When I was about eight years old, I was playing outside with some of my neighborhood friends and my oldest sister, Linda, was watching me while my parents were at work. I was playing in the yard with some of my friends and looked up and saw Ricky and Gregory Watterson riding shiny bicycles on the sidewalk in front of our house.
Ricky was riding a shiny blue, Schwinn bicycle that was a five speed and had a very comfortable banana seat. He and his brother, Gregory, stopped for a moment to talk to us. I really liked Ricky’s bicycle and was admiring it.
Ricky said, “Would you like to have this bicycle?” I said, “sure, but it belongs to you so how can that happen?” He said, “I will be glad to sell it to you.” My sister, Linda, was behind me, and she had heard the whole conversation. She negotiated the deal to buy the bicycle from Ricky for twenty-five dollars. That was a lot of cash for children back in the early seventies!
Linda paid Ricky twenty-five dollars cash and he got off the bicycle and handed it to me. I could not believe that this shiny blue, five speed, Schwinn bicycle with the comfortable banana seat belonged to me now! Linda had a great job and wanted to do this for me. I was so happy and thrilled! Ricky’s brother, Gregory, gave him a ride home on his bicycle, and I rode my new bicycle all day long!
To this day, I have this bicycle in my garage and it still looks almost brand new. I took such good care of this bicycle! Every time I look at that Schwinn bicycle, I think of my sister, Linda. She was kind enough to buy that bicycle for me without asking her to do so. The symbol of Love that this bicycle represents means so much more than the bicycle itself.
This is one of the epic, childhood moments that remains in my heart and mind throughout my entire life!
Is there a beautiful childhood moment that remains in your heart today?
1 Corinthians 16:14
Do everything in Love.
To learn more about Dr. Billie J. Minton's ministries within her Blue Ridge Moment book series, please visit her author website at BlueRidgeMoments.com.
Dr. Billie J. Minton's Blue Ridge Moments books; Volume 1, subtitled, "Your Life Is Only As Good As Your Connection With Jesus," and Volume 2, subtitled, "Celebrating Footsteps of A God Dependent Life," and Blue Ridge Tenderpup children's book series may be found at Amazon.com and BlueRidgeMoments.com.
