Life Goes Better with Chocolate Gravy by Norma Patrick Seto

Author:Norma Patrick Seto [Seto, Norma Patrick]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781664213340
Publisher: WestBow Press
Published: 2020-12-14T05:00:00+00:00

SOOTY SOCKS AND SACRAMENT

Grandpa Andy took care of all the duties expected of a preacher. He married ’em, baptized ’em, and buried ’em.

He was also self-taught in other areas. The community depended on him for spiritual advice and direction, legal advice, and help drawing up deeds and correspondence. He also pulled teeth and set bones. He was helpful and usually responded well to all that was asked of him in the community and in the county.

However, he allowed and expected to be served and taken care of when he was at home. He called me Baby, and I can remember him demanding, “Baby, get me a glass of water.” Whoever was in earshot or nearby when he had a need was pulled into service. Only once that I know of did his expectations and dependence on family backfire on him.

United Baptist churches follow the loving and serving example that Jesus set at the Last Supper by washing each other’s feet. Another story (in this book) mentions that women washed the feet of women and men washed the feet of men. Foot washing usually happened at a Saturday service.

Once, Grandpa Andy was getting ready to go to one of the churches where the foot-washing ritual was to be observed. As his son Kiser passed through the room, Andy, in his typically commanding voice, told Kiser, “Bring me my black socks.” No please or any courtesy was remembered. Kiser, though accustomed to this kind of interaction, saw an opportunity as he passed the heating stove. He retrieved the socks from a drawer. Hmm, they were black! Soot is black! He scooped some soot from the stove and dusted the inside of the black socks with black soot. Without suspicion or hesitation, Andy slipped the socks onto his feet and put his shoes on. There was no discomfort or cause to think about his feet until it was time for Andy to remove the shoes for the foot washing. I imagine there was a reaction when the men looked at the feet and wondered not just what was going on but whether they wanted to be the one to wash those feet.

Andy simply said, “That’s my son Kiser, just playing a prank!” This was a calm reaction at church, but it is likely Kiser suffered Andy’s wrath when he returned home.

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