It was a hot spring day, 88 degrees this afternoon, and a
bright clear sky. The adoration chapel I
had visited had the a/c turned up high, and it blew an almost cold breeze on my
arms, so I was in no hurry to leave.
Besides the good Company there, I knew my house was probably a lot
warmer. I had the inspector come out just
this week, for both my heating and a/c.
Both are in top condition, but for years I have had a goal of not
turning on the a/c before June, and the furnace not on before November. And in some years, I’ve actually been
successful!
After dinner at home, I was playing some computer games at
my kitchen table, when suddenly --- BOOM!!
And when I looked out the window, it was cloudy and raining. An hour or two later, I heard my neighbor
dragging his garbage cans out to the curb for tomorrow’s pickup. The rain had stopped, so I went out and made
conversation. I thanked him for putting
up the basketball net and playing with his boys. I know many examples of kids gone astray
because of missing or “too busy” fathers.
That personal relationship with a loving dad really matters, especially
in these times.
I commented that the temperature had dropped noticeably
during the rain, so I excused myself, went back into my house and grabbed a
book, and went for a walk. I used to be
known as “the book man” to people within a few miles of my house, as walking
while reading was a part of my normal day --- until a few years ago. Maybe I can start again. Walking back home after reading a few pages
while on a short tour of my sub-division, I noticed a male and female duck
standing by the tree in my front yard.
Over the years, I’ve often had nesting ducks under the bushes in my back
yard, but I just this week noticed how overgrown my front bushes are. So, as I approached them, I said: “Well,
duckies, there are some nice bushes around my house. You are welcome to stay.” And as I went in my front door, I saw them
make a bee-line toward my front bushes.
Maybe I’ll have company again this year. I’ll have to keep a lookout, especially if I
see momma duck sitting on a nest in my front yard --- near the new basketball
net next door. Maybe I’ll need to have
another conversation with my neighbor, if I see that company has arrived for a
while. His boys are too young to have
once seen ducks in my yard in the past, but previous neighbors’ kids were fascinated,
especially when the ducklings began cheeping.
- -
- - - - - - - -
And speaking of company, reminds me of the conversation I
had yesterday afternoon. My other
neighbor’s parents were visiting again. The
mother told me that she comes on the weekends now, when her daughter has her
chemo treatments because “it gets pretty bad.”
My 44-year-old neighbor is fighting a stage 4 liver cancer. I confided in the mom how my sister had also
fought, and the years she stayed were a blessing for her daughters, all of whom
had new children during her cancer. And
I mentioned some miraculous cures I know of; prayers matter. I told her if she and her husband were ever
in need of a place to stay while visiting, my spare bedroom is always
available. Company is always welcome at
my house. She thanked me. In a way though, that is not company I’d
enjoy having, but I trust God is in control.
Always.
