I started writing my blog entry two days ago but I was completely overwhelmed with memories and different thoughts, so I wanted to start again but without changing the other one. I hope you read both of these and enjoy them. This is a tribute to the man that I strive to become.
Thursday February 4 2016, My Daddy went home to be with Jesus. My dad wasn't an ordinary man, he was a man of God. I'm not claiming he could walk on water but he could point you to the one that did. My dad learned from his dad, and he passed those ways to my sister and I (I just hope I can become half the man he was). We will never know exactly how many people my dad impacted throughout his life but from the number of people who have contacted me in the last 24 hours it is significant. My dad wasn't a major contributor to any charity in particular. He did help fund numerous ministries at church but his donations had to team up with other folks donations, and they did. As I said, my dad wasn't perfect but he was a praying man. I've often heard that "God will not give you more than you can handle, with His help", and my dad would ask Him for His help. My dad didn't move mountains with great flare or leap tall buildings with a single bound ( although he was our Hero), he was just kind and friendly. He cared about people. He was burdened by the direction society is heading but he continued to care about people. My Dad loved our church. Not because of any preacher in particular, but because God is present there. He loved our church because those before him loved our church. He loved our church because of the history of ministry our church has and continues to have. And you know what? Our church has loved him back.
My dad was my coach in Baseball and Football ( or at least an assistant). I remember him hauling my butt all over the place either to ballgames, practice, karate, scouts, youth groups, and the list goes on and on. Some of the best memories were in the bed of the red Chevy truck. I know many a young man that rode in the back of that truck with me. Back then, it was a viable means of transporting a group of kids from Cornelius to just about anywhere we needed to go. I remember driving to the airport for Pop Warner Football weigh ins, from Cornelius school! I remember going to cut wood. I remember a few times we'd go out to Wallace's Dairy and spend the day cutting wood. We'd make a few trips on those days and get tons of wood for the winter.
I remember fishing on Lake Davidson in a fiberglass boat that we'd put in at General Time (in Davidson). I also remember him letting me drive the boat, and the "wiggle" I gave the tiller.....that was the last time I got to drive it! Who would have thought that a little "wiggle" at full throttle would scare both of us? I remember fishing from the bank down near General Time too. The men of the family would all go and do an all night fishing trip. Those were great memories.
I remember my dad worked the garden religiously. He often talked about planting in the right sign and all that, but I'm not sure if he actually did because the signs of the moon and the actual opportunity to plant don't always line up. There were a bunch of groceries raised by that man in our garden. I hope working the garden is something my nieces and I can continue doing.
My dad was in the Lions Club, he was on the Fire Dept., he was involved in church, and numerous other things. One thing he and my mom were involved in was Western Style Square Dancing.....and they hauled me all over the place for those dances. We would go to National Conventions with a group of folks that were like addition parents or grandparents to me. We really had some fun. My dad later got into Square Dance Calling. He LOVED it! He had regular clubs he called for, Cornelius Cut-ups, The Mecklenburg Wildlife Club, and the last one before he gave it up was the Boots and Slippers. (Just what I can remember and may not be a complete list)
My dad loved all the people from Square Dancing, and they loved him and my mom back. My Dad and Mom were inducted into the NC Square Dance Callers Hall of Fame, and also the Metrolina Callers Hall of Fame. My dad was honored to call so many Square Dancers and Callers his friends.
Daddy was even talking just a few days ago about how one Big Named caller just really made him feel good a while back. My dad dropped in on a dance this man was calling and he treated my dad like a close personal friend ( this was my mom's favorite Caller, other than my dad of course). My dad told him that the best song he had ever heard him do was a song called "Beautiful Noise". The Caller told my dad, "MAN! that's back there a ways" or something close to that. The Caller closed out his dance that night by singing that song and really making my dad feel appreciated and respected. Yes They loved him back!
Some of the toughest and possibly meanest men I know, Loved my Daddy. He shot them straight and respected them, and was kind to them, and yes he picked with them too. He loved on them, and they loved him back. I've had these folks ask about my dad for years. They may not have seen him in a while but they would see me and genuinely inquire about him.
My Dad almost won a write in campaign for mayor that he didn't even know he was involved in! My Grandma and Aunt almost got him elected! He found out about it and left work around lunch time to stop them.....He was still one of the top vote getters and didn't even let them finish the write in campaign! For some reason 902 votes sticks in my mind which was significant due to the size of our town back then.
My dad stood for what was right. He didn't back down from what was wrong. He Loved even when he stood against something. The thing is, it all boils back down to Jesus. Regardless of whether or not he agreed with you, he loved you. Sometimes it might be tough love, but it was still Love.
Thank you God for Blessing my family, and numerous others with my Dad. Thank you for the impact that he left behind that will lead others to you. A simple man, Salt of the Earth, a lover of Your Creation. Thank You! It is a Blessing to know this kind of man and be given the opportunity to follow him as he has followed You. If I cannot be like him Lord, please pass it to my children and their children for generations. Lord please help us to love as did he did. Help us, like this imperfect man, show Your perfect love.
I hope you've enjoyed reading this and the previous blogs. I hope you've cried your eyes out and have relived some old memories, that although you've cried, you've also laughed and smiled deep in your soul. My dad was and will be my Hero. I'm just one person that will miss him until we meet again in Heaven.
Please keep us in your prayers, and thank you all for loving us and loving my daddy
Lee
Thursday February 4 2016, My Daddy went home to be with Jesus. My dad wasn't an ordinary man, he was a man of God. I'm not claiming he could walk on water but he could point you to the one that did. My dad learned from his dad, and he passed those ways to my sister and I (I just hope I can become half the man he was). We will never know exactly how many people my dad impacted throughout his life but from the number of people who have contacted me in the last 24 hours it is significant. My dad wasn't a major contributor to any charity in particular. He did help fund numerous ministries at church but his donations had to team up with other folks donations, and they did. As I said, my dad wasn't perfect but he was a praying man. I've often heard that "God will not give you more than you can handle, with His help", and my dad would ask Him for His help. My dad didn't move mountains with great flare or leap tall buildings with a single bound ( although he was our Hero), he was just kind and friendly. He cared about people. He was burdened by the direction society is heading but he continued to care about people. My Dad loved our church. Not because of any preacher in particular, but because God is present there. He loved our church because those before him loved our church. He loved our church because of the history of ministry our church has and continues to have. And you know what? Our church has loved him back.
My dad was my coach in Baseball and Football ( or at least an assistant). I remember him hauling my butt all over the place either to ballgames, practice, karate, scouts, youth groups, and the list goes on and on. Some of the best memories were in the bed of the red Chevy truck. I know many a young man that rode in the back of that truck with me. Back then, it was a viable means of transporting a group of kids from Cornelius to just about anywhere we needed to go. I remember driving to the airport for Pop Warner Football weigh ins, from Cornelius school! I remember going to cut wood. I remember a few times we'd go out to Wallace's Dairy and spend the day cutting wood. We'd make a few trips on those days and get tons of wood for the winter.
I remember fishing on Lake Davidson in a fiberglass boat that we'd put in at General Time (in Davidson). I also remember him letting me drive the boat, and the "wiggle" I gave the tiller.....that was the last time I got to drive it! Who would have thought that a little "wiggle" at full throttle would scare both of us? I remember fishing from the bank down near General Time too. The men of the family would all go and do an all night fishing trip. Those were great memories.
I remember my dad worked the garden religiously. He often talked about planting in the right sign and all that, but I'm not sure if he actually did because the signs of the moon and the actual opportunity to plant don't always line up. There were a bunch of groceries raised by that man in our garden. I hope working the garden is something my nieces and I can continue doing.
My dad was in the Lions Club, he was on the Fire Dept., he was involved in church, and numerous other things. One thing he and my mom were involved in was Western Style Square Dancing.....and they hauled me all over the place for those dances. We would go to National Conventions with a group of folks that were like addition parents or grandparents to me. We really had some fun. My dad later got into Square Dance Calling. He LOVED it! He had regular clubs he called for, Cornelius Cut-ups, The Mecklenburg Wildlife Club, and the last one before he gave it up was the Boots and Slippers. (Just what I can remember and may not be a complete list)
My dad loved all the people from Square Dancing, and they loved him and my mom back. My Dad and Mom were inducted into the NC Square Dance Callers Hall of Fame, and also the Metrolina Callers Hall of Fame. My dad was honored to call so many Square Dancers and Callers his friends.
Daddy was even talking just a few days ago about how one Big Named caller just really made him feel good a while back. My dad dropped in on a dance this man was calling and he treated my dad like a close personal friend ( this was my mom's favorite Caller, other than my dad of course). My dad told him that the best song he had ever heard him do was a song called "Beautiful Noise". The Caller told my dad, "MAN! that's back there a ways" or something close to that. The Caller closed out his dance that night by singing that song and really making my dad feel appreciated and respected. Yes They loved him back!
Some of the toughest and possibly meanest men I know, Loved my Daddy. He shot them straight and respected them, and was kind to them, and yes he picked with them too. He loved on them, and they loved him back. I've had these folks ask about my dad for years. They may not have seen him in a while but they would see me and genuinely inquire about him.
My Dad almost won a write in campaign for mayor that he didn't even know he was involved in! My Grandma and Aunt almost got him elected! He found out about it and left work around lunch time to stop them.....He was still one of the top vote getters and didn't even let them finish the write in campaign! For some reason 902 votes sticks in my mind which was significant due to the size of our town back then.
My dad stood for what was right. He didn't back down from what was wrong. He Loved even when he stood against something. The thing is, it all boils back down to Jesus. Regardless of whether or not he agreed with you, he loved you. Sometimes it might be tough love, but it was still Love.
Thank you God for Blessing my family, and numerous others with my Dad. Thank you for the impact that he left behind that will lead others to you. A simple man, Salt of the Earth, a lover of Your Creation. Thank You! It is a Blessing to know this kind of man and be given the opportunity to follow him as he has followed You. If I cannot be like him Lord, please pass it to my children and their children for generations. Lord please help us to love as did he did. Help us, like this imperfect man, show Your perfect love.
I hope you've enjoyed reading this and the previous blogs. I hope you've cried your eyes out and have relived some old memories, that although you've cried, you've also laughed and smiled deep in your soul. My dad was and will be my Hero. I'm just one person that will miss him until we meet again in Heaven.
Please keep us in your prayers, and thank you all for loving us and loving my daddy
Lee
1 comment:
What a beautiful tribute, it made me cry and I am sure it made your dad look down from heaven and smile.
I am so sorry for your family's loss. Carry on his memory and tradition and he will be with you always. God Bless.
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