God’s Refrigerator

I remember coming home from work and there was my son James, lying on his stomach in the living room. He was surrounded by crayons and pieces of paper. “What are you doing, son?” “I’m working,” he said resolutely, his tongue pushed toward his cheek with a look of intensity that meant business. “Really hard.” Twenty minutes later he produced an elaborately colored picture. “I used every crayon,” he announced. “Do you like it?” “Of course I do,” I said, surveying the elaborate details of the labor of love. “It’s the best! “Do you see Josh?” referring to his baby brother. The little oblong circle with four sticks coming out of him looked like a turtle, but I could see the impressionist artist within. “And I drew you and mommy, too,” he said proudly. In the picture, my wife had flowing blue hair that reached to the ground with a radiant wardrobe, rich in color and detail. But I didn’t get the same grand treatment. I looked more like the family pet, standing on his hind legs. I even had floppy ears. But none of that mattered. It was a work of art and it was going on the refrigerator. As time went on, that refrigerator held many achievements. Report cards, ribbons, pictures from t-ball, notes from coaches and Scouting merit badge cards. It was the family billboard, screaming of achievement. That family applause of achievement never really ends with time. We continue to cheer our children as they grow. Education, jobs, promotions and then kids of their own. The refrigerator is never really empty. Here I am, 47 years old, and I still send my mom a copy of the magazine I edit, my blog posts, and when my name is in the paper. Secretly, I hope she puts something on her old white Amana – something that she can be proud of. That’s what I want to hear – and what any kid deep down inside wants to hear. “I’m proud of you. You’ve done well.” I wonder if when we get to heaven, God will have a refrigerator. What accomplishments will He hang? What matters to Him? Likely, nothing much will matter in the end. I just want to hear those words: “Well done, good and faithful…” "refrigerator" photo by Kelly Langner Sauer. Used with permission. Post by David Rupert.