Most of us remember a time in our childhood that seemed carefree. That time before we knew that the people and things we love could be lost. For some people, the innocent period was very short, and for others, they were fortunate to have it for their entire childhoods. However, there are some people who have never known a carefree moment. Whether you experienced a carefree moment or not, one thing is inevitable. Everyone eventually experiences loss. Maybe you lose a parent, or a grandparent, or a sibling, or even just a pet. Whatever you love and whoever you love, there is going to be loss in life. What’s important is to remember to hold close to the things that are beautiful while you have them. Enjoy this beautiful story.
I grew up in the 40s/50s with practical parents. A mother, God love her, who washed aluminum foil after she cooked in it, then reused it. She was the original recycle queen before they had a name for it. And a father who was happier getting old shoes fixed than buying new ones. Their marriage was good, their dreams focused. Their best friends lived barely a wave away.
I can see them now… Dad, in trousers, tee-shirt, and a hat, mowing the lawn or checking the oil in the car. Mom, in a house dress, with a child’s spelling list in one hand and a cooking spoon in the other. It was the time for fixing things. A curtain rod, the kitchen radio, screen door, the oven door, the hem in a dress. Things we kept. It was a way of life, and sometimes it made me crazy. All that re-fixing, eating leftovers, reusing, I wanted just once to be wasteful.
Waste meant affluence. Throwing things away meant you knew there’d always be more. But then my mother died, and on that clear summer’s night, in the warmth of the hospital room, I was struck with the pain of learning that sometimes there isn’t anymore. Sometimes, what we care about most gets all used up and goes away… never to return. So, while we have it… it’s best we love it… and care for it… and fix it when it’s broken… and heal it when it’s sick.
This is true for marriage… and old cars… and children with bad report cards… and dogs with bad hips… and aging parents… and grandparents. We keep them because they are worth it, because we are worth it. Some things we keep. Like a best friend that moved away or a classmate we grew up with. There are just some things that make life important, like people we know who are special… and so, we keep them close!
Send this to those people who are “KEEPERS” in your life. Good friends are like stars… You don’t always see them, but you know they are always there. Keep them close!
