Wisdom Seeds Read Online Free PDF Page A

‘C’ in chemistry, he said I didn’t work hard enough even though all my other grades were A’s and B’s. I was crushed when I came in third in the hundred yard dash at the State Track and Field Finals – my dad said I didn’t want it bad enough. I was his only daughter but I could never redeem the legacy of his sons.

    Sleep monopolized my first day home which allowed me to avoid my dad’s questions about my future. On day two, my parents, assuming I was asleep, were discussing me in the dining room.
    â€œThat girl’s going to make you very proud one day,” Mom said as I eavesdropped on their conversation from the top of the stairs. That was my usual spot which I had missed while I was away at Penn State. Having worked every summer during college, I avoided spending any length of time at home. For the first time in four years I would be home for three straight weeks.
    My dad’s response was flat. “She needs to be serious about the Lord. Without God there is no true success. God blessed her with a good mind and a good education and she couldn’t find time once a week to thank Him.”
    â€œYou sound like you’ve given up,” was my mom’s standard reply. “She does love Jesus.”
    His reply was sarcastic. “If she loved Him she would go to church.”
    Mom came to my defense. “She didn’t like any of the churches on campus.”
    â€œIn four years she found plenty of parties, attended every football game and couldn’t find one church to worship God once a week. I don’t think she tried to hard!”
    Meet my parents, Reverend David and Judith Allen.
    The Sunday morning humidity seemed to shroud me as I descended the steps. At 7:30 the heat was already hanging in the air like the smell of fried chicken in Nana’s kitchen. It was only May and my dad never turned on the air until June first.
    â€œMorning Mom.” I hugged her taking the cup out of her hand. “Good morning Father.” I put the cup down on the sports page hoping he would look at me. “I’m going to church with you guys this morning. I’ve got a lot to bethankful for and I’d like to personally tell God thank you,” I announced hoping to get his undivided attention.
    â€œTell me, Dani, what are you so thankful for?” He looked at me over the paper.
    â€œI got the internship in Child & Adolescent Psychology at Western Psychiatric Institute in Pittsburgh,” I blurted out. “I’ll be leaving in three weeks.”
    â€œOh that’s great! Congratulations!” Mom got up and hugged me.
    My dad moved the cup and picked up the paper. He never said a word.
    â€œI’m staying with Andrea and Alicia. They don’t live far from the University,” I added since no one had asked.
    â€œYou never mentioned any plans to leave. What made you decide to go to Pittsburgh?” Mom was trying to maintain her same tone of joy as she placed her cup in the sink.
    â€œI don’t know,” I said turning to face her. “It’s an opportunity that should open up some doors for my career.” I humored myself with that one, as I had no idea of what I wanted to pursue as a career.
    Mom tried to smile as she cleared my dad’s dishes. Her smile was practiced and her eyes were sad, just as they had been for years. This was one more feather in her unhappy cap. The boys were gone and now I was jumping ship. I promised myself I would make her very proud of me. My dad never looked up or thanked her for clearing his dishes. I wondered if he even noticed her unhappiness. He had not changed and I was sure church service would be just as I remembered.
    Riding in the back of my dad’s Mercedes Benz, I was impressed. The pin stripes in his black suit matched the leather upholstery and he seemed to sit up a little taller. Healways talked about having a Benz.
    I sat up between the seats. “Nice