The Gift of the Old Broken Clock

Christmas is over! It’s time to take down the decorations. Time to put the lights back into the worn box, with the promise to find a newer, better box next year.  This box has shared many Christmas celebrations. It has a special story of its very own.  I’m sure this old box will be around after I’m gone.

The New Year is upon us.  I am counting many blessings we had this year.  Our loss of loved ones over many years makes each day count even more. We know time is precious. We miss loved ones daily. Christmas takes each of us back with our memories.  The void is big it cannot be filled.  Time spent reminiscing with family is mainly used in realizing our pain. We laugh and cry.  I always remember days on The Lane, and things that happened later in life with the loved ones no longer with us.

My daughter and son-in-law did a very special thing for my husband and me many years ago. They gave us the gift of a clock, an old Boston clock, circa 1850 to 1860. The story behind the clock is as touching as the gift. 

My brother Gary Hammons, “Rod,” died of cancer at the young age of 44. He was not married and returned home. Family cared for him and helped him through his ordeal. After Rod’s death, going through his belongings at mom’s home, we came across a box full of pieces of a broken clock. I asked my mother about this box and the clock pieces. She said Rod came by the clock from a Frost family member while he was living in Florida. Rod planned to repair the clock. He valued it. Rod moved around a lot.  With each move, Rod took the box with the broken clock pieces. He showed the clock to his closest family members and friends. Rod told them he planned repaired it. Time ran out for Rod and his intentions.

Mom told me to take the box and dispose of it for her. I brought it home.

After that, my daughter saw all the clock parts. She took the broken clock, and I put it all out of my mind. She knew Mr. Duncan, a clock-smith who told her it would take a lot of work.  He wasn’t sure if he could find parts. He couldn’t guarantee that it would run again.

My daughter told him she was in no hurry. Just let us know if it could be repaired.  Around Thanksgiving, Mr. Duncan called and said the clock was repaired! She said nothing to me about it.  She decided it would be the perfect Christmas gift. Her gift to us, however, went beyond the repair of Rod’s clock. She knew my brother had valued this old time piece. She was touched seeing how beautiful it looked and hearing how sweet the chimes sounded, so she wrote a poem in memory of Rod.

The Old Broken Clock
by Dorothy H. Lopp 
Written for Mom & Dad in memory of Rod 

You handed me a box full of many pieces of an old broken clock.  A clock that was treasured by the one with broken dreams and too little time.  Now it is keeping time, ticking like his heartbeat. The old broken clock is whole once again. With each chime, we will be reminded of the one who treasured the old broken clock. He valued it and knew that one day its chime would ring out. He was right; it is a beautiful keeper of our time. The old clock is one broken dream we were able to piece together for him. May we be reminded of him and how precious time truly is for us all when we see his clock. Do as he did and enjoy each day.  Also, give a kind word to all you meet. We touch others daily. We leave lasting impressions of some sort.  These impressions last as long as the time the old broken clock now keeps.

What a precious gift! My heart was full. The old time piece celebrated life and time.  We live the love we felt for the brother that saw value.  We treasure our daughter who gave the gift that was loved by the one with a broken dream and too little time.  We feel Rod knew her heart and that she would get this done.  He guided her in her effort to express how he valued the clock. It is whole again, and brings comfort.  We feel Rod with us daily.

Later, I gave the clock to our youngest brother, John Clifton Hammons. He valued it as well. Sadly, Johnny died in 2020. Rod died in 1993. I know that they are together with other loved ones in Heaven.

Millie’s Thought for the day; Happy New Year! Have gratitude for each day.