12 January 2002

Subject: Working Together

Dear Ones,

 

It's Saturday and time to take another marble out of the jar. I hope these past few days have been good to you and that today will be the highlight of your week.

 

Recently, Leavon and I stopped by to pay a visit with a dear, elderly couple we know-- Irene and Ivan Baker. Miss Irene is a retired school teacher and "Baker", as she calls him, is a retired Vocational Agriculture teacher from the local high school. They are dear, long-time friends of ours and are special folks to us. God joined them together in holy matrimony over 60 years ago and they stand together today as the epitome of a "model" married couple.

 

You most always see them together.... very seldom do they go their separate ways. If you didn't know they were in their 80's and had been married "all their lives", you would guess they were newly weds. Her eyes just sparkle when she looks at him and his face lights up with a sort of boyish grin in return.

 

Almost always when we visit them, the conversation comes around to their respective ages and the good life they have had together. They wear both as a badge of pride and well they should. During our last visit, Miss Irene showed us a lovely, family photo of her and "Baker" taken with their two daughters and spouses and all the grandchildren.... no doubt, considered by the Bakers as the greatest accomplishments in all their years of marriage.

 

I asked Miss Irene to what did she attribute their successful marriage and she quickly answered in her native Cajun French, "la main gauche lave le droite". Naturally, I asked for a translation and she responded with, "the left hand washes the right." I said, "Would you explain what you mean by that?" She went on by demonstrating that you can't wash your right hand without your left hand.... which means that only by working together can you successfully accomplish something worthwhile.

 

I had never heard that expression before, so I set about writing it down immediately. I thought it well stated by someone who has been "working together" for over 60 years. Thank you, Bakers, for teaching us a lesson in life and love. What God has joined together, let no man put asunder!!

 

Have a GREAT Saturday.

 

Don

P. S. You know what I am going to do today?  When the cook walks by, I'm going to grab her, give her a hug and a kiss, and take her out for dinner. You see, we are still working at "working together".