Bike

Dad’s biggest desire as he was growing up, was to have his very own bike. One year at Chistmastime he was sure that his wish had come true.
The nice lady that was going to spend Christmas with him and his family that year had promised that she would buy him a bike for Christmas. Dad couldn’t have been more excited or happy. It was hard for him to wait for Christmas day to arrive.
Christmas day finally arrived, but to Dad’s confusion and disappointment, when the lady finally came, she didn’t have a bike with her. Instead, she handed him a small present with his name on it. No, it wasn’t a gift card. It was a book. Dad hated reading books at the time and receiving a book instead of a bike, caused him to hate books even more. “Oliver Twist” was the name of the book and he never read it.
I’m sure that instead of the best Christmas, it was his worst Christmas ever.

Grandma told Dad to pray for a bike. He did. He prayed and he prayed. I’m sure Dad was wondering if miracles really happen.

Dad was walking home one day, when he spotted some money in the gutter. He picked the bill up and discovered that it was a $10 bill.
Wow!
He ran home and showed it to his mom. She told him that his prayers for a bike had been answered. The two of them got on a bus that was heading for Oakland. They got off the bus near a bicycle shop. Excitement had been building to a peak as they rushed through the door.
Looking around, they discovered that the cheapest bike in the shop was $15. Dad was disappointed again, as they left the shop to catch the next bus home.

Dad’s mom was taking care of an elderly man that lived in a little house in back of their home. Dad called him, “Grandpa Shipley”. When Grandpa Shipley heard about Dad and his bike dilemma, Grandpa Shipley reached in his pocketbook and handed Dad a $5 bill.
Miracles really do happen. Dad’s prayers were answered.

Posted by Judy