Papaw was a mechanic. My favorite memories of papaw were of him spending hours and hours in his shop. There was an unending amount of repairs for steady customers, not to mention repairs for family. I'm sure all our families vehicles kept him scratching his head because of all the troubled cars that were pulled, drug, pushed, or driven up to the front of his shop. Grease and oil on my papaw's hands, and under his fingernails, was part of his normal attire. Mammaw was a homemaker. Her duties were never-ending from before dawn until after sunset. Her main job was to do whatever it took to keep papaw happy. She told me of a time when papaw had been working on a car. She was in the middle of cooking lunch with fried potatoes cooking in the pan. Papaw came in, said he had to run to the parts store, and for her to 'come on'. She promptly turned off the stove, with potatoes still in the pan, and left with him to go to the parts store. Perhaps mammaw was to give her expertise advice when they got to the parts store, I'm not sure. However, I think it was a rare occasion for her to actually go into the parts store. It's been rumored, her reason for going to the parts store was to be with papaw. I've heard it said from several ladies in the family, mammaw told them 'You better go with your husband when he wants you to go, or there will be someone else who will'. Mammaw was an expert at keeping papaw happy.
Days as a mechanic, and days cooking fried potatoes went on and on. It was their routine. It gave the family stability. On any given day a child or grandchild would stop by. We could always count on there being enough food to feed whoever came by hungry. Just pull another plate out of the cabinet, and have a seat. Sweet tea was the only option to wash it down with. It was usually papaw at the head of the table, and mammaw running around the table tending to whoever had dropped by. Sitting around the table whether it was lunch, dinner, or just to have a cup of coffee, a conversation would usually be going. The talk would be about things like cars, church, politics, or the bible. I didn't know much about cars or politics to engage in those conversations. Church was church, and most all the family attended the same one, so we all knew what was happening. Everybody had their opinion about the last sermon. The greatest, and most engaging, conversations I remember around my grandparents table was about the bible. Papaw seemed to live and breath the bible. The pages of his bible were well worn. His bible was usually on the kitchen table open, sitting on the telephone shelf, or sitting beside his recliner. It was always in view. It was always being talked about. It was always referenced in a discussion. It was always read. It was always studied. It was always a part of our family. It provided the roots from which our family grew.
A while back I was doing my bible study, and a picture I keep in my bible kept falling out. Looking at it, I decided to text my cousin. I took a picture, of the picture, and sent him a text saying 'I carry this pic in my bible and it makes me appreciate my christian heritage'.
My Papaw standing beside the well at their house.
My cousin replied back, 'That's funny I have the same picture in my bible along with papaw with his mandolin with him in a picture behind him holding one also. Plus an anniversary clipping from paper of both of them.' He sent me this picture. After a couple more text, we finished our conversation.
Picture my cousin took of his bible
A few minutes later I walked into our kitchen to get some water, and there on my refrigerator was an identical copy of the picture my cousin had in his bible.
Pictures on my refrigerator of mammaw and papaw.
After sending a picture of the picture on my refrigerator, my cousin text back 'That is some good stuff there'.
Precious memories, how they linger, how they ever flood my soul.
Does knowing God end with their memories? Are they the end of the story? Relationships with God continue today. It can be passed on from generation to generation. It can be started in a new generation. It can be just one person who chooses the Lord, and stands alone even if their family does not believe. It can be me. It can be you. Getting to know God is a personal decision. It's a choice. Mammaw and Papaw made it their choice. Oh how those memories make a difference in my life.
