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Unfailing Love! It is almost Christmas time again. The closer it gets the memories come flooding back into my mind.
It brings back memories of the day I learned my husband had been killed in the war leaving me to raise a chronically
sick six-year-old son by myself and the memories of my son who had been the joy of my life.  Each Christmas that rolls around takes me back to that winter of 1976. I wish I could go
back to that time even though life was very difficult for Joey and me. I received a small amount of money
from the government and worked fifty hours a week but there was never enough to do more than meet our basic needs. During the day when I worked Joey would stay with Ed who owned a small run down trailer
on the adjoining property next to our house. Ed was a nice elderly man who seemed to have no family left and
even less money than Joey and I. Ed's clothes were old and shabby like his trailer but I soon learned he had
a very big heart and knew how to love unconditionally which is what Andy needed since his father had died.  At first I wasn't really happy with Joey staying with Ed during the day but I really had
no choice in the matter since I had to work and had no one else to watch over him. I soon learned my fears
were groundless and instead of picking up germs and Ed's shabbiness rubbing off on Joey, I saw a love grow
between the two that was unmistakable. It was Christmas Eve Day when I heard a knock on the front door. I was baking cookies so
Andy went to open the door. I heard him squeal "Ed." I went to the door to find Ed standing there with his
hat in his hand as the snow was flying around his face.  "Hello Joey's mom," he said. "I've made something for Joey for Christmas; may
I give it to him?" Behind him sitting in the snow at the bottom of the stairs was the most beautiful
hand crafted rocking horse I had ever seen. Andy immediately ran down the steps with the biggest
smile I had ever seen on his face. It had wheels and the edges were sanded smooth for safety. Ed must
have worked months on the horse. I invited him to stay and have some cookies and milk with us and
couldn't help but notice the look of admiration on Joey's face every time he looked at Ed.  After Ed left Joey went into his bedroom and soon came out holding a piece of wood.
He had carved Ed's name in it and painted it too.  "Can I go to Ed's house and give him this Christmas present I made for him?"
He asked me. "Where did you learn to make that?" I asked because he had done such a beautiful job. "I learned by watching you and Ed," he replied. "And I used some of your stuff
mommy." I understood now why he used to sit for hours watching me as I too work at wood crafts. I watched Joey walk over to Ed's in the falling snow to give him his Christmas present.
I could feel the pride well up in me as I knew he was growing up to be a fine young man and the guilt I
carried with me for having to work diminished some. Over the months the love between Joey and Ed grew.  A couple of months later as I was picking up Joey after work from Ed's, Ed handed Joey a
paper bag and told him that it was for his birthday which was on Saturday. When we got home Joey wanted to
see what was inside the bag so I let him open it. He pulled out the finest most intricate wood carved little
train I had ever seen. Joey screamed with joy and played with it all night.  The next day I sent Joey over to Ed's to invite him for dinner and Joey's birthday party.
After dinner as we sat talking Ed told me about himself. He said his parents had died when he was young and
then his wife and young son had been killed in a bus accident while on a trip to visit her parents. He told
us that all of his grandparents and aunts and uncles had passed away over the years until finally he had
been left alone. Joey developed a fever just before Christmas and the doctors told me there
was no hope.  It was just before Christmas in 1978 that I sat in the funeral home with my heart
broken and my little boy lying in a casket in front of me. I just could not imagine what I was going
to do without my little boy. I just could not make sense of why God had chosen to take him home at
such a young age, what was I to do now? I felt a hand rest on my shoulder and looked up to see Ed with tears running down
his cheeks. As I looked in his eyes I knew that his heart was broken too and that Joey had truly
been loved with an unfailing love I was just starting to understand. Four days later I was back at
the funeral home looking at another casket. Ed had died the next day of a heart attack. I think Joey's
death was the final blow for the old man who had lost so much in life. I'm starting to understand how Ed could love Joey so much after all he had lost
in his life. I have remarried and have two sons now that I love with all my heart but I will always
remember Joey and Ed. I know they are up there in heaven together with Ed taking care of Joey until
I get there.    Romans 8:28 KJV And we know that all things work together for good to them that
love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. John 13:35 KJV by this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another. Romans 13:10 KJV Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law. Knowing that God is love and it was Jesus' command for us to love one another we should all strive
with all of our being to show a "Unfailing Love" to all that God places in our path as we go through this life.  Luke 6:27 KJV but I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you, Luke 6:32 KJV for if ye love them which love you, what thank have ye? For sinners also love those
that love them. Luke 6:35 KJV But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and
your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful
and to the evil. The only treasure on this earth that we will carry into eternity is love, don't leave
home without it! This story came to me signed "Author Unknown"; I have rewritten it to incorporate my own style but hope I have stayed true to the original author's intent and meaning. Bob Goulding © September 2007 Return To:
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