THE PICKLE JAR.

The pickle jar as I can remember sat on the floor beside the dresser in mt parents’ bedroom.

When he got ready for bed, dad would empty his pockets and toss his coins into the jar.

As a small boy I was always fascinated at the sonds the coins made as they dropped into the jar.
Thy landed with a merry jingle when the jar was almost empty. Then the tones gradually muted to a dull thud as the jar was filled.

I used to squat on the floor in front of the jar to admire the copper and the silver circles that glinted like pirate’s treasure when the sun poured through the bedrooom window.When the jar was filled, Dad would sit at the kitchen table and roll the coins before taking them to the bank.

Taking the coins to the bank was always a big production.Stacked neatly in a small cardboard box, the coins were between dad and me on the seat of his old truck.

Each and every time, as we drove to the bank,Dad would look at me hopefully,’Those coins are going to keep you out of the textile mill, son.You’re going to do better than me.This old mill town’s not going to hold you back.’

Also, each and every time, as he slid the box of rolled coins across the counter at the bank toward the cashier, he would grin proudly,’These are for my son’s college fund.he’ll never work at a mill all his life like me.’

We would always celebrate each deposit by stopping for an ice cream cone.I got chocolate.Dad always got vanilla.When the clerk at the ice cream parlour handed Dad his change, he would show me the few coins that nestled in his palm.’When we get home we’ll start filling the jar again.’

He always let me drop the first coins into the empty jar. As they rattled around with a brief jingle, we grinned at each other.’You’ll get to college on pennies, nickels. dimes and quarters,’ he said.’But you’ll get there; I’ll see to that. No matter how rough things got at home,Dad continued to doggedly drop his coins into the jar.

Even the summer when dad got laid off from the mill, and Mama had to serve dried beans several times a week, not a single dime was taken from the jar.

To the contrary, as Dad looked across the table at me pouring catsup over my beans to make them more palatable, he became more determined than ever to make a way out for me.’When you finish college, son,’ he told me, his eyes glistening,’You’ll never have to eat beans again unless you want to.’

The years passed, I finished college and took a job in town.Once, while visiting my parents,I used their phone in their bedroom, and noticed that the pickle jar was gone.it had served it’s purpose and had been removed.

A lump rose in my throat as I stared at the spot beside the dresser where the jar had always stood. my dad was a man of few words: he never lectured me on the values of determination, perserverance, and faith.The pickle jar taught me all these virtues far more eloquently than most flowery words could have done.When I told my wife Susan about the significant part the lowly pickle jar had played in my life as a boy. In my mind, it defined, more than anything else, how much my Dad had loved me.

The first Christmas after our daughter Jesssica was born, we spent the holiday with my parents.After dinner, Mom and Dad sat next to each other on the sofa, taking turns in cuddling their first grandchild.Jessica began to whimper softly, and Susan took her from Dad’s arms.’She probably needs to be changed,’ she said, carrying the baby into my parents bedroom to diaper her.Whe Susan came back to the living room, there was a strange mist in her eyes.

She handed Jessica back to Dad before taking my hand and leading me into the room.’Look,’ she sais softly, her eyes directing me to a spot on the floor beside the dresser.

To my amazement, there, as if it had never been removed stood the old pickle jar, the bottom already covered with coins. I walked over to the pickle jar, dug down into my pocket, and pulled out a fistful of coins.With a gamut of emotions choking me,I dropped the coins into the jar.I looked up and saw that Dad, carrying Jessica, had slipped quietly into the room.Our eyes locked, and I knew he was feeling the same emotions I felt. Neither one of us could speak.

This truly touched my heart.Sometimes we are so busy adding up our troubles that we forget to count our blessings.never underestimate the power of your actions.With one small gesture you can change a person’s life, for better or for worse.

God puts us all in each other’s lives to impact one another in some way.Look for the GOOD in others.

The best nad most beautiful things cannot be seen or touched they must be felt with the heart ~ Helen Keller.

Happy moments ~ Praise God.

Difficult moments~ Seek God.

Quiet moments ~ Worship God.

Painful moments ~ Trust God.

Every moment~ Thank God.