Faith in Mississippi
It was the fall of 1969 and freshly discharged from the Marines, I decided to really see this country. I would drive for two months and never go on a highway so I could see two lane America.
One Sunday morning I was driving through Mississippi and I was hungry but being Sunday morning not much was open. Windows open to the cool fall air, I suddenly smelled something delicious. When I got to the top of the hill I found one of those BBQ stands that you know will be either the best thing you ever ate in your life or a terrible memory of gastric distress. Hunger won out and I pulled in.
An elderly man with an apron that had seen better days assured me that he was open and I took a seat at an old, outdoor wooden picnic table. I was facing down the hill I had just drove up when I spotted a figure walking up the hill. He or she wasn’t there when I drove up or I would have saved them the walk up that long hill.
The owner of the joint came over and asked what I liked and I said everything and he said he would fix me his everything plate.
I looked out over the trees that were a bit past their prime of fall colors but still absolutely beautiful. It felt good to be here, filled with the excitement of the road ahead and having no deadlines. The air itself was alive that morning.
The lonely figure walking up the hill was getting closer and I admired their fitness level. I thought to myself that they must be one of those country people that just vibrates with years of outdoor work.
About that time the man came to my table with a plate of meat that could feed four men and then returned with a big bowl of beans and a big basket of biscuits. Did he think I was expecting several guests? “No” he said. “Just eat what you can and I’ll wrap up the rest for your journey”. I nodded and stuffed my mouth with some of the best tasting food of my life.
After several mouth watering bites, I looked up and saw that the lone figure coming up the hill was now merely yards away. To my great astonishment it was a elderly black woman wearing a hat with a net thing covering part of her face, a short black jacket, long black dress and sturdy looking black shoes, a shiny black purse and what looked to be a very worn bible under her arm and a ramrod straight posture and she was smiling.
“Good Morning Miss Mabel” the cook said in a loud voice. Surprisingly the woman shouted back with an equally loud voice that belied her age and said “Good Morning Sir!”
As she drew closer but not slowing down, he said “Beautiful Morning!” and she smiled even brighter and said “It’s the very best time of my life. I’ve been back to the doctor this week and he said my cancer is growing more rapidly then he thought and he advised me that I no longer have six months to a year but”, and incredibly she smiled even brighter and continued “he said I only have a month or two until I see my sweet, sweet Jesus! My prayers have been answered and my Jesus wants to see me as much as I want to see him. Yes, indeed, it is a beautiful morning sir! ” And with those words she started down the other side of the hill.
I had stopped chewing and my mouth fell open at her words. I was in shock. I couldn’t move. What had just happened was impossible for me to process.
It was then that the elderly gentleman turned to me and wiping his hands on his well worn apron and then pointing to her back as she walked away said ” Son, that right there is faith”.
All these years later I still remember every second of that Sunday morning exchange between those two people. Never again would I question if faith was real.
I tell you this story today because this is what I wish for you in this coming new year. I want you to have faith in someone or something that is so strong and invincible that darkness will refuse to knock on your door. I want you to smile in adversity. I want you to walk with purpose. I want you to love your life, all of it, the good, the bad and the ugly. I want you to shine your light on every day and know that loving is the golden key to all you search for in this world. And most of all I want you to Love the Light Within and live every moment with faith.
Thank you and Happy New Year!
Love and Blessings, Patrick
Sundrops On Life -Better Thoughts. Better Days.
2020, Patrick McBride
www.PatrickInspires.com
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