3rd Excerpt from My Father's Gift

               Calord Recinoire sat at his desk staring at the phone, reflecting upon the conversation he had just had with D’Cerner.  “I wonder,” he mused, “if she looks as good as she sounds.”  He smiled as he hung up the phone, picking up a notebook and pen.  “I may never know,” he said aloud, to no one, but himself.

            He repositioned his bible to finish preparing notes for the lesson he was teaching the following morning.  He focused on his lesson plan, giving it his full attention.  He understood the importance of being prepared.

            For years now he had the full responsibility of preparing meals, keeping his limousine service viable, taking care of his two children, working in ministry and volunteering at a boys’ youth home.  His full life took well-thought-out plans and organization to stay on track and his military background had certainly taught him about organization and precision, but had failed to prepare him for losing his wife.

            He married Janice after serving four years in the Marines.  Three years later, they had two children—Don and Kathy. Four years after Kathy was born, Janice was diagnosed with myeloid leukemia and a few years later, having no success with treatments, she succumbed to the disease and died.

            He was so bitter about her death that for a long time, he had given up on everything.  He had felt abandoned by God and that nothing mattered any more.  While he was dwelling in self-pity, his family helped with the children.  They prayed constantly and finally their prayers were answered.  Two years after Janice’s death Calord was ready to move forward in ministry, with his business, and was finally able to give his children the attention they needed.

            Calord lived an extremely regimented life with his time carefully organized to allow him the time to spend at his office, with his children, at the youth home, and function in ministry.  Finding the time for everything had not been easy, but it had been fulfilling.  He knew exactly where he was headed and how long it was going to take him to accomplish everything he wanted to do.