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| Because of His Love
By Jaye Lewis
Job was not a brilliant man. He swept floors for a living. He believed that Tarzan was a real man, and that all those movies were really documentaries of Tarzan's life. He believed that professional wrestling was a real sport, and he had a list of his "favorites." He was the kindest, truest, most patient man I ever knew, in my young life. He was the butt of many jokes, yet he taught me about the essence of a "real man," with all a real man's virtues: love and respect for women, honor, kindness, gentleness, and a child's simple faith in a loving God.
He was a giant of a man, faithful and noble. Job embraced life in unexpected, simple ways. He showed up for work, on time. He never bragged about himself, and he loved only one woman.his wife, Molly. Job filled a void in my life. He was sober and steady, at a time when my father was a heavy drinker. He was principled and straightforward, in my world of dishonor and lies. He was a humble man, forging through a sea of pride, and he loved God. He loved me as his very own grandchild, even though he was a year younger than my father.
I will never forget my graduation from high school. That was a day of hopeless inevitability for me. My father, who was a heavy drinker, began his celebration very early in the day. By the time we congregated in the high school gymnasium my father had congratulated himself through nearly a case of beer.
I tried to be invisible within a sea of faces. I wanted to run away. Disappear. Most of all I wanted no one to guess whose kid I was. I was betrayed by my last name, which began with the letter "A," so I was the first graduate on the first row. Being a red-head gave me even more exposure, and the baccalaureate speaker, who had never met me, decided to use me as his audio-visual aid.
"This young lady.this bright young lady, with the bright red hair." His voice rolled through the auditorium in sonorous phrases, as I sank lower in my seat. Over to my left, at the door of the auditorium, was a seating arrangement of folding chairs for the "elderly." And there sat Molly, age 61, and Job, age 47, with all of the grandparents. My heart ached when I looked at them, wishing with all my heart that I were, truly, their grandchild. However, I had become a realist by that time, stoically enduring my Dad's lack of sobriety and my mother's helplessness to do anything to make a change in her life.
As the speaker continued with his speech, he reached a point where he had an uncontrollable urge to introduce "all the wonderful people, who have made this day possible!."
"All the siblings of the graduates, please, stand." I slipped lower in my seat, glancing hurriedly around, hoping to remain invisible.
"Now, all the parents, please stand." Dear Lord, I thought, I'm sure my father can't stand, even if he wanted to. I didn't bother to look around.
"Now the grandparents.." I closed my eyes, dreading the hopelessness of my situation. I had no grandparent to stand proudly for me. I finally opened my eyes, and there they were, Job and Molly, standing proudly with all the other grandparents. Job looked over at me, his eyes beaming like diamonds.
"I'm so proud of you," he smiled as he mouthed the words that I will never forget. I knew that he stood there, not out of duty, but because of his love for me!
Jaye Lewis
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I'm so proud of you," he smiled as he mouthed the words that I will never forget. I knew that he stood there, not out of duty, but because of his love for me! |
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