Wait 'til I Die

This past week I read once again the story of the prodigal son. I really like to call it “The Parable of the Loving Father” because the Father of the two sons represents God in this story. 

 Many have called this the best story ever told. Since I was a boy, this story has been one of my favorites.

 One of my mentors wanted to make sure that the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering received the bulk of his meager estate, so he requested that I serve as his executor. He left me several mementos of our 44-year relationship, and one of them was his rendition of The Prodigal Son. This huge gold and black framed pencil and charcoal drawing is mounted on the wall of our home. 

 Other than the first two verses of Luke 15, which set the context for the three following parables, there is not a backstory for this narrative of the lost son. It jumps right into the son asking for his inheritance. According to custom, he and his brother would receive his father’s estate upon the death of their father. However, the younger son could not wait for his father to die. In essence, he was saying I wish you were dead, father, so I could get your wealth. 

 During a visit to my parents’ home a few years ago, my dad, Pete, and I were working in his backyard by his shop. I asked Pete about an old thermometer that was mounted on the outside of his shop. It was a big “RC Cola” branded thermometer that was faded, but well preserved. And—it still had the correct temperature! My dad told me that an RC Cola representative had given him that thermometer in 1955. 

I like doing things with old barn wood, so I began imagining what I could do with that old thermometer, and I liked the idea of mounting it on some of the old 120-year-old barn wood that I had. I was thinking how great it would be to find an antique “Moon Pie” sign, mount it on some old wood and hang both signs on a wall in our home.

That night as Cheryl and I were visiting with my mom and dad, I asked my dad if he would give me that RC Cola relic. I will never forget his response. First of all, he just looked at me for what seemed like a long time, and then his face cringed a bit as he looked away. Then he looked back at me and said, “Larry, can’t you just wait ‘til I die to get that thermometer?” 

I was heartbroken that I had asked for it. So many things ran through my mind in an instant. I could not recall ever asking my dad to give me something since I left home to go to college at age 17. I wanted to apologize for asking. I wanted to take back my question. I wanted to crawl under the chair.

My mother spoke first: “Pete, you don’t need that old sign. Give it to Larry.” I tried to take back my request and say that it was ok to leave it there for the time being, but my mother continued to bark at my dad for not giving up the sign right away. Finally, I managed to change the subject.

The next morning as we were packing the car for our return trip home, there in the back of my car was the RC Cola sign wrapped in paper towels. My dad had removed the two rusty screws that attached the thermometer to his shop and wrapped it up for me. I knew better than to start another discussion about the old sign, so I just whispered in his ear “Thank you, Pete, for giving the RC Cola thermometer to me.” 

Today when I read the story of the Prodigal son, I think of disrespecting my dad by asking for something that he cherished. I could not wait to get something that I wanted—just like the prodigal son. 

Pete was never able to visit our home to see the RC Cola thermometer mounted on 120-year-old barn siding and displayed prominently in our home. I look at that relic often and think about how much I would have liked for my dad to see the old thermometer and know how much I cherish it just like he did.

Unfortunately, I have only found numerous Moon Pie sign reproductions, but I have not been able to find that antique Moon Pie sign. But the RC Cola thermometer serves as a reminder of the significance of honoring our parents’ memories, of the importance of not being greedy and asking for things that we know we will later receive, and of telling stories about our parents and lessons learned from our parents to our children and grandchildren.