Lass Words: Memories of the hardware store and a grandmother’s love

When I was a young boy, my father owned and operated a small neighborhood hardware store. This was in the late 1950s when malls and big-box stores were beginning to wipe out small businesses. The only reason his store survived was Christmas season — from Thanksgiving to Christmas there was a rush of customers buying gifts and supplies to get their homes ready for the holidays. 

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There was no money to hire employees, so on busy Friday nights and weekends Dad and Mom and my paternal grandmother worked the store. There was also no money for babysitters, so they brought me along. The main floor had tools, paint, lawnmowers and such. Dad was the salesman, Mom was the gift wrapper. Gift wrapping was offered free with purchase. On the basement floor was the toy department and sports equipment area. Grandma worked the counter down there, and that’s where I mostly hung out. 

I was given books to read and a few toys from home to play with. But I soon became bored with these and, against Dad’s instructions, would frequently grab new miniature race cars off the shelves and play with them. Or take a baseball glove and ball and pretend I was a major league pitcher. Dad would have been furious with me for playing with the merchandise, but Gram never squealed on me. 

There was a grocery store next to us, and I would often open the cash register and take dimes and quarters out and go next door to buy popsicles. Of course this meant the register would not balance at the end of business, and Dad would always fuss at Grandma for not being able to make the right change. Gram knew what I was doing, but she never ratted me out. She loved me so much, she took the blame. 

‘Selfless love’

When I went to church and was told about Jesus, how He gave His life on the cross to atone for my sins, how He took the blame for me, I thought about Gram. Her selfless love helped me understand about Jesus, and ultimately led to my salvation. Gram went to heaven many years ago, but I’d give anything to see her again to give her a big hug. 

Thanks to her and Jesus, one day I will.