I heard it recently while sitting on the back deck with my husband Tim. It brought back a childhood memory I hadn’t thought of in years.
When I was ten years old, both of my parents worked, so I spent my summers at my grandparents’ house. One day, I was playing in their carport when I began to hear tinkling music that was growing louder. It sounded like a children’s song. When that realization hit me, I knew only one thing could be making that sound. I ran out into the driveway in time to see an ice cream truck drive by. I couldn’t believe it. You see, I had only seen them on TV and in movies. Since we were out in the country, there wasn’t the concentration of kids like in a subdivision or city. That made me wonder why it was driving around our neighborhood. Was it lost? To be honest, I didn’t expect to see it again.
A couple of days later, Papaw was working on his tractor while I was playing under a tree. Suddenly I heard the tinkling notes of the ice cream truck again. I yelled: “Papaw, an ice cream truck is coming down the road!”
“Well then we need to get you one.” With that he dropped his tools and we walked down to the road where he flagged down the truck. He not only bought me one, but he got himself one as well. You know, I don’t know which was the better treat; eating the ice cream or Papaw buying it from an ice cream truck.
Immediately I began to save change for the next time the ice cream truck came our way. I found a little white box and labeled it: “Brooke’s Ice Cream Truck Money. Don’t Touch!” For days I waited to hear the tinkling music again. Often, I would peer down the road in hopes of seeing it cross the bridge. Nothing. It never came back through again. I figured one kid buying ice cream wasn’t worth the ice cream truck’s time to drive through our neighborhood.
“But even the very hairs on your head are all numbered. Fear not therefore: ye are of more value than many sparrows.” Luke 12:7 (KJV)
Even though I understood why the ice cream truck didn’t come back, I still didn’t feel important enough. It’s a horrible feeling and not one that The Lord wants us to have. Never doubt or underestimate how much He loves you and how important you are to Him.
After I told Tim my ice cream truck tale, he asked if I wanted to find the truck and him buy me one. While that was very sweet on his part, I didn’t want an ice cream. Now, if it had been a chocolate truck, I would have chased it down on foot.
Brooke Cox is an author, speaker, and storyteller. She was a 2016 Selah Awards Finalist for Debut Novel. Her children’s book: “Dinosaur Eggs,” is now available. It is based on Ephesians 6: The Armor of God. Her novel “Until the Moon Rises: A Conniving Cousin Mystery” is also available. Also, she has two books out in her storytelling series: “Saucy Southern Stories.” The Amazon links for her books may be found on her website: brookecoxstories.com. Please feel free to contact her. She would love to hear from you.