Soup for Souls

 

This story is about why Fish & Loaves holds such a special place in my heart. 

My dad was taking a motorcycle from my grandmother's house to our home, which was about two miles away. My brother wanted to ride on the back with him, but it was a cold day, and he didn’t have a hat or gloves. My mother, brother, and I rode in the car following behind. 

As he was driving around a curve, my dad had to make a split-second decision. There was a pickup truck, two kids, or a block building in his path. He had to choose one of the three, and in that instant, he chose the third option. 

My mother immediately jumped out of the car and ran to him, leaving my brother and me shaking and scared to death. My aunt came running up the road barefoot. I only remember someone taking Rick and me by the hand and walking us to my great-aunt’s house a few blocks away. I recall hearing someone say, “He’s dead.” 

He wasn’t dead, but after several months in the hospital, he was finally able to come home. He had eight wires and over three hundred stitches in his face. My brother Rick wasn’t allowed to come home because his voice was too shrill, and it caused my dad too much pain in his face. 

Obviously, we had no insurance or income due to the accident. We had to rely on the kindness of family, friends, and our church. Thankfully, a precursor to a food bank kept us fed during that difficult time. 

This is why Fish & Loaves is so special to me. 💜