Father’s
Day Gift
I gave my Dad
an unusual Fathers Day present. I was at a loss as to what to buy him since he
is the quintessential, impossible to buy for, Dad. He doesn’t need or want much
and he already has every tool made. After some thought, I realized that “we”
were what he wanted. He loves his family and friends. His favorite thing to do
these days is meet new people and share stories. He has been so looking forward
to getting together with his old football buddies at the UGA - Tennessee game
this coming season. The alumni will be celebrating the fiftieth anniversary of Coach
Dooley’s first UGA team. As many of you already know, my Dad was fullback on
the team. Well, the thought of the stories I have heard, and some are
outrageous, got me to thinking about his
love of the shared memory and what to get him for Father’s day.
My gift to
Dad was an empty journal. I have heard thousands of interesting stories about
his growing up in the woods logging in Glennville, Georgia and life as a
college football player. The crazy characters and their lives such as the eight
year old cousin that stayed home from school sick and the uncle that hid a
bunch of mason jars of moonshine under the covers with him because the sheriff
made an unexpected visit. How about the time his mother set her pistol on the
counter at the Dairy Queen as she rifled through her pocketbook looking for her
wallet to pay for the ice cream. The checkout girl ran to the back screaming.
Grandma Betty just looked up and said, “What in the world is wrong with her?”
The boys were in the floor laughing as the pistol just sat there on the counter
looking completely out of place.
My point is
not for my Dad to live in the past, but for him to share his and my mother’s
life with us. Just yesterday after lunch, we laughed as he was telling about he
and Uncle Mike would race the little Ford tractors they pulled logs with. They
got stuck every way you can, turned over and thrown off. “it’s a wonder we didn’t
get killed!” he said. I believe people should enjoy being who they are and not
try to be something else to impress the world. Ronnie Jenkins likes being a
man. What you see is what you get, no politics and no fluff. He’s always
enjoyed being greasy and dirty and satisfied that he stuck with the job until
he whipped it. I am glad that I have been greasy and dirty beside him for a
good portion of it.
I hope my Mom
and Dad adjust to this new season in their lives as Dad is recovering from open
heart surgery and I am sure that Mom is having to adjust to more together time
with Dad. He is used to barking orders at a skinny boy who isn’t holding the
flashlight just right to see the nut to turn so we can get that old log truck
back to work at 5am tomorrow morning. What could be so wrong with reminiscing about
a full and honest life?
Dad’s life is
changing. We move into new seasons in which God has new plans for us. I know my
life certainly has changed. I hope Dad enjoys putting some of his memories into
ink for generations of Jenkins’ and Olivers’ to enjoy. God gives us each day
new, to be lived, loved and enjoyed to the full. Everyday God renews His love,
grace, mercy and forgiveness. Therefore, we have no excuse that should allow
the devil to steal our joy. If you are not in a new or different season in your
life, you soon will be. Each day is a gift that we should accept and live fully
in Christ so that when the day is done, the way we lived the day can be our
gift back to God. Count your blessings and not your problems. God loves you…. Love Him back with the life
you live.
