Shade Tree Wisdom 5/15/10

Blessed rain last night, and more this morning. It greened the grass and washed the dust off the trees and made the world look a bit brighter. But it’s a gloomy sort of day which lends itself well to contemplation. The story of the rocking chair brought this story to mind.

Henry was now alone. He had married Luetta in their church in town and moved to this farm that Henry had inherited. Here they had raised four children, all now married and gone, but all still living fairly close. They saw them often, had family dinners together and such things. Now Luetta was gone and Henry could no longer farm, so he had sold the farm and today was the auction to sell his worldly possessions. His son had made arrangements for him to move to a nursing facility in town. It was nearly ten o’clock, the time set to start, and lots of people were already there. The farm machinery went first, then the livestock.

Henry had Jersey cows, for their milk had a high butterfat content, and he sold that to the creamery in town. Funny, when he saw they being loaded up he remembered that this creamery made a string cheese that was sold over the country. His friend, who had visited Houston, Texas, had brought him some that he bought there at a place called Specs. Small world, Henry agreed.

Now they were auctioning off the household goods. Everything was going. He had packed a small suitcase with some clothes, and his Bible and prayer book. It now waited in the front closet. There went the lamp they had bought from Sears and Luetta had always used to read by, and do her knitting and patching. Gave him a jolt to see it going.

Most of the day Henry watched all this from the front porch. He was sitting in the rocking chair that he had bought Luetta one Christmas. She used it a lot, sitting on the front porch, shelling peas, or reading her Bible, or just relaxing in the evening.

The day was filled with memories. When he saw their canoe loaded up he noticed it had been bought by that young couple who bought the Johnson place. He remembered the fun they had canoeing, either fishing for their supper, or just gliding along the stream that ran through their farm. So relaxing, and so satisfying. He hoped they would enjoy using it as much as he and Luetta had.

Now the crowd was gone. The auctioneer and his son had gone to the bank to get things settled, and then his son was coming to take him to his new home. So Henry just waited, sitting in the rocking chair and enjoying the cool evening breeze, and the psalm came to mind. “The heavens declare the glory of God and the firmament showeth His handiwork.” And he prayed for a peaceful move, and a quiet life.

And that’s where his son found him, a smile on his face, a restful pose, and peace at the last.

GPD 5/15/10