Five Years and Favorites...

Dad died 5 years ago this week.  

It’s rare that a day goes by that someone doesn’t ask about or I don’t think something about my dad. It’s been 5 years this week since he died and his influence on my life and others is certainly still major. I’ve spent the last five years trying to navigate life without him.  I miss him but rejoice in his memory, his life, his influence and his reward.  But here is what I’ve been thinking:

Dad had a favorite joke: Once there was a church that every year fired their preacher and hired a new one. Everybody knew their reputation. One year they hired a really young preacher. At the end of the first year he was ready to move on but they asked him to stay a second year. Then at the end of that year he was sure he would be asked to move on but they asked him to stay another. This went on for 5 years. Finally he had to know. So he went to the leaders and said: “Everybody knows that you guys fire your preacher every year and here it is five years and you have asked me to stay another.  What’s up?”  “Well,” they said, “We really didn’t want to say anything, but seein’s you asked. We learned years ago that this church can’t stand good preaching - and you’re about the nearest nothin’ we could find.”  To which he’s then say how many years he had been at and how thankful he was for Woodlawn/Roebuck Parkway “putting up with him.” 

Dad had a favorite sermon: Actually there would probably be 3 or 4 that would fall into the favorite category here. His sermon on the “church in a wagon,” the one on “Dreaming the Original Dream,” his sermon on “How to Choose a Church,” the one on “The Need for Dedication.’ But hands down most who heard him know he most often preached his sermon simply called “Kindness.”  Dad didn’t “re-preach” a lot of stuff but any who heard him more than a year consistently would have heard his “Kindness” sermonAnd more than preach it, he lived it.

Dad had a favorite story: It came from the “Kindness” sermon. Family could play name that illustration with this one and most of us could give the whole thing if I gave them the first two words: “Cold knuckles wrapped on the door of a large farmhouse.  A rather large lady opened the door. She saw the two shivering children and rushed them in before a great fireplace. She gave them warm blankets and hot chocolate and homemade cookies. As she handed the cookies down to the little girl, she looked up into her eyes and asked: ‘Are you God’s wife.’ Well, we’re God’s children and God is a kind God and to be like Him we must be kind.”  A close second would start: “Two-gun Kelly…”

Dad had a favorite song: 

An Evening Prayer.

If I have wounded any soul today

If I have caused one foot to go astray

If I have walked in my own willful way

Dear Lord, forgive

If I have uttered idol words or vain

If I have turned aside from want or pain

'Lest I offend some other through the strain

Dear Lord, forgive

Forgive the sins I have confessed to Thee

Forgive those secret sins I do not see

Oh, guide me love me and my keeper be

Dear Lord, forgive

Dad had a favorite poem - maybe two:

The World is Mine…

Today, upon a bus, I saw a girl with golden hair.

I envied her, she seemed so gay, and wished I was as fair.

When suddenly she rose to leave, I saw her hobbled down the aisle.

She had one leg and wore a crutch. 

And as she passed... a smile.

Oh God, forgive me when I whine.

I have 2 legs, the world is mine

I stopped to buy some candy. The lad who sold it had such charm.

I talked with him, he seemed so glad. 

If I were late, it'd do no harm.

And as I left, he said to me, "I thank you, you've been so kind.

It's nice to talk with folks like you. You see," he said, "I'm blind."

Oh God, forgive me when I whine.

I have 2 eyes, the world is mine.

Later while walking down the street,

I saw a child with eyes of blue.

He stood and watched the others play.

He did not know what to do.

I stopped a moment and then I said,

"Why don't you join the others, dear?"

He looked ahead without a word. And then I knew,

he couldn't hear.

Oh God, forgive me when I whine.

I have 2 ears, the world is mine.

With feet to take me where I'd go.

With eyes to see the sunset's glow.

With ears to hear what I'd know.

Oh God, forgive me when I whine.

I've been blessed indeed, the world is mine……..

Or the one he would quote each year at the New Year:

A New Leaf…

He came to my desk with a quivering lip, the lesson was done.

“Have you a new sheet for me, dear teacher?

I’ve spoiled this one.”

I took his sheet, all soiled and blotted

and gave him a new one all unspotted.

And into his tired heart I cried,

“Do better now, my child.”

I went/came to the throne with a trembling heart;

the day was done.

“Have you a new day for me, dear Master?

I’ve spoiled this one.”

He took my day, all soiled and blotted

and gave me a new one all unspotted.

And into my tired heart he cried,

“Do better now, my child.”

Dad had a favorite question: “Is there any reason you would not want to be baptized tonight into Jesus Christ for the remission of your sins so you can be a simple New Testament Christian?”

Dad also had a favorite meal:  Salad from Wendy’s or rice crispy’s in a cup and a favorite drink - Sweet Tea (though he usually drank it unsweet with Sweet ’n’ Lo in it, a favorite desert - mom’s chocolate pie.  

I’m thankful for good memories that I don’t have to be ashamed of from a dad who lived the life he proclaimed.  What memories are you making for your family?