Thanksgiving for Father's Day

Yesterday while in CVS I ran in to one of our favorite customers. Actually, I was passing her at the end of a tight aisle and realized it was her as I was two feet from her. She didn't recognize me at first because I had my hair down instead of in my usual ball cap that I wear when we mow.

Anyway, after the slightly awkward meeting, I mentioned I was heading to the greeting cards to get ready for Fathers' Day. With her usual sweet smile, she said she didn't have any men in her life any more. Her father is gone and her husband died (I think it was cancer) three or four years ago (when we started mowing her lawn). She said the only man she might do anything for would be her son-in-law, and she knew her daughter and three grandchildren were planning lots of festivities.

"He doesn't need a card from me," she laughed.

"Well, I don't know, he might," I countered. And we moved on.

But that little exchanged stayed with me all the day, challenging me on two fronts:

When I am in her situation, I pray I am not bitter at the hand I have been dealt. Her husband died early--right after retiring, if not before. Yesterday, and always with us, she is pleasant and talks about him and her situation in a matter-of-fact, accepting way.

But I am not in her situation. I have a dad who in 2011 was in the hospital for three months with pancreatitis and nearly left us, but he's still here. I have a husband of 24 years who is a good father, loves to spend time with me, and even fixed my computer yesterday. I do have men in my life, and today is their day, so I will celebrate them.

So now I need to post this and go fix breakfast. Happy Father's Day!