Thursday, March 22, 2012

Dad, see how I run



When dad had enough of my endless chatter, he would hand me the salt shaker so he could read the newspaper and have his coffee in peace. He explained to my five year old self that if I snuck up on a little bird and sprinkled some salt on his tail, the poor creature wouldn't be able to fly, and I could catch it and keep it as a pet. Ever hopeful, I spent hours chasing after little sparrows. I never got what I wanted. But dad did.

Forty-five years or more have passed and I've never met anyone who had heard that tale before. In fact, I'd almost forgotten about it myself. Until one morning this year while visiting my daughter in New Zealand, when I shuffled bleary-eyed into her kitchen. Reaching for the coffee, what did I spy but a container of salt whose label featured a little boy chasing a bird and trying to shake salt on its tail.



I travelled 8744 miles to find out that the story my dad told me was not one he had made up. Even better, Someone travelled from eternity and sprinkled me with salt and blood. My heart was captured, and my soul set free, as free as a bird. Some stories you hear are true.

27 comments:

Nancy said...

So did you get goosebumps when you saw the salt shaker? Cause I did, just now, when I read this.

Your Father smiles when you run. And when you make things.

monix said...

What a beautiful story. Isn't it wonderful when something links us to the past so unexpectedly.
Maureen

Jodi said...

Nancy, I pulled a JoAnn Hallum and shouted "What the WHAT?!"

Jodi said...

Monix, thank you. And yes, it is wonderful.

Kim Hyland said...

Beautiful, Jodi. Gives me a whole new perspective on being salt and chasing "birds" ;)

Kirsten said...

That's such a fantastic story! I had no idea why our salt had the boy and the bird on the front - now each time I reach for the salt your story will pop into my mind :)

Anonymous said...

i did this too when i was a little girl! i chased robins with a salt shaker and came oh so close several times. did we have the same daddy? if your daddy taught you how to say the abc's backwards before you learned them forwards, i just don't know what i will do.

Unknown said...

Like Nancy, I have goosebumps.

I adore you through and through Jodi.

Unknown said...

And I love that photo of you btw.

Kerrie said...

I just love this post. :)

mountain mama said...

LOVE this!!!

i'll have to try this on my kids :D

Southern Gal said...

That just made me tear up a little. Amazing story.

Leslie said...

What a sweet photo of you... and yes. Some stories you hear ARE true. ♥

Susan said...

Wonderful post - I love it.

and I agree, love the photo on your Header.

Thanks for blogging!

Melissa said...

Oh, I love this. And *you*, friend. What a delight. Thank you, as always, for writing, blessing, and inspiring. God be with you, today.

amy said...

i. love. this. and you.

Thickethouse.wordpress said...

My brother in law George who grew up in Hungary and was in his 20s when he came to the USA always told his sons this story and I have memories of them out with salt shakers looking for birds!

That's a wonderful salt shaker design!

Unknown said...

Jodi you are the cutest little girl. You look like mischief! And I love love love this story.
My husband always makes fun of me for saying "What the WHAT?!" but I mean, really, it comes in so handy. I'm glad you found it useful.

Mommy Emily said...

oh i love this! and your dad is a genius! :) i'll have to try this with joey sometime lol.

em said...

My cousin and I tried to catch magpies with salt - we were told it only worked on magpies, but it didn't for us!
I love the photo of you!
Margaretha

Sara at Come Away With Me said...

A wonderful story....funny how something can click for us decades after we had mostly forgotten it! I wonder if this old wive's tale was thought up by a salt company...you'd sell more salt that way - tee hee!

SUGAR MOON said...

My mother used to tell us the same thing. I never tried it though. lol

Chelsey said...

Such a sweet story (and a cute picture of you to go with it too!)

Connie Smiley said...

What a wonderful story. Your ending gave me goose bumps.

Emily said...

I just love this. And you were a darling little girl.

Quotidian Life said...

Such a lovely story, Jodi, and I love the connections you made to your Heavenly Father. I hope you kept the salt container!

Rae said...

This story has blessed me. You write so well, I feel I'm there!
Thank you Jodi for this sweet memory of yours and how it came together. Mostly how you put the Lord's leading in this....beautiful!

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