Yes, I know when you noticed the length of this post.......it's long. I remember when I wrote it that there was really so much more I could have written. Maybe at a later time. I really didn't believe that I was to write any less so this is just the length of it for now. I hope you find some enjoyment in the bitter-sweetness of it and maybe it reminds you of someone.
THE STORY OF A MAN
Then he was 65 years of age
and married now for 15 years.
He was once a boy of course, very much on his own.
More than a lad should be.
A survivor of sorts,
learning hard lessons.
His youth was influenced by many of those things
better not experienced by anyone
…….at any age.
The interpretation of love that was conveyed to him
and understood by him
lacked the full potential of all it should be -- could be
…….and would be.
He must have been born with an extra share
of this “potential” love.
He learned to see the good, I believe, in all things.
His laugh would brighten any room.
and it was contagious.
You didn’t have to know where he was.
You had only to listen
and there you would find him.
As a teen, school was-----well
where you were supposed to go.
And he did.
It was a different kind of family-type
environment there for him---So-to-speak.
A place to “kind of learn”
a little more about relationships,
how they worked and what was lacking at home.
Looking back – school was probably
some of the more fond memories.
I read once that there is not a piece of paper
that can tell the worth of a man.
This was certain to prove true.
The weight of responsibilities and lack of encouragement
did not produce high marks.
It takes deeper insight to see beyond the paper grade.
Sports’ was always a good interest.
Wrestling fit him well –
earned him championship titles.
The “physical” man versus the “mental” man
within one’s self always produces an affect of strength.
It must be therefore, at times,
an application of choice.
For many years, he was to walk out these choices
and they produced the younger part of his lifetime
of homes here and there –
jobs of this and that.
The right place at the wrong time or
perhaps the wrong place at the right time
produced a history of travel in the military.
Skills were incredible and valued there
but maybe the lack of focus, wildness at heart, poor choices
or even perhaps a rebellious spirit, added up to not quite
achieving that full potential of what could have been.
Even so, he was always dependable, trusted and got the work done
………and done well.
His potential had not yet awakened.
So the experiences were stored away.
And the life of a self-made man, if-you-will
………..continued.
Funny……..people look at that with intrigue
and admiration sometimes.
Especially if they have not lived that kind of life
--------at all.
They meet a man of the world,
a jack-of-all-trades,
the street-wise man.
The man who was on his own, survived to tell about it
and made his way.
Knowing very little of what one goes through
in their lifetime to be a self-made man.
Those that admire and are intrigued,
haven’t ever really put on his shoes.
It is not an easy road to travel, and many know this.
He was favored by God in many ways.
Ways that would unfold as his life progressed.
God always sees the bigger picture.
And he was given quite a few wonderful gifts,
The kind not available at the local department store.
Great character, goodness, love, intelligence, sense of humor, kindness, honesty, patience, generosity, loyalty, helpfulness, gentleness, protector of women and children, faith, dependability, peacefulness, sincerity, creativity, joy,
And gentle eyes
The window to ones’ soul
People loved him.
He got married.
Was married for 24 years.
To a woman I believe he never really got to know.
He always made a good income – a good provider.
Acquired a good job and was a hard worker.
………Because he was a survivor.
The many stories he has to tell……….
logging for instance,
as it used to be years ago,
well, they are well worth hearing.
That alone was quite a different era,
as folks from the North west will understand.
The essence of youth in a man,
has such energy, stamina, resistance and resilience.
The abilities and capabilities are hidden therein
like treasures to be uncovered and executed as experience.
When will they be uncovered and how?
Did I mention that alcohol was the number one influence in his life?
He took his first drink at nine years of age.
This was the family environment
that was to set the path and pace of his life,
…………..for quite some time.
One day he was pronounced clinically dead after being taken to the hospital.
A pivotal time in his life.
The result of too much alcahol.
He found God.
He realized, however not in the fullness of it at this point,
that it was indeed God who saved him.
God was not lost of course but the man was.
He embarked on a journey of search.
He began to find out who he was.
He began to find out who other’s were or were not.
He discovered he did not know his wife
……..when he became sober.
……….And she did not know him.
They, sadly, did not know each other.
They simply knew a life-style.
They divorced.
As this season ended
the course of his life was at a new beginning
and would change drastically.
There were times of great loneliness and sadness.
The over abundance of love that was given him by God
was beginning to stir.
It was painful.
The dreams, goals, purpose and desires
had all been covered over by so much pain
………pain that was never intended to be his.
The time had come for Restoration of his life.
We, most of the time do not see the whole person.
Only a small portion of who a man is;
is seen on the outside.
The greater “most” of a man is on the inside.
As he began to seek who his God was
there was embracing of many religions.
He did not know the Truth and the Way
………..yet.
As a diligent hard working man
he built a successful business,
enjoying the benefits of such.
Being somewhat bitter against marriage
and what one can loose in assets
should a divorce occur,
he didn’t speak much of ever
…….. ever remarrying again.
Someone told him one day;
“well you just haven’t met the right woman yet.”
I will tell you now,
the woman that said that
was the one chosen to be his wife.
Nobody knew yet.
So the courtship began.
Because of his gentle heart being stirred,
He began to spend less solitude time
with others that had the same pain;
the ones he truly knew how to relate to.
The woman he courted was quite outspoken.
He often described her as being as subtle as a train wreck.
(And perhaps contrary to his liking.)
Though her background having been somewhat rocky
was very good at heart also.
God had blessed her and saved her as well,
from a fallen life.
A bit about her was that she had a great desire to love and to be loved;
To have a good marriage and to have a baby.
She had been married before…….several times before;
And had not gotten it right--you might say.
She longed for her heart’s desire.
Their relationship grew in love and respect
and trust and a genuineness toward one another.
They got married.
Beautifully married.
And you guessed it.
Had a baby.
She was 40.
He was 50.
Her faith invited HIM,
to HAVE faith.
Their journey in life deepened,
as he chose a Christian quest alongside her.
The man, being a deep thinker and dedicated study-fanatic
grew in faith at incredible speed to say the least.
She had prayed to the Lord many times like this:
“Lord, he will be a soldier and warrior for you.”
………And that’s exactly what he became.
She had quietly petitioned his name by faith, trust, hope and belief.
And God answered her prayer.
As restoration and new beginnings continued,
Their upbringing was noticeably quite different.
She added lots of family-time things to his life
that blessed him and encouraged him.
Things that he had never --- ever experienced.
Things that were fun-filled and
treasures to one’s heart.
Things that families did for one another
and with one another.
Quite frankly,
He did not know how to go about doing these things.
He never had the opportunity for them
being that he had grown up in such a fragmented life.
The man learned a lot!
For one: you don’t send someone else to get your Christmas Tree.
It was a family tradition---snow, hot chocolate, child, pets, map,
and “All Pure” condensed milk to make snow cream!
The man was used to sending someone else to get the tree
or you just didn’t have one.
This, of course, would never do.
Another thing was that you don’t go see Frank Sinatra
(or whoever strikes your fancy)
without your forever Bride
-----even if you already had a prearranged trip
with big wigs at corporate.
Pretty much he didn’t do anything special
for any holiday or celebration.
This list went on and on……………
They had a grand time experiencing and creating family traditions.
As far as the baby,
well, for the man to have received a call that said;
“you are having a son.”
What else can be said?
That was it.
The whole event of bringing a child into the world
was a dream come true.
They bought everything in the baby aisle
----had no idea what much of it was.
The youth of a child will keep you young
and on your toes.
They, as parents did not miss hardly an activity
in regard to this child.
Being older, they had acquired enough “stuff”
and so parenting was number one on the list.
They traveled lots as a family
whether it was business or pleasure.
They built a strong foundation of love and respect,
and mostly Faith.
Faith and trust in God to meet their every need
and walk with them on every path.
Adventurous as life is, and meant to be,
there are many opportunities to sort through.
Embracing and seeking the Will of God firstly,
will always bring the unfolding of his Christian quest.
Life was indeed changed----and changing------
As was the man.
You see, he began living after he died.
physically and spiritually.
He was born again
physically and spiritually.
For those of you who understand this,
well, you just do.
And for those of you who don’t,
well, you just don’t.
Someone, I’m sure is praying that you do.
And I believe God will have his Way.
This man uses all things in his past to bring Glory to God,
and point people toward His Kingdom.
The lives of people he has touched
is immeasurable by the natural eye.
That which was deep down in his heart;
those things he was born with;
the love he was born with,
has risen to the top.
Filtered by the hand of God.
The experiences he has walked through…..
the times the man thought he was alone…..
he knows now, he never was alone.
He looks at the poem “Footprints” in a new way.
He knows where he is
when there is only one set of prints in the sand.
He is being upheld by Christ.
He is being shaped and molded in his life
by the hands of the Potter.
The man himself knows who he is in the eyes of God.
He is a son and a child to his Heavenly Father
who has enabled the very man
to be a father to his own precious son.
The relationship is one that enables
………..relationship.
As in anyone’s life, there are many stories told and untold.
Some things are remembered and some forgotten.
This story is but a brief description of one man.
In-between every line is another story untold.
As the man continues to celebrate life at 65.
The Beginning
Denise Sherriff
Wife and Mother
Written on February 16, 2009
Posted August 23, 2010
