Today’s Thought “Nearly Prophetic” G. Ward

 

“For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us.” Romans 8:18

 

Growing up with my siblings most certainly prepared me for my current life. Like some of you, when we were kids we utilized the absolute worst about you to present constant consternation your way.

I was somewhat of a chubby kid in my youth. In our era rarely did you see a fat kid because everyone longed for outdoors anticipating games that unknowingly burned calories. Moreover, foods were most certainly not fast and vegetables or beans very common.

Early in what was my time of overweight, my mother sought clothing for each of us at J.L. Hudson’s (Northland Mall, Detroit, MI.). My sisters were attended first, leaving my brother and I last. In those days the same clerks were employed for many years in the same department. There was a little Jewish lady who seemed to have an English accent in the boys department. She wore her glasses on the very end of her nose. She always had a measuring tape draped around her neck to ensure each customer‘s proper sizing. My brother was an easy fit, but I had problems. My mother asked for a measurement for me. Our friendly clerk obliged, measuring my waist to reply (remember the English accent and the glasses), “Oh, he’s a husky!” Those words were as huge as Neil Armstrong’s landing on the moon in 1969 ("That's one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.").  My siblings taunted me for years with that echoing. My brother however had Rich Little (born November 26, 1938 a Canadian-American impressionist and voice actor, nicknamed "The Man of a Thousand Voices") beat on mimicking every voice heard. Many times it brought me to tears (sadly, I still weep sometimes, this time however with great laughter; understanding how challenged they all were). The more I displayed displeasure the more taunting. My crazy brother (who could have been a great comedian); even made a song for me based on the great Otis Redding’s, “Sitting on the Dock of the Bay.” Here it goes; “Sitting on the dock of the bay, eating everything away! Gregory munches back on his steak, won’t even give his wife no cake…”

Well, I’ll have you to know that on last night I had a fat juicy steak and thank God my wife isn’t so fond of sweets and my kids are grown! The cake is all mines! From a fat kid in a grown body…

Happy Friday!