|
It's Only Things
Rosemary looked at me with a firm yet compassionate gaze. "It's only things. I don't even want to know what is in that bag. Take the bag and what's in it home with you. Throw it away." Seeing my incredulous expression, she shook her head and repeated, "It's only things."
We had been to Rosemary and Bubber's beach house on St. George Island. They provided us our first vacation anywhere other than at a relative's home! And it was an incredible blessing to us, not once, but several times. On this vacation, however, we had a little accident. I don't even remember what happened. All I know is that one of our children broke the brass and glass magnifying shell kaleidescope that sat upon the table at the beach house. It was a favorite of our children, and I am sure it was a favorite of Rosemary and Bubber, too. I was upset. And I had no idea where I could find a replacement.
As a new pastor's wife in our first pastorate, I had been repeatedly blessed by the gift of Rosemary's love and acceptance. Rosemary and Bubber Evans lived in a beautiful old home at the end of a short but rambling country road in Georgia. A wall sign on the corner grocery store still points down the road to "Rosebub Christmas Tree Farm," which was their family's business. Often on Sunday afternoons, I took our two young sons to play in the Evans' sand pile while Rosemary and I visited. We sat in the tree swing hanging from one of the huge old trees shading their expansive back yard. And Rosemary, simply and generously, shared life with me.
Rosemary was a devoted wife, a mother and grandmother, an extraordinary listener, and a truly faithful friend. "It's only things," was one of the many pearls of wisdom which Rosemary gave me. I threw away the broken treasure as Rosemary asked me to. And I kept that pearl.
Matthew 6:19-21, "Do not lay up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal; for where your treasure is, there will your heart be also."
|
Survivorship
Comments