then suddenly they had to pee. “Dad we gotta go hurry up!”Josh would open the bathroom door and there stood twin eleven year olds holding their crotch and bouncing up and down, “thanks dad.” He would giggle and move aside as they both rushed the doorway and went at the same time.
Barb would giggle as he came down the stairs, “I told you like I have for several years you have to get up quicker and sneak into that bathroom or…” Josh would sit down at the table take a drink of his juice and act as if he didn't hear her again. “It wouldn't matter they would still do that I swear.”
They could hear the boys running down the stairs knocking each other into the walls giggling and laughing. “Slow down and stop running.” Josh would holler and they would of course
ignore him as Barb smirked at him.“Here boys eat your breakfast
we have to get going.” The boys would look at their plates with a sad look on their face, “awe Mom we don't want to go.” She of course ignored them as she hurried them through the meal and back up the stairs, “now get dressed before I send your father up here to help you.” This wasn't a veiled threat since the last time he dressed them they were walking around all day in matching bright orange jumpsuits.They grumbled as they dressed looking at their football, baseball mitts and skateboards knowing another Sunday that wasn’t made for fun in their eyes. It was another Sunday at church then out to the backyard
taking care of the lawn, the garden and whatever else was on their chore list.A half hour later they all loaded into the beat up Mercury Villager minivan
Josh was in the driver seat Barb in the back sitting with David and this week it was Brian's turn to sit upfront with Dad. Before they even got out of the driveway, he had already started the music CD Josh would just shake his head at the music playing each week it was the same two Cd's with different songs as David liked classic rock things like Bob Seger and Brian was a big country fan who always picked something by Sara Evans.
1970’s. There was a small area for the youth minister and kids to enjoy a more rambunctious time playing instruments and singing the popular Christian music songs.
The adults were at the back of the building in a makeshift Chapel with steel chairs instead of pews. They had no hymnal books they would just sing the same few songs everyone could remember at least three verses of.
The minister was a popular community leader serving on the local school board, city council and many other local charities his name was Billy Martin a child of god, the streets and a past many would blush as he told how he was on the streets as a lost soul. His wife would lead the youth program as he preached about family values, life's trials and tribulations.
This week Billy seemed very somber as he greeted everyone who entered and once the services began he sat quietly in his chair on the small stage at the front of the chapel. He stood up quietly slammed his Bible down on the podium and glared into the audience.
“I had a sermon ready to go for today but I want to talk to you about life instead of preaching the gospel if that's alright with you.” The crowd nodded and he began.
“I want to take this moment in our busy over-commercialized lives to talk about family. I recently found out that my father has passed away and he sent me a package. In that package was a ball glove, a baseball, a football, fishing tackle and a note.
On that note it read simply, within these things are some of the best memories of you and I together for this reason I will always remember with a smile. When I read this note, I had a good cry, a laugh or two and fond memories shared in stories with my wife. The quiet moments on Sunday morning out on the local lake fishing with him and coming home to dirty looks from my Mom because we skipped church to go.
It's because of these moments I want to remind all of you of the importance of having more than working in the yard, talking about school or just sending emails to one another throughout the week as you're too busy to even talk to one another. Take your kids fishing once in a while or play catch with them what have you but, teach them to be kids first because when childhood is gone and the serious side of life hits them head on they will be able to think back and smile.
And now I would like all of us to rise and sing our favorite hymnal “Amazing Grace”” please join in. The gathering stands each parent wiping a tear from their eyes as they sing along holding hands just a little tighter on this particular Sunday.
After the service was over Josh was sitting up front with David who was looking fidgety like he had something he wanted to say, “Spit it out son it's alright just say it.” David paused and looked back at Brian then at Barb who nodded with a smile on her face and a little tear in her eyes.
“Can we play ball today or something instead of working in the backyard this week? Brian and I wanted to go play ball with the guys and their parents are always there you can come too. It's great the dads all play ball too and the moms make lunches in the picnic area.” David hesitated expecting the worst from his Dad who was usually pretty stern about getting the yard work done on his only day off.
“Sure we can when we get home you get changed and we will call around and see what we need to bring alright?” The boys were both smiling ear to ear and as soon as the van stopped, they both popped out of the van and into the house. Less than five minutes later they came bouncing down the stairs into the kitchen, “we're ready!”
“Just a minute Dad is loading the van so we can get there ready for fun do you have your ball gloves they are playing baseball this week.” They both nodded impatiently as they grabbed a pop from the fridge for the ride over to the park. “Yes ma’am.”
Josh came in with a big smile on his face and a ball glove in his hands, “let's go guys they are almost ready to start the ballgame and if we hurry we can get in about 18 innings or play football too.”
The entire ride to the park the boys didn't stop talking and laughing as Josh looked in the rear-view mirror at Barb with a big smile on his face. After that day, every Sunday afternoon was fun day and Josh worked harder to get the chores done during the week after work so they never missed their “fun day.”
-As previously published on Helium.Com
The adults were at the back of the building in a makeshift Chapel with steel chairs instead of pews. They had no hymnal books
they would just sing the same few songs everyone could remember at least three verses of. The minister was a popular community leader serving on the local school
board, city council and many other local charities his name was Billy Martin a child of god, the streets and a past many would blush as he told how he was on the streets as a lost soul. His wife would lead the youth program as he preached about family values, life's trials and tribulations.This week Billy seemed very somber as he greeted everyone who entered and once the services began he sat quietly in his chair
on the small stage at the front of the chapel. He stood up quietly slammed his Bible down on the podium and glared into the audience.“I had a sermon ready to go for today but I want to talk to you about life instead of preaching the gospel if that's alright with you.” The crowd nodded and he began.
“I want to take this moment in our busy over-commercialized lives to talk about family. I recently found out that my father has passed away and he sent me a package. In that package was a ball glove
, a baseball, a football, fishing tackle and a note. On that note it read simply, within these things are some of the best memories of you and I together for this reason I will always remember with a smile. When I read this note, I had a good cry, a laugh or two and fond memories shared in stories with my wife. The quiet moments on Sunday morning out on the local lake fishing with him and coming home
to dirty looks from my Mom because we skipped church to go.It's because of these moments I want to remind all of you of the importance of having more than working in the yard, talking about school or just sending emails to one another throughout the week as you're too busy to even talk to one another. Take your kids fishing once in a while or play catch with them what have you but, teach
them to be kids first because when childhood is gone and the serious side of life hits them head on they will be able to think back and smile.And now I would like all of us to rise and sing
our favorite hymnal “Amazing Grace”” please join in. The gathering stands each parent wiping a tear from their eyes as they sing along holding hands just a little tighter on this particular Sunday.After the service was over Josh was sitting up front with David who was looking fidgety like he had something he wanted to say, “Spit it out son it's alright just say it.” David paused and looked back at Brian then at Barb who nodded with a smile on her face and a little tear in her eyes.
“Can we play ball today or something instead of working in the backyard
this week? Brian and I wanted to go play ball with the guys and their parents are always there you can come too. It's great the dads all play ball too and the moms make lunches in the picnic area.” David hesitated expecting the worst from his Dad who was usually pretty stern about getting the yard work done on his only day off.“Sure we can when we get home you get changed and we will call around and see what we need to bring alright?” The boys were both smiling ear to ear and as soon as the van stopped, they both popped out of the van and into the house
. Less than five minutes later they came bouncing down the stairs into the kitchen, “we're ready!”“Just a minute Dad is loading the van
so we can get there ready for fun do you have your ball gloves they are playing baseball this week.” They both nodded impatiently as they grabbed a pop from the fridge for the ride over to the park. “Yes ma’am.” Josh came in with a big smile on his face and a ball glove in his hands, “let's go guys they are almost ready to start the ballgame and if we hurry we can get in about 18 innings or play football
too.” The entire ride to the park the boys didn't stop talking and laughing as Josh looked in the rear-view mirror
at Barb with a big smile on his face. After that day, every Sunday afternoon was fun day and Josh worked harder to get the chores done during the week after work so they never missed their “fun day.” -As previously published on Helium.Com
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