On Monday, my friend Danny Joe died.
Danny Joe and his wife, Jo Ann, were auction fanatics, just like Hub and me, so we were always seeing each other. He loved fishing and was usually looking for vintage fishing equipment at auctions.
He always had a smile to share, and he always had a pocket full of candy. Anytime you met Danny Joe, he would have a piece of candy for you. In my case, it was usually cinnamon disks or lemon drops, my favorite. Sometimes, a small piece of candy and the kindness with which its given is a large thing.
Kindness, like courtesy and manners, is not as common as it used to be.
Several years ago, on the day after Thanksgiving, I attended an estate auction that had several quilts I wanted to buy. The day started out clear and balmy, but a north wind blew in and I was not dressed properly for it. I was standing outside, trembling from the cold, thinking I was going to have to leave before the quilts came up, when Danny Joe slipped his coat off and gave it to me. He assured me that he had on quilted coveralls and was too hot with that big coat on. I bought the quilts that day but I can't remember which ones they are or what I did with them. But I will never forget that warm coat on a cold day, and the kindness of a good man.
We'll miss you, Danny Joe. I don't know if there will be fish fries in heaven, but if there are, I'll look for you there.
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness. . .Galations 5:22
So sorry to hear this. Losing a good friend is always difficult.
ReplyDeleteKindness is the word I chose for this year. In this year of elections it seems the word is lost. One of my favorite verses is Be ye kind one to another; learned many years ago in a little Sunday school class on the back seat of a one room country church.