Could You Sing?

Several years ago this week, our community and surrounding areas were hit by a hurricane.  Because we live so far from the coast, no one expected as much damage as there was.  Billboards, trees, road signs, power lines and telephone lines were all down by early Friday morning.  Restoring power was more important than restoring phone service but Eric and his co-workers were suddenly scheduled 12 hours a day, 7 days a week.  Other states sent their employees to North Carolina to help get us back to normal.  Seeing everyone work together left an impression on Eric and he made a promise to himself.  If he was ever asked to go out of town to work in an emergency, he would go. 

One September 10 years later, a hurricane hit Eastern NC.  Unlike other times where the wind had  been responsible for all of the damage, this particular storm dumped rain on the town.  A lot of rain in a short amount of time.  The town was devastated by the flood waters.  Eric signed up to go and was soon in a convoy headed East.  After arriving in the town the guys were given their assignments and they drove to one neighborhood.

As far as they could see, miscellaneous items were piled by the side of the road.  Clothing, furniture, bedding, all things that had been ruined by the storm.  Sitting in his rumbling bucket truck, with the radio playing, Eric watched as an elderly gentleman made several trips back and forth from his house to the pile.   Only after he had shut off his truck did he realize the man was singing.  As Eric rolled the window down and listened, the still air was broken by the words, "Oh, how I love Jesus".  Carrying out what appeared to be an accumulation of his lifetime, the elderly gentleman still had a reason to sing.  Losing everything and watching helplessly as the water destroyed what he had worked for, and yet he was still able to sing.

Could you?

Milk Money

School is back in full swing now and the ads for 'Back to School' supplies are no longer on the front pages of the sales circulars.  It was always exciting to get the few new things that I needed for the upcoming school year; a pack of pencils, a pack of notebook paper and usually a new lunchbox.  I enjoyed packing my lunch everyday when I was in grade school.

At our elementary school we had a milk break early in the morning.  You could buy a carton of milk to drink with whatever snack you had brought from home.  Milk was 4 cents when I was in the lower grades of school.  My parents had a cup and saucer sitting on a desk where they put their spare pennies each night.  Every morning before school, I would get the pennies out for my milk money.  It's funny how you can remember certain things about your childhood.

When my mother passed away and we were cleaning out my parent's house, the cup and saucer were right where they had always been-sitting on the desk in the bedroom.  I brought home the 2 items that had no value other than sentimental. 

We made a promise to our grandchildren that they would always have 'Book Fair' money.  If it were possible, we would give each of them something to keep their 'Milk Money' in.   A small cup but overflowing with love.