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Side by Side

And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age. (Matthew 28:20)

A few nights ago, Dee and I were doing some cleaning and we came across a sealed envelop with just the single name “Frankie” on the outside.  Only a handful of people call me Frankie, so I knew it was likely something from either my parents or sister.  As I opened it up, I found a few pictures from a Christmas about 8 years back.  I started flipping through them and saw one of me smiling from ear to ear as I held up a new Mets sweatshirt.  I flipped to another one and saw me smiling from ear to ear with my new scarlet Rutgers tie. 

I thought it was just going to be a collection of me celebrating my misery with all of my beloved losing teams, but soon it would come to mean so much more than that.  Towards the end of the pile, I came to two pictures of me opening gifts with my Dad and I sitting side-by-side.  I thought for sure I’d start to cry, but I didn’t.  Coming close to the 7-year anniversary of his passing, it was just great to see him again and have another memory I could cherish. 

Just as importantly, I was reminded that the good Lord is still right there with me side-by-side.  Although my earthly father has moved on to another home, my heavenly father is ever-present…ever-seeking to bring a smile to His child’s face once again.

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