Divine Appointment

DIVINE APPOINTMENT 1118 Words

The spring shower was over, leaving the air cool enough to be comfortable, also leaving the flies to bother me as I sat soaking in the memories that engulfed me. The porch swing gently swayed back and forth in a rhythmic motion while Clay and I let our mind and eyes wander over the world at our door.

The birds sang from a nearby tree. Cars passed on the road. People waved, not sure to whom; However, that is the normal way of life on Long Branch.

The trees were a luscious green, and the pink roses in bloom. Close to the road there stands a Magnolia tree gloriously arrayed with its beaufiful flowers giving off a fragrance that adds to the clean country air.

As usual, the house reeks with visions and echoes of yesterdays long gone.

My little eight-year-old grandson is with me exploring my memories. His questions are priceless and the compassion for his heritage makes my heart smile as I try to answer each of his questions.

"It must hurt to be a hundred years old", he said thoughtfully as he sat beside me on the swing.

It took him by surprise to learn his Great Grandfather did not live here anymore. When I explained that he was living in a nursing home now, he seemed to go into deep thought trying to get it all strait and in order in his mind.

"Yes, it probably does", I answered. "Our body gets tired when it is close to 100 years old, and it has a way of telling us it’s tired."

"I don't think I would want to live that long," he ventured softly.

"I don't either", I replied.

His eyes formed his question before his mouth spoke the words.

I prepared supper after our arrival that day, and while he allowed me to rest from my day, he tried to be patient. The ten o'clock news came on, when he laid his game boy down and said, "Do you think we could go outside and look at the stars tonight?"

Oh my, he had my attention and now he was making me fall in love with him all over again.

"There is nothing I'd like better" I answered with enthusiasm. There was no way I could have ever dreamed of sharing this day with one of my grandchildren. We walked to the front porch; he took my hand to assist me as we walked down the concrete steps to the sidewalk. Hand in hand, we ventured into the yard, looking up to a filtering cloud cover that hid most of the galaxy.

"It was on this very spot," I started with the story, "long ago when I was only a girl. We came here after a long hot summer day on the farm. Daddy with his guitar and my sisters and me around him in a semi circle; We sang every song we knew, stopping now and then to find the "milky-way", the evening star, the big dipper and little dipper."

Yes, I was more than glad to hold my darling little Clay's hand as we started our evening of looking toward the heavens hoping the clouds did not hide our view for very long.

The three quarter moon cast a shadow on the land, giving enough light to show us where to step safely. For a long time we stood looking upward, but finding only a few starts spotted here and there in the vast space we called the heavens.

"God is sooo big!" He finally spoke. "To keep everything in place, and still take care of the tiny specks we are. I think I want to be an Astronaut, so I can go up in space. Don't you think that would be cool?"

I wanted time to stand still as I listened to him and marveled at how his mind worked. "Yes, that would be cool", I responded with excitement that matched his. "You know you can be anything you want to be! The opportunities for you to be an Astronaut are many."

He moved on. "You know there are billions and billions of stars?"

"Yes, too many to count for sure," I said.

I could not anticipate each question, yet I always seemed to have an answer that satisfied him. He had my undivided attention and he was taking advantage of it.

We walked a few paces toward the hay field beside the house. He thought it would be nice to sit on the back porch awhile. I agreed.

He took charge - brought my lawn chair close to the edge of the porch and he sat at my feet with his legs dangling off the edge of the small porch. As much as I could, I kept my eyes on him.

It was getting close to eleven pm, but I had no desire to hurry the moment.

Again, my heart smiled as I watched his eyes brighten up with a new idea to talk about. Occasionally our eyes met, but mostly his face little turned up face looked toward me as he kept the conversation going.

You see, I have concluded this night was a divine appointment. Have you ever experienced a divine appointment? A time when you knew that you knew that where you were, who you were with, and what you were doing was designed for you? Surely you have! I love those times and I am sure I have had many, but this one caused my heart to dance.

Clay was to go with his parents and brother, but opted for staying behind with his Papa and me.

Maybe one day he will understand in a measure, the deep gratitude I felt getting to spend quality time with him in a place that held so many memories for me. I could not expect him to comprehend my efforts in wanting to pass to him, an era that is so far removed from modern day America in which he lives. However, the importance of History as it pertains to the next generation will give him a sense of his own roots.

Having the opportunity to meet his century old Great Grandfather, will always be a treasure to him, when he shares with his children the long life he may inherit. To be able to listen to his Great Grandfather talk with perfect diction, and alert mentality, is also a treasure he will appreciate in time to come.

Thanks Clay-boy for giving me 30 hours of your undivided time. I am a better person for having shared those special moments with you.

Love
Grammyof13