How forgetful are you? While my age is a part of it, I have always struggled with my memory. For instance, back in high school I was desperately searching for my glasses one day before class. I worried about my mom having to buy me another pair. My teacher simply stated: “They’re on top of your head.” I reached up and pulled them down. Yep, that really happened.
Recently, I had an unexpected and huge memory jolt. I was in my daughter Sara’s house when I noticed the old Royal Crown thermometer hanging on her dining room wall. Suddenly my childhood memories came flooding back. There were some that I hadn’t thought of since they happened. You see, that thermometer used to hang on a white post in my grandparents’ carport. In fact, it was hanging there when my mom was a girl. Yep, it’s that old.
Then I had a thought. I have often heard the old saying: “ If walls could talk.” If the old thermometer could talk, it would have so many rich stories to tell. Think about it. For many decades, it hung close to the back door. It watched who knows how many people stop by. Some were visiting while others were telling us that Papaw’s cows were out again. They were relatives, friends, neighbors, church family, and even strangers. It saw the cookouts and the family outings. It watched me and my friends play in the carport. Years earlier, it was my mom, uncle, and cousins playing there. It watched me trip up and down the back stairs. It saw rejoicing and weeping. It watched babies brought in for the first time and family members leaving for the last time.
So, what would that old thermometer actually say? Maybe it would give warnings: “Now Brooke, if you’d slow down and watch where you’re going, you wouldn’t fall down the stairs so much.” It could give help: “You locked out again? Do I need to remind you where you hid the key?” Also, it would be a great southern greeter: “Good seeing y’all again. Just go right on in. They’re cooking the fresh veggies I watched them gather out of the garden.”
“The eyes of the LORD are in every place, beholding the evil and the good.” Proverbs 15:3.
In reality, the old thermometer isn’t alive, so it isn’t aware of anything. But the Lord is very, very much alive and aware of everything. Neither the good nor the bad can hide from Him. I don’t know about you, but to me, this thought is very comforting. I belong to an all-knowing and loving God who I can trust and always rely on. I may forget many things, but I’ll never forget that.
The picture is of the actual Royal Crown thermometer. You can tell it’s been outside for many decades. We moved it to Sara’s house after my grandparents passed away. Soon, I’ll be helping her to repaint her dining room. When I do, I’ll be hearing it in my head: “Now Brooke, go slow and pay attention so you don’t fall off the latter.”
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.