This morning was my turn to stay awhile with Mom. I took advantage of the time to “plunder around” in her living room. It is filled with “stuff” from a couple of families, and one must be careful lest he gets lost. However, I had my iphone with the GPS and felt fairly certain I could find my way back to the kitchen eventually.
During the course of my plundering, I saw a simple coffee cup with a crack and a chip and the words Johnny “Chip” Rasberry written in something like fingernail polish.
Seeing that cup brought back a rush of memories of my Dad. He was a very simple man who enjoyed life almost as much as he enjoyed people. The simplest thing could be a source of repeated pleasure for him.
Listening to, or watching a Cardinals Baseball game; drinking coffee with friends and relatives; riding his dog in the back of his truck; and of course talking about his children. I so want to learn to just enjoy life and people. Even today, people who knew my Dad speak of his love of life, his friendly personality, his sparkling eyes, and his ready smile.
For many of my generation, those growing up now, life is very complicated and finding joy in a chipped and broken coffee cup is simply not going to happen.
Perhaps you’re wondering just what the significance of the coffee cup was, and is. Well, as I’ve said Dad was a great one for fellowship. On a couple of occasions when he stopped by the Rolling Creek Baptist Church Parsonage for coffee with the Pastor, the Pastor’s wife served him coffee in this chipped cup. My Dad teased her endlessly about giving him the chipped cup and it became “his” cup. Every time he visited he was served with that cup. Eventually she gave it to him as a memento with the inscription mentioned above. That cup had a place of prominence in their den, and Mom eventually moved it to the living room.
Dear Lord, Please teach me to enjoy the simple things of this world as gifts from You, and to not take lightly those relationships You grace my life with. Thank You, Lord for reminding me of the great joy available to us for just “living” in this world. I ask this in the sweet and holy name of Jesus, Amen.
