The Rauscher Life

God works in mysterious ways, sometimes with socks.

For as long as I knew Brad he was a man of simple things. For example his socks were always white and only existed in two lengths, long or ankle length. There was never any variation in our 14 years of marriage.

In 2020 While shopping together at Sam’s in Phoenix for some essentials during his early cancer treatment, Brad spotted a display of character socks. Muppet socks, Ironman socks, Superman socks, Mario socks…and he bought every single one. Probably like 18 pairs of socks. My thought was, “what are you thinking with all these socks Dude?” but I was quiet. I’m so glad I was quiet.

He said he simply liked them, and also we could send some to the kids back home. I could see how his tender heart was thinking of the children and missing them, as I was.

Brad displayed them by pairing them with his shorts when he could. He gained the reputation as the Cool Sock Guy, a title he most precisely deserved.

The cool socks became a talking point, an icebreaker for people. He was able to start conversations with just about anyone (but he really always had that gift, socks or no socks). As his treatment continued he made connections and friends with folks in the cancer center. The Gospel conversation was never far from him, in fact the closer he came to his death the more laser focused he was on giving glory to God through all things (even his painful cancer). I recall him sharing conversations with people he met for just one day, and telling me how we needed to pray as a married couple because he shared the Gospel with them. We had a list of folks he felt a burden to pray for. I miss praying with him.

The socks still hang out in the drawers of my boys room. I will see William and Sto pull up a pair of Mario socks now and then, it’s a sweet testimony to the kind of man that Brad was. It’s a testimony to the Godly values that live on in our family. We value the building of the kingdom of God in any season of life. We don’t understand painful seasons of life, but as we walk through life as Christians we can trust that God is working for his glory and for our good. Sometimes socks are a part of that glory and good.