Chip: Sunday service was great, but all I could think about was Jimmie Sue. I had to keep shaking myself out of the stupor I kept falling into. I was doing my best to concentrate on Pastor Mike’s sermon. I had a smile I couldn’t wipe off my face, and Rob and Beth commented to me about it as we stopped in the isle and chatted for a few minutes. We were interrupted by Rob and Beth’s two little girls that started to tug at my leg. They were asking me when I was coming over, and telling me how much they missed me. I bent down and looked them in the eye.
Chip: “You know you are uncle Chip’s favorite girls, don’t you?”
The Girls: “Oh yes!” they exclaimed as they nodded their heads.
Chip: “And you know Uncle Chip would never forget about my favorite girls.”
The Girls: “No, but we want you to come over and play games with us.”
Chip: “Okay, I will work on that, but the game we play most often is to guess what favorite candy is in uncle Chip’s pocket.”
Chip: That answer seemed to satisfy them, because their little arms went around my neck, and I got hugs and kisses with a warning to make sure I bring them their surprises when I come to visit.
I never go empty handed when I go to visit at their home. I hide candy in my pockets, and I make them guess what it is. They are pretty crafty because they start asking what shape it is, what color it is; and it becomes quiet entertaining. I will tease them and say, “Maybe it is a dog bone or a box crayons or maybe a whistle.” Well, they finally say “Please….. Uncle Chip, show us what it is.” Then I say not until I get 5 kisses. You have never seen little girls move so fast, giggling as they administer their sweet kisses one on each cheek.
Chip: “Okay let me talk to dad for a minute.”
The Girls: “Okay! See you soon!!”
Chip: “Hey, Rob, I want to tell you about this girl I met a few weeks ago and how the Lord spoke to me about her.
Rob: “Really! I can’t wait. This should be interesting.”
By this time the girls were chasing one another down the Church isle.
Rob: “Ok, ok, enough girls! You girl’s go with your mom to the car. I’ll be right behind you.” “You know you have spoiled them for life, don’t you?”
Chip: “Yep, I love those two little girls so much!”
Rob: “I know you do, and you have won over their hearts as well.”
Chip: “Hey, where were you Saturday for the work-out? I was going to share with you about the girl I met, but you didn’t show.”
Rob: “Oh, well, married life just comes with all kinds of surprises. Beth felt we needed real family time. It started with us all going for breakfast, and it just snowballed from there. Somehow I ended up at a furniture outlet and got talked into buying a new sofa. You see what you are in for when you finally get hitched! I’ll see you later; and, by the way, I am looking forward to you sharing with me about your new found love. Oh, by the way, she is not one of those online sweeties, is she?”
Chip: “Very funny Rob! I assure you, she is not.”
Rob: “Just asking”, while waving off his comment.
Chip: I left there and went to Jerry’s café and was greeted by Brian instead of Jimmie Sue. That was a little disappointing. I set down at the booth and asked him where Jimmie Sue was today?
Brian: “She is running behind. She had a little accident.”
Chip: “You are kidding!!! What happened?”
Brian: “Oh, It was something to do with her wash machine. She had to call the office at her apartment complex to send a maintenance man to fix it. I do not know what happened, but she said she had water all over the floor.”
Chip: “I see! Ok, what is the Sunday special?”
Brian: “We have Fried Cod with Cold Slaw, mashed or baked potato, or Spaghetti with Meat Balls, Toasty Bread, and salad.”
Chip: “Well I think that I will have the Fried Cod, and I will have a baked potato and Ice Tea.”
Chip: Brian turned to go place my order, and swish the door opened, and in came Jimmie Sue. She waved at me while hurrying toward the back to clock in. I heard her say to Brian, that she would take over and handle my order. She disappeared for a few minutes. Then she came to my table with my ice tea, and a plate with ramekins of butter, sour cream for my potato, and tartar sauce for my fish.
Jimmie Sue: “Hey handsome! How are you doing today?”
Chip: “Never better! The question is how are you? I heard you had a little bit of a challenge today.”
Jimmie Sue: “Yes, I left the maintenance man with the mess. He said he would have to bring me a new machine. I do not know what happened to the washing machine, but I had water and grease all over my floor. “
Chip: “Well, I am so glad I got to see you.”
Jimmie Sue: “Really, how glad are you to see me?”
Chip: Chip could feel his face turning red while saying, “You know, we have such good conversations, and I enjoy your company.”
Jimmie Sue: “I am so glad to hear that. I enjoy your company too, but I should find out if you have a girlfriend. I do not want someone coming in and slapping my face.” She giggled as she shifted from one foot to the other.
Chip: “I had a girlfriend, but we are just not made for one another. I am a Christian, and she is not. I do not know what I was thinking and why I thought that it would work out between us. I met her online. Oh, do not get me wrong, she is a nice girl, but not for me. We want entirely different things. So I am as free as a bird!”
Jimmie Sue: “You met her online? Wow! You are brave. I am a chicken I guess. I couldn’t do that. Would it be too forward to say I am glad you are free as a bird?” She blushed and said, “Oh My, I think that was too forward. Sorry!”
Chip: “Oh no! I couldn’t be happier to hear that.”
Jimmie Sue: She smiled while turning and pointing to the kitchen. “I better get that dinner of yours.”
Chip: I felt pure joy rising from my belly and could hardly contain it. I looked at her as she rushed around the restaurant. I have completely fallen for her with every fiber of my being. She came back with my meal and said she would check on me shortly, but she had a couple of tables to attend to. She came by and poured me some more Ice Tea and apologized for not being able to visit. I told her that was no problem. I still ate my meal as slow as possible, but the restaurant became busier as families piled in. She took a minute to run over and bring me my bill, handing it to me with another piece of paper with her phone number. I told her to wait for a minute, and I quickly wrote down my phone number and gave it to her.
Chip: “Just in case you arrived home earlier, you can call me.”
Jimmie Sue: “Okay, will do. But it will probably be around 9:30 before I get home. Will that be too late for you to chat for a bit?”
Chip: “I would love to talk awhile.”
Chip: She winked, and I left to go home while thinking life just couldn’t get any better. I stopped to get some gas and grabbed the Sunday paper. I went home and read all the stats for the basketball games and got caught up in a local story of a couple that won $1,000,000 in the lottery. They were giving it away to local charities. It seemed they were also enquiring about business owners that could use a boost to get their business booming. I watched a little TV while waiting on Jimmie Sue’s call. I was excited that she gave me her phone number so soon because I had every intention in proceeding slowly and allowing the Lord develop the relationship on His terms. All of the sudden, the phone rang. It was Jimmie Sue.
Chip: “Hey! You got off earlier!”
Jimmie Sue: “I did, and I am so glad after my disaster at home and the busy day of serving families. We get families after Church on Sundays, but around 8:30 tonight business slowed down to a few here and there. I told Jerry I was heading home. I am off tomorrow, and I think I am just going to rest as much as I can. But it is almost impossible to rest very much, because I need to clean, wash clothes, etc.”
Chip: “Well I hope you get to rest some. You work pretty hard.”
Jimmie Sue: “Well I am in the nursing program. Monday, Wednesday, and Friday mornings I am at the hospital. I really should quit Jerry’s and just work full time at the hospital, but I have a hard time telling Jerry I need to quit. He gave me a job about 4 years ago and was so patient with me because my dad got sick with cancer. I had to take off work a lot to take him in for treatments, and Jerry was patient and understanding. He has become family to me. I can talk to him about almost anything like a dad. His wife is wonderful too. She would come in with little gifts of candy, movie tickets, and a bouquet of flowers with an invitation to dinner at their home. I really needed them as much as he needed me because he was new in the restaurant business at the time, and I kept encouraging him when business was slow. I helped him come up with a few menu items that seem to work for the local folks.”
Chip: “Oh, I am sorry that happened to your dad, and I am sure you could use the rest. I also am sure Jerry is very proud of you and would want to see you work in the nursing field after all your dedication and hard work. Did your dad recover?”
Jimmie Sue: “He lived for about a year and pasted away in his sleep from a stroke.”
Chip: “So you have had it pretty rough?”
Jimmie Sue: “Yes, it was hard for a good while. I wasn’t in the nursing program until about 6 months later, and Jerry became my cheer leader and encourager, especially when I wanted to quit at times. The nursing program was difficult. It certainly challenged me at first. I wanted to quit many times but Jerry kept saying, “Come on girly girl, you can do this.” Finally, I had to decide to give it all I had and make myself stick with it. After that, things kind of leveled out and even seemed easier. I suppose I was making things harder by grappling with it, and it kept me from putting my best foot forward.”
Chip: “I can see why it would be hard to quit Jerry; especially since he stepped into being a dad figure for you.”
Jimmie Sue: “Yes, and I am thankful to the Lord for that. I do not have any other family members. I really felt all alone. Jerry and his wife came to the funeral, and he held me like another dad. I had a real hard time overcoming the grief for a while. I still hurt when I think about it. I watched my dad suffer through those treatments, just to come home and not eat for days, and then to die of a stroke. I was devastated.”
Chip: “I can’t even imagine. I am so sorry about that. I have never suffered through anything like that, and I pray I never do. My parents are still very much alive, and they live in Dallas, Texas. I guess I should see then more often than I do.”
Jimmie Sue: “Oh yes, you’ll be sorry if you don’t; because there is nothing like having a family that cares.”
Chip: “Yes, you are truly opening my eyes to that. They will be coming here for Christmas to see me, and mom has a sister that lives here. I would love for you to meet them. You will feel right at home. They really do not know any strangers and have this special way of making you fit in like family.”
Jimmie Sue became quiet on the other end of the phone.
Chip: “Are you Okay? Did I say something wrong? Oh, I am sure I put my foot in my mouth. I guess we have talked so much over the few weeks we have known one another I just would love for you to meet them.”
Jimmie Sue: “Chip, I would be honored to meet your parents and would love to be included at Christmas time. Being that my dad was my only family left, it was so hard during the holidays. I can’t tell you how awesome that would be.”
Chip: “Well, consider it done! And I have some good friends I want you to meet. You will love them. He has two little girls that love me very much and have me wrapped around their little fingers. They tackled me at Church this morning asking me when I was coming over. They get upset if I do not see them a couple times a month. You will love them too. But don’t get upset, (giggling out loud) if they get jealous, and sit between us. When I am there they want my undivided attention for a little while anyway. They said they want to marry me when they grow up.” Chip giggled again!
Jimmie Sue: “That is the sweetest story I ever heard. I would love to meet them. I need a change of pace in my life that is for sure. I guess I better let you get to bed, and I am ready to lie down too. Can we talk tomorrow evening?”
Chip: “Yes, I am looking forward to it. What time is a good time to call?”
Jimmie Sue: “How about 7:00 PM. Will that time work for you?”
Chip: “That would be perfect. Sweet Dreams, and talk to you tomorrow!”
Jimmie Sue: “Ditto, good night!”
Chip: I went to bed that night telling the Lord how grateful I was for His perfect plan for my life.