Walking Uprightly

Several years ago my father decided to combine his woodworking hobby with his burgeoning role as grandfather by making walking sticks for several of his grandchildren. These are no ordinary sticks; not only are they customized to the child’s height, they are stained, varnished, and fitted with a leather handgrip that has the child’s name. It is clear that they are each made with as much love as wood. Everyone loves grandpa’s sticks.

There is one problem, however. He now has 37 grandchildren. Not only do they all walk, they grow! Ryan has outgrown his stick by at least a foot. Due to two missions and because Dad enjoys doing other things too (like eating, sleeping, etc.) there is a backlog for new or replacement sticks.

Owing to this situation, it was with some hesitancy that I got in line. I could really use one on my walks, especially for the last few hundred feet. However, I did not want to use my illness to bump a hopeful child down the cue. These are, after all, for the grandchildren, not their parents. In fact, two of my girls are waiting. The “original” grandchild (Amanda) has not made a request, but I think she may need one to beat boys from her! When I arrived at parents a couple days before Thanksgiving, I did get in line as tactfully and unassumingly as possible. Of course, despite hosting (literally) dozens of out-of-town guests, within 24 hours of my request, it was done.

In addition to the leather grip there was a tag bearing this verse from the 84^th Psalm:

For the Lord God is a sun and shield: the Lord will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly.

I know that the author and the crafter meant “walk uprightly” in a metaphorical or spiritual sense, not in a physical sense, but I'll try my best to do both.  This will definitely help.