Small Investments in Time

Julie and I just got back from attending our 50th High School reunion.

When I was a junior I noticed a guy sitting in the back of class who didn’t seem to have any friends and I guess we’ve probably all been in that circumstance before so after class I introduced myself to him and started sitting next to him in class.

I soon found out why Albert didn’t have many friends… he kind of had a negative outlook on life in general but I ignored that and Albert and I became friends. Not the kind of friends who hung out or did things after school because by that time I was dating Julie… just school friends.

After we graduated from High School Julie and I got married and went to Texas A&M and Albert went to Texas A&M as well and joined the Corps of Cadets. I would see Albert on campus every once in a while but it seemed to me that he didn’t really care to have me as a friend anymore. After all he was in the Corps now and making new friends. I understood that but still it kind of bothered me and I never forgot that.

Fast forward 50 years and Julie and I celebrating our 50th wedding anniversary. I happened to look in the Wedding book Julie compiled and looked at the gift section and there was Albert’s name… he had given us a $10 gift certificate to a local department store. I had forgotten that. Keep in mind… Julie and I eloped and we didn’t get as many gifts as some. We didn’t start out with much (I'm not complaining) but it was enough

h.

As our 50th class reunion approached and people were sharing emails and such I got an email from Albert asking if we would be there. Last night at the gathering I saw Albert and his wife come in and Julie and I met her and we started visiting. Albert’s wife said kind of a curious thing to me… “Albert talks about you all the time”. I didn’t think much of it and thought it was just kind of a polite thing that people say.

We sat at the same table together and Albert and I exchanged cell phone numbers and had our picture made together and as we were saying our good byes Albert’s wife looked at me and said again… “I mean it… Albert talks about you all the time”.

I don’t really know what to think about that except that some 51 years ago i saw a guy that didn’t seem to fit in with everyone else and decided to do something about it.

What a small thing that seemed to be at the time but how huge that small investment turned out to be for both Albert and myself.

I don’t know about you but I don’t think it takes glasses to see that God’s hand was in that.

How great is his Kingdom!