David Evander Shapard (Chapter 29) 1935 The Box

Chapter 29

The Box

1935

    In 1929, Elise Shapard, her son David Conger Shapard and her teaching assistant Frances Reynolds, departed Fort Smith, Arkansas, for Enid, Oklahoma, where they reestablished the Blue Bird School at their house at 1122 West Broadway. Never to stay long in one location, the following year, Elise moved them to a more impressive home at 1224 West Main Street, where they continued to run the school. About 1932, a year after David Conger Shapard left for college, Elise and Frances moved to 430 South Garfield Street, where they resided and operated the Blue Bird School together for the next few years. It appears that during the summer of 1935, Elise and Frances secured arrangements to move the school to 1501 West Randolph Avenue, however, around that time, Elise became habitually ill, eventually having a nervous breakdown, requiring rest. Unable to fulfill her duties, she relinquished ownership to Frances Reynolds, who successfully operated the school at the new location, with Elise’s help, until Frances' marriage to Mr. Charles Ford in 1946, whereupon the Blue Bird School was finally disbanded.

    It was in early September of 1935, while David Conger Shapard was in Enid, Oklahoma, assisting his ailing mother, that God’s perfect timing softened his heart. In the midst of moving some items to storage for his mother, David opened a trunk and discovered a large box filled with a multitude of letters addressed to him from his father, spanning about six years. None of them David had ever seen. When he confronted his mother, she admitted that she had concealed almost every letter sent by his father to him at the Enid address, in a selfish effort for her to remain the most important person in her son’s life. David was infuriated at his mother’s deceitfulness and he abruptly departed, taking with him the nearly one hundred letters.

   Over the following days David read through his father’s words, each one chipping away at the years of bitterness and anger that had encased his heart. By the end, David realized that he had been led astray by those closest to him into believing a great many certainties about his father – none of which were accurate. He had condemned an innocent man based upon false evidence. He realized his venom all those years towards his father was misdirected, cruel and wholly unjustified. As he read the last letter, David Conger Shapard experienced an inconsolable contrition and allowed the humbling lesson to work deep within his mind and his heart. With the full support of his gentle and loving wife Tenny Belle, David yearned to reestablish a true relationship with his father, and thus he asked his father to meet him so they could talk.

    Perhaps in all their lives, there was no greater emotional moment than what was shared that day, in early-September of 1935, when father and son finally reunited in person with willing hearts. It was truly life changing for both of them. All the past woes between them were finally buried, all their wrongdoings and misgivings absolved, and all the bitterness and sorrow expelled in each tear shed that day out of forgiveness, concern and joy. There was so much lost time to reclaim. Yet, for the first time in almost a decade, the future shined with brilliant promise as a devoted father finally had the love and respect of his only son – and his only son finally received the love, security and dedication of his father that, unbeknownst to him, had always been there. From that day forward, David’s son no longer coldly referred to him as “Mr. D. E. Shapard,” but now lovingly as “Papa” and “Dad.” It was an absolute miracle.