A TRIBUTE TO MR. ROBERT O’ROURKE
A TRIP DOWN GOOD MEMORIES LANE
The last few weeks have been exceptionally busy (what week isn’t). The up and coming release of our book in September has kept my mental computer (brain) on overload. Sunday morning as I was getting ready for church the Lord suddenly invaded my heart with some truths. Little did I know I was about to take a trip down good memories lane. Sometimes I tend to reflect on all the negatives that have happened in life instead of focusing on the good. The Bible does say in Proverbs 17:22(NKJV) A merry heart does good, like medicine, But a broken spirit dries the bones.
When I was living at home with my parents I loved it when they would take me into O’Rourke Jewelry Store. Mr. O’Rourke always greeted you with his warm smile and he was never in a hurry. I was always intrigued to watch him examine a piece of jewelry with that extra piece of magnifying glass attached to his glasses that swung down to give him a an in-depth view of a delicately fashioned piece of jewelry.
Gazing upon all the treasures I would wonder what I might receive for the next gift day. Hum, would I open a necklace, earrings, or get a new charm for my bracelet! You see growing up in a small town O’Rourke’s was the only jewelry store my parents shopped at. All of the jewelry gifts I received until I married came from O’Rourke’s and they represented a special occasion. Birthdays, Christmas, Valentines or some other special event would surely present me with a small box to open. To this day I still wear the Lindy Star ring my parents gave me for my 16th birthday; I had it downsized into a pinky ring.
The Lord began to flood my mind of days gone by and what gripped my heart the most ~ the charm bracelet. I have about 45 charms on my bracelet; each with its own unique detail and meaning. The charms show a little girl growing up and becoming a teenager. Several birthdays and Valentine Days are represented through the years. One of the Valentine Day charms is a box of chocolates and the lid actually opens. Another charm is a money box with an opening lid. Inside the box was play money and the play money was replaced by my Mother and brother with a real dollar bill. I cannot forget how diligently they work to fold that dollar tight enough to fit it into the box and still close the lid. My mother told me it was my “mad money”. She let me know as long as I had the charm bracelet I would always have money. Several school activities that I participated in made their way onto the bracelet. My faith in God is very evident and on display. So many charms each with a story to tell about my life and each one very good, marking life’s milestones.
One year for Christmas I took my charm bracelet to our local jeweler and had him make three charm bracelets. He divided up the charms, 15 charms on a bracelet for each daughter. That year I gave my girls a little piece of my life.
Sometimes life has a way of giving us sour grapes and we all could benefit from taking a trip down good memories lane. I bet there are thousands of stories to tell out there of priceless memories that had their start at O’Rourke’s Jewelry Store!
Sunday my life was touched in a special way, as I took my trip down memory lane and little did I know that those memories would not have had their beginning had it not been for man named Mr. Robert O’Rourke and his decision to set-up shop in a little town called Bronson. We never know how our life will impact another, but rest assured we all impact others around us each and everyday. What, when and how we do things will always produce something good or bad. The Bible says we will reap what we sow.
Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.
Proverbs 11:18(NKJV)
The wicked man does deceptive work, But he who sows righteousness will have a sure reward.
May God’s peace be with the O’Rourke family as they mourn the loss of their husband, father and grandfather.
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