections
"Let's go in here out of the heat," I suggested to my husband as we came to a charming little shop on our stroll through "Jonesborough Days," a festival in the historic downtown district. At least it didn't say, "No Food or Drinks Allowed," on the door as most of the other businesses did. We were carrying free iced cups of sweet tea handed out by a street vendor, a welcome treat on this record-setting high temperature day.
"Look at that beautiful mirror," I said to Howard as we stepped inside. I pointed to a lovely, full-length looking glass in a carved oak-frame on a tilting stand. Checking my reflection, I suddenly felt disoriented. I couldn't find myself. Instead, I saw the miscellaneous items displayed on the wall opposite. There was no glass in the frame!
"Howard, see how you look," I couldn't resist calling. By this time a man was standing on the other side of the frame, and Howard did a double-take when he peered into it. The man laughed, but he had been fooled, too.
A little later, getting hungry by this time, we sought further refuge from the blazing sun by going into a quaint eatery for a bite to eat. This was our favorite restaurant whenever we visited; we loved the mismatched tables and chairs scattered around and the antique wooden booths with the mirror insets on the panel at the end. While Howard placed our order at the deli-counter, my eyes searched for a place to sit. No booths were available, and the only other place was a table for two sitting rather prominently near the aisle. We took it and were soon enjoying a chicken-salad sandwich.
"I didn't see all those other tables back there," my husband observed as we ate. I looked around, and not seeing any, I asked where.
"In that other room!" he pointed. I had to laugh. There was no other room. It was just a mirrored wall giving the illusion of more space. Twice today our eyes had played tricks on us!
Last night as we lingered at the table after supper with our daughter and son-in-law, stories and testimonies poured out as our two preacher husbands talked on and on of God's blessings. At one point, Steve said, "Did I ever tell you the 'Don't I Know You?' story?" It seemed that for a period of weeks or more during a time in their ministry, he kept running into strangers who said, "Don't I know you?" It got to be almost comical, and he couldn't figure out whether he had a familiar-looking face, or what.
He said after this had happened many times, he approached a church, looking for a certain pastor. A deacon or some official met him, and said, "Don't I know you?" Steve told him he was the umpteenth person that had asked him that. The man said, "Let me tell you what is happening. People are recognizing Jesus in your eyes. That's why they think they know you."
How wonderful to think that Jesus is reflected in our eyes! When I was little, I used to look into Mama's dresser mirror and tilt it to see the ceiling, or just look at the furniture in the room. It gave me a whole new perspective and perception, as if I could just step into the mirror and enter that somehow more desirable space, like Alice in Through the Looking Glass. If we keep Jesus in our hearts, we will someday step into a world that is more than we can imagine, and it won't be an illusion.
Oh yes, the first thing the pastor said when he met our son-in-law was "Don't I know you?"
"Look at that beautiful mirror," I said to Howard as we stepped inside. I pointed to a lovely, full-length looking glass in a carved oak-frame on a tilting stand. Checking my reflection, I suddenly felt disoriented. I couldn't find myself. Instead, I saw the miscellaneous items displayed on the wall opposite. There was no glass in the frame!
"Howard, see how you look," I couldn't resist calling. By this time a man was standing on the other side of the frame, and Howard did a double-take when he peered into it. The man laughed, but he had been fooled, too.
A little later, getting hungry by this time, we sought further refuge from the blazing sun by going into a quaint eatery for a bite to eat. This was our favorite restaurant whenever we visited; we loved the mismatched tables and chairs scattered around and the antique wooden booths with the mirror insets on the panel at the end. While Howard placed our order at the deli-counter, my eyes searched for a place to sit. No booths were available, and the only other place was a table for two sitting rather prominently near the aisle. We took it and were soon enjoying a chicken-salad sandwich.
"I didn't see all those other tables back there," my husband observed as we ate. I looked around, and not seeing any, I asked where.
"In that other room!" he pointed. I had to laugh. There was no other room. It was just a mirrored wall giving the illusion of more space. Twice today our eyes had played tricks on us!
Last night as we lingered at the table after supper with our daughter and son-in-law, stories and testimonies poured out as our two preacher husbands talked on and on of God's blessings. At one point, Steve said, "Did I ever tell you the 'Don't I Know You?' story?" It seemed that for a period of weeks or more during a time in their ministry, he kept running into strangers who said, "Don't I know you?" It got to be almost comical, and he couldn't figure out whether he had a familiar-looking face, or what.
He said after this had happened many times, he approached a church, looking for a certain pastor. A deacon or some official met him, and said, "Don't I know you?" Steve told him he was the umpteenth person that had asked him that. The man said, "Let me tell you what is happening. People are recognizing Jesus in your eyes. That's why they think they know you."
How wonderful to think that Jesus is reflected in our eyes! When I was little, I used to look into Mama's dresser mirror and tilt it to see the ceiling, or just look at the furniture in the room. It gave me a whole new perspective and perception, as if I could just step into the mirror and enter that somehow more desirable space, like Alice in Through the Looking Glass. If we keep Jesus in our hearts, we will someday step into a world that is more than we can imagine, and it won't be an illusion.
Oh yes, the first thing the pastor said when he met our son-in-law was "Don't I know you?"
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