The Old Red Jacket

My sister sent this beautiful entry to me to share with all of you,

Today the women of my church congregation were learning about acts of charity and love. One of my dear friends was leading the discussion, and instead of reading to us from one of the Bible’s many lessons on charity, she simply pulled her father’s old red winter jacket out of her tote bag.

She told us that until his death 10 years ago, her father lived near her and her young family. And it seemed that whenever anything broke or whenever they were in need, somehow her father would magically appear on her doorstep, dressed in his old red winter jacket. Somehow, he always just knew when they needed him most.

When one of her children was sick, her father would appear with ice cream and almonds – a treat that seemed to work better than any medicine a doctor prescribed. Sometimes, her father would simply show up with an offer to help her fold laundry. And one day, her father appeared when her car was out of gas; he walked to a service station to get the gas to fill her car, and left with the simple statement: “You might want to keep your tank half-full.”

Now that her father has passed on, my friend and her entire family cherish his old red jacket as a symbol of his love, kindness, and service to all of them. And each time her gas tank begins to run low, she hears his loving words of counsel.

Whether we are family caregivers or whether we are giving care to a caregiver, each of us is creating a legacy of compassion and service. Our acts of service may be as small as ice cream and almonds, but our legacy of love can become as visible, tangible, and memorable as an old red winter jacket. (Submitted by Stephanie D. Smith)