So Many Stories, So Little Time

It’s funny how people, strangers even will share things. Things that bring great joy to them or even hurt. Yesterday. I had this day where it seemed as if everyone I bumped into had such stories.

I want to share one of the stories. I took Benjamin to one of my heart places, Rising park. It’s the first time in years that the lake has frozen over. And what 10 year old boy doesn’t want to experience sliding across a lake that in the summer he skips rocks over?

So, after slipping and sliding on the frozen lake he then wanted to go sledding. As in most cases he immediately met another 10 year old dare devil friend who embraced the idea of stunts and flying down the snowy hill.

I laughed and enjoyed the shenanigans until soon I grew cold. A man was building a fire close by with wood the city had provided for local park visitors. I thought he was a park employee and thanked him for the fire.

He says to me “Oh no, I’m just a dad to the little boy who is playing with yours.” I said “oh, well they are having lots of fun!” And we both stood around the fire as the boy’s contagious laughter rang thru the crisp air. He tells me this story. The man started with looking up at the hill and saying “I love that boy with my whole life.” He said he had always wanted to be a dad but it never had worked out for him. He met this wonderful woman who already had a son. The boy’s dad had devastated him by walking out of the little boy’s life. He continued to tell me how he did all sorts of things with his stepsos. This past fall he planned a birthday party built the “world’s biggest slippery slide”😊 for him and his friends. At the end of the party his stepson ran up to him and gave him a hug. He said, “John, this was one of the best days of my life and all,,,,can I start calling you dad?” And at this point in his story, this grown, tough man, in a pair of coveralls, and old work boots, building a fire, wiped away tears. I did too!

This total stranger shared one of his greatest joys to me; And at the end I just hugged my son a little tighter, so thankful for my gift too.