Saturday, August 22, 2009

Grandpa's Promise


When I was a little girl, and not very well liked in school, I loved the story of the Ugly Duckling with its promise of beauty and maturity.

When I was in third or fourth grade, I had experienced a particularly rough day. I remember running over to talk to Grandpa Lester--my best buddy and the one to whom I confided all my girlish joys and hardships. Tears running down my face, I told him my woes. A few days later, Grandpa brought a picture he'd cut from the Penny's Catalogue. The model was lovely, her smile radiant.

He put the picture into my hands and said, "When you get older, this is what you will look like." Then he stooped to smile into my eyes. "But you are already beautiful inside."

I never forgot what he said that day. The odd thing is that when I was in my 20's, I actually DID resemble the picture Grandpa gave to me. I still have it--and even now that I'm getting older and more wrinkled as each day passes--I think about the gift of true beauty and future promise Grandpa gave to me.

Daddy Update: The wound specialist believes the bone still exposed in Dad's scalp will most likely heal over by itself without surgery. Dad's tests have come back looking great. Please pray for my parents outlook--it is so hard for them to be away from their home so long. We are preparing the house so they can go back sometime mid-September. We are praying we can get it done by that time--Mom must return home so she can teach her writing classes the first of October.

6 comments:

~JarieLyn~ said...

I love your grandpa story. Memories like that are so wonderful and special.

I will pray for you parents to be strong and I will pray for healing, and strength.

God bless!

Terry said...

Howdy Beth
What a beautiful story .
Thank you so much for sharing this one.
It really touched my heart .
My maiden name was Lester and I had a Grandpa Lester :)
Blessings and continued prayers for you ,and your parents.
Thank you for the updates.
Big Hugs
Love ya
Happy Trails

Lois said...

What a nice story! Your Grandpa sounds a lot like my Granny. She is the only person who ever loved me no matter what. She raised me after my own mother died when I was a baby. I still miss her so!

Smart Mouth Broad said...

Your grandpa sounds like a very wise man. Great story.

I will keep your parents in my thoughts and prayers.

JANN said...

what a very lovely story and wonderful GrandPa.
Such a treasure to have this memory, wish I had a GrandPa who cared about me like that.
I think most of us think we are ugly, especially when we are young. Glad to hear Dad is doing well and Mom. Sounds like a lot of work for you.

Clytie said...

Grandpa Lester was a wonderful person, wasn't he. I was always a little envious of your close bond with him. By the time I was old enough, he had slipped away into Alzheimers ...