Danny's Handy Wagon

This guy, Danny, came into my life when I needed him most.  My dad had died.  I was grieving and still needed to clean out the house in Ohio and get back to Maine as soon as I could.  G & I were struggling.  A few friends of my dad's asked for his desk and I said yes and set to cleaning it out. The desk was being picked up in the Handy Wagon.  We very quickly met Danny and that was it.

Later that evening he called to offer his help to us.  I asked what he charged per hour and he said he wouldn't charge us anything.  We looked like we needed help.  And he arrived early the next morning (and every morning after that), at about the same time as the 4 cubic yard dumpster.  He and G set to work unloading the garage and the back porch/sunroom.  I started in the kitchen and worked thru the living room and into the bedrooms.  I would step out of bed in the early morning, pull on one of my dad's shirts and start working.  No breakfast. No hair combing.  Add to this two dogs, my dad's, who were scared and defensive.

Danny worked.  I thought at the time, and continue to, think God sent Danny to us that day and for the next year, to help me through one of the most difficult times of my life.  After we left for Maine, Danny agreed to watch the house in exchange for tools and things men like from my dad's basement.  He checked the house, shoveled snow and arranged to have the grass cut.  Replaced the sump pump.

He asked for my dad's clothes for his missionary work with American Indians out west.  I gave him my dad's Scooter and the stair "elevator" for his church.  I gave him the guest room bedroom furniture for his son.  He called me every two weeks, after church, to let me know everything was good at the now vacant house.  In June, we met again, and his wife picked me up at the airport and drove me to my dad's house.  We put the house up for sale.  When it didn't look like it would sell, we prayed together.  And an offer came in a few weeks.  I don't pray.  But I did with Danny, long distance.  My dad's house sold in September of 2009 and I heard from Danny one more time.  He asked for the remaining workshop tools and asked if he could have the money from the sale of a small trailer for his missionary trip in October.  I said yes.  That was the last time we spoke.

Today a letter arrived from Danny's Handy Wagon.  I thought perhaps he needed another donation for his October missionary trip.  But, it was a letter telling me that Danny had passed away on September 13th.  Danny thought of his handy man work, as God's work.  And he helped people who needed the kind of help he could provide.  I will always remember this kind  man.  His gentle smile.  His sweet humor.  I will try and be like Danny, in his memory.