When Melanie, our first child was born, I was the Methodist Campus Minister at Georgia Southern Wesley Foundation. When I left the hospital that morning I went on campus to my “counseling spot” in the student center. I joyfully told one of my students, “My wife gave me a baby girl this morning!” His friend overheard me, and said, “Man! I’ll bet you are disappointed it wasn’t a boy!” I shot back, “No! I’m happy! It takes someone special to be the father of a girl!”
I was wrong. It is the girl who is someone special, not me. Speaking of which, later we had another “someone special.” Both girls were born into our family in the same hospital, by the same doctor; grew up in the same household. But they are as different as peaches and tomatoes; I love them both (these girls and the fruit—and, yes, tomato is fruit). I won’t bore you with facts, fun, and fumbles of our lives together. I will tell you, their growing up into adulthood in our home was an adventure: comfort, capers, calm, crisis, and culminating into joyful memories—some more so than others.
Jesus had such a place in Bethany. It was less than seven miles from Jerusalem. I call it his second home. There were differences there, too. Visits there were sometimes celebrations. There were times of sadness. But always everyone there was someone special. I hope each person in your life is someone special. The “specialness” is there. If you don’t see it. look for it; an immensely rewarding venture. Such searching is contrary to our present culture.
A few decades ago, Will Cuppy wrote a book, The Decline and Fall of Practically Everybody. He carefully researched and copiously documented (he made over 15,000 notes) faults, foibles, and failures of an array of famous people in history; Alexander the Great, Cleopatra, Richard The Lionhearted, many others. His point is what we all know, we all are flawed people. Anyone’s imperfections can be magnified in one way or another. It becomes a problem if malice drives the search.
Redemption is yet another matter; it is the focus the Apostle Paul held for the church at Rome. He calls on us all to let God remould our minds from within. That means starting at our core. Recently a big beautiful Oak tree crashed to the ground in our neighborhood . The reason? It was rotten at the core Fortunately, we are not like that Oak tree. No matter how flawed we may be,We can be renewed from within. Be Someone Special to someone.
Thank you Willis, great words to ponder. Society’s issues take us away from our own need to make us forget we are unique and special within then you can spread that to others.
Love this and you, Willis.❤ Continued prayers for you as you heal.
Thank you Karen.
Wonderful.
Thanks Cathy!
Amen Willis. I have had several people in my life that has been Special to me. Past and present. How are you doing? Take care and we pray for a speedy recovery.
With love
Elaine
Thanks Elaine. I’m OK. The pain from my dislocated shoulder is all but gone, but some soreness remains from what Jennifer said was the dramatic jerks and pulls to get it back into place. I was onder some sedation and not alert; she watched till it got oo much for her.
The special people in our lives are the ones who keep us going — sometimes as caregivers, sometimes as family members, often as friends. The past 18 months of a pandemic none of us expected or understood has made these relationships even more crucial than they are in ordinary (what’s that??) times. I enjoyed every word of this essay, but the part about everyone having flaws is what I need to re-read over and over. Perfection is not required — faithfulness is. Thank you for being our friend for more than two decades.
Thank you Dottie! I doubly appreciate your comments; as a dear friend as well as your being a respected author!