Special Feature
The best part of waking up… If you are old enough, you remember that “the best part of waking up, is Folgers in your cup.” You may also remember the Folgers commercial where the college-aged son came home from college early one morning and made coffee for his parents. The mom was ecstatic, the dad was grateful, and the son grinned from ear to ear. I also remember Messy Marvin commercials with the grandiose treehouses. And I remember how all of the commercials that aired around Christmas always seemed to be the best- electric trains zoomed around the Christmas tree as the whole family ate Tollhouse cookies in front of the fire.
Wouldn’t it be great to have one of those ‘made for TV’ moments? Except they don’t really exist. Try as I might, through the years, I’ve never managed to recreate that perfect moment. My treehouse never looked nearly as impressive. My coffee is pretty good, but I have never found a morning where everyone in my family was in a good mood at the same time. If someone makes Tollhouse cookies at our house, they are eaten by a pack of ravenous wolves long before any fireside chat has time to transpire. My point is- life is real. We can’t compare ourselves to television or the internet. We will likely never measure up. Instead, let’s find joy in the imperfection of what we have: each other.
This morning, I coughed mightily as I wrestled with a cold. Banks has the State cheer competition next week, so Hannah promptly evicted me from the house at the first sign of a sniffle. I admit, it caused a bit of a fuss between us. Though we rarely go to bed mad, the truth of the matter is, sometimes we do. I spoke with Bay yesterday on the phone. She is nearer to graduating from Ole Miss now and wrestling with the reality of life that comes next. As is Cape, in her freshman year of college full of trial and tribulation. Banks, our youngest, is upset too because we are going to be late for school and she gets in trouble. And it will be my fault. All the while… I drank my Folgers.
It’s beginning to feel like fall. A cold front passed through during the night and it’s a bit cooler outside this morning, which is nice. Banks just used most of the hot water though, taking a 30-minute shower so the cool fall air won’t be so nice in a few minutes when I shower. Soon enough, we will all depart for work and school. I’m certain Banks and I will have at least one fuss before I feel how cold the water is. For in my selfish imperfection, I intend to tell her of my displeasure. Someone will be running late. Someone might even cry. It might even be me. We will eat breakfast too fast. We will forget a belt, a purse, or a lunchbox. And when I walk out the door, I will still be drinking my Folgers. Yes, I probably drink Folgers because that commercial resonated with me. I always wanted those perfect family moments. It took me 45 years to realize that I have always had them, every morning, no matter the circumstances. I like Folgers, but it is not the best part of waking up. My family is.
Thank you, Lord, for the coffee, but most especially for the beans of life that are my family. I love them in their perfect imperfection. I am especially grateful that they still love me despite my imperfections. I even love them when they make me wear ridiculous pajamas on Christmas morning even when the older girls refused to wear theirs for the picture. Remember friends, life is not a fairy tale. It is simply life. The best part of waking up is knowing Jesus lives. Beyond that, there will never be perfection. Don’t read social media posts or my stories and think we are the perfect family- unless you understand that the only perfections we have are in our imperfections. God is great. The coffee is pretty good. Hot showers are too. And my girls are too.
-Walt Merrell
A Christian Outdoorsman who writes of his adventures with his family, with the hope that others might be inspired and encouraged to embrace God’s tapestry, otherwise known as the great outdoors, as a means of finding Common Ground. You can follow him at Shepherding Outdoors on FB, YT and IG and at shepherdingoutdoors.com. His most recent book is available at shepherdingbook.com. Read his faith story at www.BirminghamChristian.com.
