I Go Home Now

I Go Home Now

Husbands, love your wives and never treat them harshly.

Colossians 3:19

During World War II, I was uprooted from my home in Texas and sent to North Carolina, where I worked for a government-run manufacturing plant that made a variety of items needed for the war. My job was to supervise a huge crew of people, mostly women, who made everything from parachutes to knapsacks for the soldiers.

Most days in the plant went along without incident. I think most of the workers in the plant actually liked me, except when I had to correct someone. Then I was the bad guy. Still, we got along quite well for the most part.

One of the interesting people in the plant was an older German fellow named Rupert, who still had a distinct German accent underlying his English. I enjoyed Rupert’s company. We often ate our lunches together on the back porch of the plant, which looked out over a wide river lined with trees.

I always looked forward to going home to my sweet wife, Thelma, at the end of the day. I knew she would have a nice dinner prepared, and I could spend time playing with my little son, Frank.

One day, just before closing time, I had made my rounds to be sure all the machines and lights were turned off. I was getting ready to lock the front door after the final few workers left, when Rupert ambled toward the exit.

“Good night, buddy,” I said, patting him on the back. “See you tomorrow.”

Rupert said, “I go home now. If my wife doesn’t have dinner ready, I’m going to raise Cain . . . and if she does, I’m not going to eat!” Then he winked at me and left.

I went home thinking, It will be interesting to see what she puts in his lunch tomorrow!

—Clyde Shrode

Dear Father, thank you for treating me with kindness and gentleness. I need your love and compassion today. And may I extend that same love and compassion to others. Amen.