I recently (July 2012) lost my 99 tear old dad after losing
my 92 year old mom 3 years ago. They were married 72 years! This is a statement
about their goodness. Both services were held in the church (Motley United
Methodist) that my parents both physically and spiritually help build mid
century. My memories during the services were fragmented. Some were obviously spiritual,
as this is where I learned my faith, which is a major part of who I am today. Some
were musical, as this very church is where I learned to sing, which has also
become a major part of who I am today. There were remembrances of lifelong
friends made before, during, and after services here. And, yes, some recollections
were culinary, because these folks can COOK!
My mom had a special
skill for food preparation, concentrating in the homegrown vegetables just outside
our back door. But my favorite dish was
a sweet potato casserole she made using fresh sweet potatoes, sugar and about a
pound of butter. This was not only MY favorite dessert/meal, but a favorite at
our church. If you never tasted this delicacy, you just have to BELIEVE it was
heaven. If you did taste it, you knew! So this brings me to the point of this
story…the fine line between believing and knowing. Our home was an environment
where we did not just BELIEVE in God, we KNEW God. My parents talked the talk
of faith and spirituality, but they also walked the walk, always (to my
knowledge) doing the right and Christian thing at every opportunity. I thank
God for my parents, but I also thank my parents for my God, for they led me to
him as surely as they gave me life.
Jodie Davis Aug 2012
