We boomers tend to reminisce, and the other day I found myself remembering how, as a middle schooler, I often walked from school to my dad’s office downtown. I’d show up a bit bedraggled with red clay dust from a playground game of Red Rover or kick ball all over my white anklet socks. My semi-naturally curly hair also probably stuck out in every direction and needed brushing.
As
the scent of carbon paper floated in the air, Dad wouldn’t bother with my hair,
but he’d sit me down and brush off those socks with his hand. For some reason,
those dirty socks really bothered him. He’d give me a little change, and I’d
head down to Harpers Five and Dime where I’d spend too long at their candy and
nut counter trying to decide between the chocolate covered peanuts, cashew
nuts, and chocolate stars. It was a big decision, and when I’d made it, I may
have asked for a dime's worth of what I wanted, which would be put in
a paper sack.
I’d
pay, take my sack, and return to my dad’s office. There, I’d sit at one of the
empty desks and enjoy my snack while doing homework.
A
short time later, he’d be done for the day, and we’d head home.
Sometimes,
we hold those long-ago moments in our hearts aching to touch them again,
knowing we can’t relive them, but still hoping to catch a glimmer of their
magic.
How
often this past year with so many challenges, I have wished for someone to dust off my
stained metaphorical socks—someone to notice they carry the debris of the day
and say, “Hey, I’ll take care of that for you.”
And
then I remember once more, Someone has and Someone is.
“I
waited patiently and expectantly for the Lord; and He inclined to me and heard
my cry. He brought me up out of a horrible pit (of tumult and of destruction),
out of the miry clay, and He set my feet upon a rock, steadying my footsteps
and establishing my path. He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to
our God (Psalm 40:1-3).
No
matter what is covering us or consuming us, God can brush us off, lift us up
and set us in a new place. A sure place of safety with him that does not
necessarily take us away from this world’s woes but gives us shelter amidst
them. And God gives us a song of praise in that place.
I
am thankful for an earthly Dad who, though flawed as we all are, gave me a glimpse of the Father’s heart.
It’s
been a long time since I wore anklet socks, but sometimes when I’ve been
planting flowers, I’ll come in to take my shoes off and find red clay dirt on
my socks. I remember my dad and those long-ago days. Thanksgiving wells in
my heart at the thought, and I reach for my current snack of choice—Trader
Joe’s dark chocolate peanut butter cups.