Poor Kids Sandwich

My dad shared a story from his childhood last night and I can't get it out of my head. He was probably around 4 or 5 years old, living in rural Kentucky. His family was extremely poor. At night he had to share his bed with 3 or 4 siblings, most of whom wet the bed. His mom would say "get how you're gonna lay" and then toss another mattress on top of them. That was their covers! He said he would get how he was gonna lay on his back or stomach, but when she tossed the mattress on top of him he was suddenly on his back and stomach! He has a way of delivering the sad, disturbing memory with a great sense of humor to take the edge off. He remembers that a glass of water left by the bed would be frozen solid in the morning. Can you imagine? I said they must've looked like a poor kids sandwich. I like to take the edge off a bit myself.

He also told of dressing up in one of his sister's dresses for Halloween. They couldn't afford any other costumes and for that matter couldn't afford shorts or underwear. He only owned long pants and decided not to wear them under his dress. He said he had to watch the other kids climb up the "greased pole" even though he wanted so badly to give it a shot. I wanted to will myself back in time to give my dad a pack of underroos.

He said he didn't know what a toothbrush was until 4th grade when the school gave him one. He had false teeth by his mid 40's.

The poverty wasn't the only trauma he suffered. His father consumed heavy liquor on a regular basis. He beat my grandmother regularly. I know of at least one occasion where he beat her so badly her teenage daughter tried to drive her to the hospital. She came to on the way over and refused to go. He eventually left her for one of his other women. She still had 5 kids at home and no job to support them. My dad had to drop out of school in the 8th grade and go to work tarring roofs in Florida where they lived at the time.

The one great legacy my grandfather passed on was his musical gifts. Dad learned to play the guitar from his father and I learned from mine. Most of dad's siblings play and sing.

The legacy of my father will far surpass that of his own. My dad is compassionate and loving. He shows his love mostly through serving and giving little gifts. He has come along way from that neglected upbringing. He has come a long, loooooooong way in recent years when he got serious about following after God. My ultimate prayer is for my father to be a godly husband and father. He is looking more and more like Jesus everyday.

Last night in bed I prayed: Thank you God for my mattress, my sheets, my warm comforter, heat, bladder control and underwear, but most of all God, thank you for my Dad and your son Jesus Christ who died to set us free so we can be in heaven together for eternity. Amen