You can get just as full...on bologna...as you can on steak!
Have you ever experienced the delivery of a perfect message from just the right person at the appropriate time? Well, one of those moments came for me while dining with my special someone’s parents a few weeks ago.
When we arrived at Mr. and Mrs. D’s place, the scent of a lovingly prepared supper greeted us. And so did the smiles on their faces as we made our way through the door. It had been nearly two months since our last get-together due to the quarantine and we knew that we had some catching up to do. And catch up we did!
After dinner, we all took turns putting together a puzzle featuring an array of hot air balloons in brilliantly bright colors. Each one of us did our part to bring the perplexing puzzle to life while sharing what we had been up to during the pandemic.
Mrs. D., aka Linda, spoke of her recent dropping of a planter on her foot, we all chuckled at first but I also expressed my concern that it appeared to be infected and to get it checked out by her doctor. She assured me that she would have it looked at and would call her husband’s podiatrist the next morning.
Jim, my special someone, brought everyone up to speed on his grown children’s adventures and his professional related developments.
Next, I spoke of my mother and daughter’s well-being and my writing, website, and blog stories that I had recently published. I asked the D’s if they had read the previous week’s article. They had not. So, I pulled out my phone, fired up the web page, and read the story about a son and his father whose life was taken away suddenly. It was entitled, “And There I Will Be”.
Both Mr. and Mrs. D. asked questions about how I had met this young man and a few details about his journey, but the conversation eventually went on to another topic.
Finally, as the evening drew to a close, Mr. D. aka John, said to me, “Hey, I’ve got a story for you that I would like you to share”.
“You do?” I asked. “Do you mean on my website? And you’re okay with me sharing what you are about to tell me? Is it okay if I take a video because it will be easier for me to remember it that way?”
John replied, “That’s all fine”.
“Bologna” - As told by John D.
“Growing up, my family had a very large garden with tomatoes, corn, carrots, potatoes, lettuce, beets, and much more. It was a wonderful garden and managing it went from spring all the way to fall. One season after the work was done, my family and I were sitting down to a meal. I started complaining because we were having beans (again) for supper. My dad listened carefully, he thought for a moment and then asked me what I would like instead. I answered I’d like to have a steak.
My father repeated back, ‘You’d like to have a steak, hmm… and do you know the reason you're supposed to eat, John?’
‘Yes! So I’ll get full and grow stronger.’
‘And you want to enjoy your food, right John?’
‘Why, yes! I do, dad.’
‘Well, let me tell you, son, you can get just as full...on bologna...as you can on steak.”
Following the sharing of his father’s poignant words, John concluded with, “That memory reminded me not to cry about the things I didn’t have.”
I don’t know why John shared his childhood experience with us that evening. I think it may have had something to do with the relationship he enjoyed with his father being similar to the young man I had referenced in the story that I wrote and read out loud. Or maybe, he wanted to honor his father by sharing his wise words. Either way, I was pleased by his contribution.
What my treasured storyteller didn't know was that he was delivering to me exactly what I needed to hear...All-day, leading up to our dinner, I had been having a particularly long pity-party for myself. I was missing my family and friends from Ohio where I had lived for the majority of my life. I was ruminating about how things seemed more fulfilling, exciting, and enjoyable before my move. I was focusing on what I didn’t have and how things did not turn out to be exactly how I had planned. And, I certainly hadn't planned for a pandemic! My fears were getting the better of me.
But, it was between the lines of John’s story that I was reminded of the importance of gratitude for what is in front of me...There I sat enjoying the company of loved ones, outside of my home. We were laughing together, eating a delicious meal, and finally, forgetting about the concerns of our day.
Thank you, John D. for the timely reminder. I will do my best to enjoy the steak, beans, or bologna on my plate, metaphoric or not.
Comments