I am on

Pages

2012/10/03

Fred's Last Question




Fred was this short old guy from our church. I would greet him "good morning" on Sundays and he replied "wats gudah bow eet". He had an accent. I could easily tell he wasn't born or raised in America. Later I understood, he meant to say "What's good about it?" or what's good about the morning. I knew he was teasing. He would also greet me on Sundays and told me I should say  back "what's good about it?".

Fred was a very sweet guy. He always teased me about my boots, wearing them in the wrong season. "There's no snow!" he would say. He also always asked me "You so short, why marry a very tall man?" as if it was a big mistake. I never actually figured the answer. 

Until one Sunday, he stopped coming to church. I usually intend to ask someone about it but I never did. Eventually, i learned he was taken to a nursing home. I imagined he wanted to go to church and ask me questions once again. Maybe he was too weak or too old to drive.I don't know. I was consumed with my own life's worries and busy-ness that I forgot that I wanted to know him more. I know he had a lot of awesome stories to share. Stories of his experiences in Yugoslavia until he fled to America during world war two where he and his wife met again and toiled for that American dream. I bet he had stories to encourage me that lifeisn't that bad because he had been there.
 I let days, weeks, months passed until I heard that Fred just passed away. I was sad. I never had a chance to answer his question. He will never know why I married a 6 ft 2 man. I never even knew his real name. I just refer to him as "That Yugoslavian". I hate the fact I didn't even had him over for dinner and hear stories of how the Lord worked in his life when they fled from the harsh life of his country. It was only until I read in his funeral, his real name was Ferdinand Decker.

I went to his funeral yesterday. I saw him in that coffin lifeless. That was the only time I saw him he did not ask me questions. That would be weird if he did though.

Church is not just a once a week meeting place for people who share the same beliefs. Church is a place to gain wisdom from the elders, share those lessons with my peers and able to teach those experiences to the young children and young believers.

I will miss Fred and his silly questions. Even until on his death, he had left me one more question. How involved am I in the lives of my family in Christ?

 




Linking to:
Mom On Time Out
Pinspirational Thursday
Time Travel Thursday
Blog Stalking Thursday
Create.Simplify.Inspire

5 comments:

  1. You are such a sweet and loving woman of God Myric and this made me tear up. You have reminded me that they way we live for God shouldn't just be a weekly thing we do when around our church family, but something we should live for every minute of our every day. Our inward relationship with God should always be reflected outwards towards others, so thank you for making me think today. <3

    ReplyDelete
  2. What a beautiful post. I am sorry about your friend Fred. Isn't it amazing how people can touch our lives in small but profound ways?

    ReplyDelete
  3. Such a touching blog post!! I'm your newest follower from the mom in timeout blog hop - this is my blog if you wanted to follow back: godsgrowinggarden.com
    Thanks
    Angie

    ReplyDelete
  4. that is a good question...
    Am I too "busy" to be there for the poeple around me...???

    Thanks for reminding me....

    ReplyDelete
  5. touching story! So many of us are so focused in our own worlds that we forget to stop and listen to others. I have been blessed to have worked with many elderly patients throughout my career, and have heard many of their great stories. Sometimes we all just need someone to talk to. Thanks for sharing!
    Melissa

    ReplyDelete

Your sweet comment brightens my day