Yucky Yellow Relish

I'm sure you've heard the saying, no good deed goes unpunished. I'd like to share a story that exemplifies this saying.

Some of my first memories are of going to my dad's drug store in Owensboro, KY. They had a soda fountain and made deliveries. It was always fun to go visit him and Mom often let us sit on the spinning stools at the fountain and order a special treat.

When I was eight-years-old, we moved to Elizabethtown, KY where my dad bought a drug store on the town square. My dad has a huge heart. Customers loved him. The bank tellers and even other pharmacists respected and loved my dad. To this day, my dad has a story or joke for every situation. And he doesn't know a stranger. When my youngest son was playing tennis in high school and college, a few of his opponents met my dad before meeting Scott. Like I said, he doesn't know a stranger.

But I digress. My mother ran the front end of the drug store while we were in school while dad took care of the pharmacy. My brother and I loved to go down to the store when we weren't in school. I learned how to use a cash register and make grab bags at the store. There was also a storage basement where Chris and I would play. We could also walk to the library or run to the bank for change from the store.

Many of Dad's customers were farmers or some people struggling financially. Sometimes they couldn't afford their medicines. Dad couldn't let a person walk away if they needed a prescription. He'd say they could pay him later. Sometimes they couldn't. And sometimes they'd give him things like jars of yellow relish. Yuck. But we ate it. I don't know if Mom really liked it or if she was being kind. I followed her lead though and ate the yucky relish.

One thing I learned from this was it pays to be kind. Dad didn't make a lot of money at the drug store, but he made a lot of loyal friends. Both of my parents have a huge heart for others. I hope my heart for others shines like theirs does.

Jeremiah 9:23-24 New International Version
This is what the Lord says:

“Let not the wise boast of their wisdom
or the strong boast of their strength
or the rich boast of their riches,
but let the one who boasts boast about this:
that they have the understanding to know me,
that I am the Lord, who exercises kindness,
justice and righteousness on earth,
for in these I delight,”
declares the Lord.