What's the purpose?

Gayland & Diane Davis, March 2023

    Thursday, I got a phone call from one of my most beloved customers. It was to give me terrible, awful news that I was not prepared for at all. To say I was speechless, would be an understatement, and you know I'm rarely ever speechless. I usually have something "quippy" to say. I had nothing. I cried, because that's all I could do.  I have been trying to wrap my mind around the news since the phone call. 

    Diane called me and the conversation started out like normal. Then she got upset and I did not know what was going on. I am a sympathetic crier, so it doesn't take much for me to cry too. Diane told me that Gayland was diagnosed with brain cancer and has chosen to live out the rest of his days as best he can. She said they came by the store to tell me in person today, but I had closed early to take Charley to a doctor's appointment. I told her I was glad they couldn't tell me in person because I didn't want them to see my "ugly cry." We cried on the phone together as she gave me the details. I have said it so many times before that when I opened the store in 2019, never did I think I would form the bonds and relationships with so many customers as I have. I've talked about a few of them in previous blogs. I wish I was writing a happier one about the Davis'. They treat me like their own. They treat my children like their own. I don't even have to call Gayland to help me do something, he just happens to show up and knows how to do anything and everything. I tell them, God always sends us who we need when we need them. God has sent him to my rescue many times.

    One day he put in a new plug for my stove in the kitchen for me. We have a little metal counter between the stove and the cold prep table that we use as a counter. The counter wasn't attached to anything securely. It was just kind of sitting there. We knew to be very careful. I had a roasting pan of vegetable soup sitting on this unsecure counter. Gayland was crawling around the floor putting in this new plug and went to stand up and his head hit the counter and vegetable soup went EVERYWHERE. It looked like someone threw up all over the kitchen floor. Holly was there with me that day and we told him not to worry about it we would clean it up, we were all laughing (once we made sure he was ok), but in true Gayland fashion, he cleaned up the entire mess. He's one of a kind. 

    Gayland installs generators. He installed the one at my store and so many others. Diane goes with him on jobs to make sure that nothing happens to him (he is messing with electricity) and if he needs help, she's there. She can probably install a generator too; she's seen it done so many times. She's a good helper. They have been married for a very long time. 50+ years I believe. Gayland went to do a job somewhere close by one day and left Diane at the store with me, she said it was a simple job and she didn't want to sit in the car. I told him I was going to charge him for babysitting her 😆. They both have the best sense of humor and Gayland has some very adult only jokes to tell. They always make me laugh. 

    Please keep them both in your prayers. Gayland especially. I serve a God of miracles and I am believing in a miracle for him. I don't know the purpose behind this. I know I'm not supposed to ask why, but I do have so many questions for Jesus when I get there. I love you and I'm cheering for you.

Wishing you sunny skies and green pastures,

McKession