This has been a hard year...a year filled with changes. There have been so many changes that I sometimes have to stop and realize that all of this has happened in less than a year. If you pinned me down, I guess I would have to tell you that the biggest change was the loss of my Dad, in March. Sometimes, I still can't believe that I can no longer pick up the phone and tell him about the latest escapade of his two great-grandsons or how beautiful his great-granddaughter is. I knew him as my Dad, but all of his grandchildren and great grandchildren knew him as their Papaw or Papaw G.C. So, when I met my first grandson, I knew I would be his Papaw! All of these thoughts hit me this week, as I remembered that this week would have been my Dad's birthday.
As I thought about these memories this week, another thought struck me...that through the sadness and loss of my Dad, I have a new appreciation and love for my brother. You see, I have always loved Rusty, but he was my kid brother who hung around with Freeman and me, playing Sports Illustrated Baseball (if you have to ask, you will never "get it!") This past year, though, I have realized that not only do I love him, but I like him a lot and respect him even more! We have cried and laughed through all of it and yes, I am even sorry for most of the things I did to him when he was younger...although I am sure that his service as a homemade go-cart crash dummy advanced automotive science by years! Over the Thanksgiving holiday, Rusty found out that his son, Jeff and his wife, Courtney, were expecting his first grandchild! We were all very excited and even though I already knew the answer, I had to ask, "What do you want the baby to call you?" His answer was, "Papaw." All I can say is, welcome to the Papaw club...you'll be great! After all, you had a good example!
I love you, Bud!
Tuesday, December 7, 2010
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
Changes
To our friends in the Hewitt-Miller BFG,
The one thing we know in this life, is that we will all face changes throughout our lives. Some changes are easy, while some are hard and heart-rending. Anita and I are facing one of those hard changes in our lives. Sunday was really our last "official" day to be in our Bible Fellowship Group (Sunday School to the uninitiated!) We will be moving to San Antonio, where I am working on a new hospital tower at Brooke Army Medical Center. We will be listing our home for sale shortly and we will live in San Antonio until we see where God leads us next. However, one of the changes that we are making will be to leave our church home and find a new one in San Antonio. Of all the changes we face in our move, this is the one I really do not look forward to. Yes, I know all the theological answers...and I accept the fact that God will have a place for us. However, I still do not like leaving the church where my children came to follow the Lord or where they grew up and where we saw so many of their friends grow up as well. I especially don't like leaving the "family" that we have in this church. Over the past few months, we have been encouraged and blessed by the friends that we have come to know and love at this church. Last year we were blessed to be part of a small group that began a new BFG and I was blessed to be part of a team that taught this class. Together, we have grown close to each other as we laughed and smiled and celebrated the marriages of children and the births of grandchildren (we are all about the grandchildren in this BFG!) We have walked beside each other as we have mourned the deaths of parents and loved ones, and we have been devastated by the loss of one of our own. Through all of this, you wonderful friends have walked beside each other and "have been the church" to each other. I can never tell them all how much you mean to Anita and to me. It has been one of the greatest blessings of my life to be a part of this...and I do not want to leave!
However, we will leave and we will be grateful that God will show us where He wants us to be and we will make new friends and family at a new church...but...we will never forget the friends and family we will leave here in Allen! And in case anyone thinks they are rid of us for good...we will be back! As the apostle Paul said of the believers at Colossi, "For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you. We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives" (Colossians 1:9) We too will continue to pray for this church and for all of our loved ones in the Hewitt-Miller BFG! Please know that you are all welcome to visit us in San Antonio...in fact, we will be disappointed if you do not! We love you all and thank you from the bottom of our hearts for your love and friendship.
In His Strength and Love,
Clint
The one thing we know in this life, is that we will all face changes throughout our lives. Some changes are easy, while some are hard and heart-rending. Anita and I are facing one of those hard changes in our lives. Sunday was really our last "official" day to be in our Bible Fellowship Group (Sunday School to the uninitiated!) We will be moving to San Antonio, where I am working on a new hospital tower at Brooke Army Medical Center. We will be listing our home for sale shortly and we will live in San Antonio until we see where God leads us next. However, one of the changes that we are making will be to leave our church home and find a new one in San Antonio. Of all the changes we face in our move, this is the one I really do not look forward to. Yes, I know all the theological answers...and I accept the fact that God will have a place for us. However, I still do not like leaving the church where my children came to follow the Lord or where they grew up and where we saw so many of their friends grow up as well. I especially don't like leaving the "family" that we have in this church. Over the past few months, we have been encouraged and blessed by the friends that we have come to know and love at this church. Last year we were blessed to be part of a small group that began a new BFG and I was blessed to be part of a team that taught this class. Together, we have grown close to each other as we laughed and smiled and celebrated the marriages of children and the births of grandchildren (we are all about the grandchildren in this BFG!) We have walked beside each other as we have mourned the deaths of parents and loved ones, and we have been devastated by the loss of one of our own. Through all of this, you wonderful friends have walked beside each other and "have been the church" to each other. I can never tell them all how much you mean to Anita and to me. It has been one of the greatest blessings of my life to be a part of this...and I do not want to leave!
However, we will leave and we will be grateful that God will show us where He wants us to be and we will make new friends and family at a new church...but...we will never forget the friends and family we will leave here in Allen! And in case anyone thinks they are rid of us for good...we will be back! As the apostle Paul said of the believers at Colossi, "For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you. We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives" (Colossians 1:9) We too will continue to pray for this church and for all of our loved ones in the Hewitt-Miller BFG! Please know that you are all welcome to visit us in San Antonio...in fact, we will be disappointed if you do not! We love you all and thank you from the bottom of our hearts for your love and friendship.
In His Strength and Love,
Clint
Monday, August 23, 2010
Welcome, Caroline Grace Williamson!
Over the past nine months, we have grown more and more excited as our daughter, Alicia has carried a precious life within her. In April, we learned that this baby would be Tim and Alicia's first daughter and Mimi and papaw's first granddaughter. Well, last night Alicia and Tim went to the hospital and this afternoon, we welcomed our newest family member, Miss Caroline Grace Williamson! We are thrilled! First of all, we are so thankful to God for this precious blessing and for her good health and the health of her mother. You all can read this, but it is really for my grandaughter, Caroline Grace!
Oh precious little one, you cannot know how much you are already loved! Your mommy and daddy and your big brothers, your aunts and uncles and especially your Mimi and Papaw have been looking forward to meeting you since the day we knew found out you would be born. I want to tell you some things that you will need to know about your family and how much they love you!
First of all, your Mommy is my little girl and at one time, a long time ago, she was not really much bigger than you. You will learn that you have the best Mommy in the world, your brothers will tell you that! Your Daddy will love you the same way I loved your Mommy. Both of them will love you no matter what happens. That is one thing that you can always know! They will teach you many things as you grow, how to dress your dollies, how to have tea parties, how to ride a bicycle, but the most important thing they will teach you is that God loves you and that He can do anything! Don't ever forget that, little one!
You will soon get to meet two of my very favorite people in all the world, your big brothers, Mark Garrett and Luke Patton. They are the best. They have also been excited to meet you and have lots of fun planned with you. Most of that fun will have to wait until you are a little older. Always remember that Mark and Luke will watch out for you. Since they are a little older than you, they know a few more things than you. They will show you their favorite books and I'll bet they even let you play with their trains when you are a little bigger. I think Luke may have a bit of a hard time saying your name. As your brother Mark would say, "That might be a little bit tricky for him!" But always know that they will love you...even when it might not seem that way!
In a few months you will get to meet Aunt Meghan and Uncle Mark. Uncle Mark is your Mommy's brother and he is the one your brother Mark is named for. Aunt Meghan will read to you and have lots of fun with you. She has been waiting to meet you just like the rest of us. Uncle Mark will love on you and hug you and he will seem really silly sometimes, but always know that Uncle Mark and Aunt Meghan love you sooooo much!
Now, let me tell you about a very special lady that will be waiting for you at your house, when you come home from the hospital...Mimi! Mark and Luke think that she is the best Mimi ever! And I think they are right. Your Mimi has been waiting for you for quite some time. She has already bought you books and cuddly animals and dolls that you will love! Mark and Luke can tell you that she has a whole closet full of toys at her house, just for you and your brothers to play with! Mimi is one of the wisest people you will ever meet. She loves God and loves to tell your brothers about Him and I know she will tell you also!
That leaves me, your Papaw! Mark and Luke will tell you that there is one thing that you can know...you have a Papaw who loves you more than life! I can tell you one thing I already know about you. You already have your Papaw wrapped around your little finger (that just means that you can pretty much get Papaw to do anything you want!) Oh Caroline, I am so excited about going for walks with you, and reading bedtime stories (Mark and Luke are pretty big fans of my bedtime stories!), rocking you and loving on you! I want you to know that Mimi and I will always love you no matter what! Well, I can't wait to see you in a couple of weeks! I love you, baby girl!
Papaw
Oh precious little one, you cannot know how much you are already loved! Your mommy and daddy and your big brothers, your aunts and uncles and especially your Mimi and Papaw have been looking forward to meeting you since the day we knew found out you would be born. I want to tell you some things that you will need to know about your family and how much they love you!
First of all, your Mommy is my little girl and at one time, a long time ago, she was not really much bigger than you. You will learn that you have the best Mommy in the world, your brothers will tell you that! Your Daddy will love you the same way I loved your Mommy. Both of them will love you no matter what happens. That is one thing that you can always know! They will teach you many things as you grow, how to dress your dollies, how to have tea parties, how to ride a bicycle, but the most important thing they will teach you is that God loves you and that He can do anything! Don't ever forget that, little one!
You will soon get to meet two of my very favorite people in all the world, your big brothers, Mark Garrett and Luke Patton. They are the best. They have also been excited to meet you and have lots of fun planned with you. Most of that fun will have to wait until you are a little older. Always remember that Mark and Luke will watch out for you. Since they are a little older than you, they know a few more things than you. They will show you their favorite books and I'll bet they even let you play with their trains when you are a little bigger. I think Luke may have a bit of a hard time saying your name. As your brother Mark would say, "That might be a little bit tricky for him!" But always know that they will love you...even when it might not seem that way!
In a few months you will get to meet Aunt Meghan and Uncle Mark. Uncle Mark is your Mommy's brother and he is the one your brother Mark is named for. Aunt Meghan will read to you and have lots of fun with you. She has been waiting to meet you just like the rest of us. Uncle Mark will love on you and hug you and he will seem really silly sometimes, but always know that Uncle Mark and Aunt Meghan love you sooooo much!
Now, let me tell you about a very special lady that will be waiting for you at your house, when you come home from the hospital...Mimi! Mark and Luke think that she is the best Mimi ever! And I think they are right. Your Mimi has been waiting for you for quite some time. She has already bought you books and cuddly animals and dolls that you will love! Mark and Luke can tell you that she has a whole closet full of toys at her house, just for you and your brothers to play with! Mimi is one of the wisest people you will ever meet. She loves God and loves to tell your brothers about Him and I know she will tell you also!
That leaves me, your Papaw! Mark and Luke will tell you that there is one thing that you can know...you have a Papaw who loves you more than life! I can tell you one thing I already know about you. You already have your Papaw wrapped around your little finger (that just means that you can pretty much get Papaw to do anything you want!) Oh Caroline, I am so excited about going for walks with you, and reading bedtime stories (Mark and Luke are pretty big fans of my bedtime stories!), rocking you and loving on you! I want you to know that Mimi and I will always love you no matter what! Well, I can't wait to see you in a couple of weeks! I love you, baby girl!
Papaw
Thursday, August 19, 2010
Confusion Over Obama's Faith
In one of the most recent survey efforts by the Pew Research Center and the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life, the American public has indicated some confusion over the President's faith. Apparently, more than 40% of the American public does not know what the President believes. This is up significantly from last year's survey. I could probably offer a number of reasons for the change and for the confusion about the President's faith. However, that is not my point today. Suffice to say that there are questions and confusion that centers around his beliefs. And, it is probably true that his actions and words have done nothing to clarify his belief system. However, the deeper question for you and me is not whether the American people know what the President believes, but rather the real question is whether my circle of family, friends and acquaintances can look at me and know what I believe?
I profess to be a follower of Jesus Christ, but does this belief system drive what my life looks like? How would the people around me respond if asked about my beliefs? Would they be able to say without question that he is a follower of Jesus Christ, no matter what or would they respond by saying that I was a Christ-follower except when life got hard? Would they say that he really stands out as an honest, dependable employee who always gives more than others? Would my family say, he would give up his life for his beliefs and for us? Would my church family agree that I have a passion for God's Word and His work?
The worst possible answer I can imagine, to the question about my beliefs, would be "We are confused about his beliefs!" Wouldn't that really be an indictment of my lack of trust and obedience to God? It would be much like the indictment of the church at Laodicea "So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth. (Revelation 3:16)" It is my prayer that we always live so that there is no confusion about our faith!
I profess to be a follower of Jesus Christ, but does this belief system drive what my life looks like? How would the people around me respond if asked about my beliefs? Would they be able to say without question that he is a follower of Jesus Christ, no matter what or would they respond by saying that I was a Christ-follower except when life got hard? Would they say that he really stands out as an honest, dependable employee who always gives more than others? Would my family say, he would give up his life for his beliefs and for us? Would my church family agree that I have a passion for God's Word and His work?
The worst possible answer I can imagine, to the question about my beliefs, would be "We are confused about his beliefs!" Wouldn't that really be an indictment of my lack of trust and obedience to God? It would be much like the indictment of the church at Laodicea "So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth. (Revelation 3:16)" It is my prayer that we always live so that there is no confusion about our faith!
Wednesday, August 4, 2010
A Great Time!
Well, summer has almost come and gone and with it vacations and family trips too! Our summer was relatively eventful. Mark and Meghan celebrated their 1st anniversary and have weathered the first year of marriage quite well. Anita and I, along with Meghan's mom and dad, Steve and Donna, are all so glad they "found" each other! The summer also saw me start a new job in San Antonio, as a senior project manager on the renovation of the existing Brook Army medical Center and the addition of a new 8-story hospital tower. I love the job, but do not enjoy being away from Anita all week. We are pretty unsettled about what we should do and where we should live. With our financial situation, we will be looking to sell the house and downsize this fall/winter. So we await what God has for us. He has led us through some amazing paths over the past several months, reinforcing what Anita says, "Life is hard, but God is good!"
I think Anita would agree, that the best part of our summer was the visit by our daughter, son-in-law and two grandsons. They spent a little over 2 weeks with us and we had lots of fun and made lots of memories! Alicia decided to drive out to our home, from King's Bay, Georgia and she asked Meghan to come and travel with she and the boys. Tim was limited in the time he could spend away from the Navy. Meghan and Alicia drove for two days and arrived at our house on a Saturday afternoon, with two little boys who were ready to be out of their car seats! The good news was that Aunt Meghan probably loved Mark and Luke even more after her trip than before! Over the next two weeks, we had lots of good bedtime stories, trips to the pool, fun with the pellet gun, an outing to the lake with Papaw and Uncle Mark, a ride on the light rail and visit to the aquarium, snow cones and ice cream! Best of all, I got to spend pretty much all day and evening on the weekends, with all of them. One of the best times of the day for Papaw is bath-time and bed-time! It is interesting that when they are at Mimi's house, they believe that Papaw is the one who should bathe them and put them to bed...so I do! As Mark would say, they have both gotten a little bit tricky now. They know which stories take longer to read and they also know that Papaw will read until Mimi or Mommy tells him to stop, which usually happens after the fourth or fifth story! We also usually have to sing a song for each of them. Sometimes Mark will choose a hymn, but sometimes he will ask for the "Aggie song" (for the non-Aggies, that means the Spirit of Aggieland!) He will sing along with me and never miss a word. He also knows and sings all the hymns he requests. Luke is not quite up to Carnegie Hall performance standards yet, but he does know "Nothing But The Blood!" and he sings it with gusto! After reading and prayers (Mark prays that God will take away "mine and Lukie's heart of stone and give us a new heart of flesh!") each one gets tucked in. Luke likes to have me tuck in "Jake, Big Monkey and Widdle Monkey" and then he likes to have his back rubbed for just a minute. Mark sleeps with Jake (yes they each have a Jake bear) and usually a car if he can get it past Mom or Mimi. He also sleeps with an iPod playing his "night-nights music." He likes for Papaw to "lie down and snuggle with me for just a minute or two." As I leave, I always tell him, "No matter what happens, always remember that you had a Papaw who loved you no matter what!" He responds the same way, every night...he looks at me and smiles and says, "Me too, Papaw!" I can't resist either one of them!
I also got to spend time with my daughter and son-in-law and we all got to "meet" our soon-to-be-born grand-daughter. She is not a big fan of her two big brothers climbing all over her Mommy's tummy and she usually responds by kicking back! September should be interesting around the Williamson house!
All in all, it was a great time and we fell blessed beyond measure! We Love you Mark and Meghan! We love you Alicia and Tim! And, Mark and Luke and Baby Girl Williamson, always remember that you have a Mimi and Papaw that love you no matter what!
I think Anita would agree, that the best part of our summer was the visit by our daughter, son-in-law and two grandsons. They spent a little over 2 weeks with us and we had lots of fun and made lots of memories! Alicia decided to drive out to our home, from King's Bay, Georgia and she asked Meghan to come and travel with she and the boys. Tim was limited in the time he could spend away from the Navy. Meghan and Alicia drove for two days and arrived at our house on a Saturday afternoon, with two little boys who were ready to be out of their car seats! The good news was that Aunt Meghan probably loved Mark and Luke even more after her trip than before! Over the next two weeks, we had lots of good bedtime stories, trips to the pool, fun with the pellet gun, an outing to the lake with Papaw and Uncle Mark, a ride on the light rail and visit to the aquarium, snow cones and ice cream! Best of all, I got to spend pretty much all day and evening on the weekends, with all of them. One of the best times of the day for Papaw is bath-time and bed-time! It is interesting that when they are at Mimi's house, they believe that Papaw is the one who should bathe them and put them to bed...so I do! As Mark would say, they have both gotten a little bit tricky now. They know which stories take longer to read and they also know that Papaw will read until Mimi or Mommy tells him to stop, which usually happens after the fourth or fifth story! We also usually have to sing a song for each of them. Sometimes Mark will choose a hymn, but sometimes he will ask for the "Aggie song" (for the non-Aggies, that means the Spirit of Aggieland!) He will sing along with me and never miss a word. He also knows and sings all the hymns he requests. Luke is not quite up to Carnegie Hall performance standards yet, but he does know "Nothing But The Blood!" and he sings it with gusto! After reading and prayers (Mark prays that God will take away "mine and Lukie's heart of stone and give us a new heart of flesh!") each one gets tucked in. Luke likes to have me tuck in "Jake, Big Monkey and Widdle Monkey" and then he likes to have his back rubbed for just a minute. Mark sleeps with Jake (yes they each have a Jake bear) and usually a car if he can get it past Mom or Mimi. He also sleeps with an iPod playing his "night-nights music." He likes for Papaw to "lie down and snuggle with me for just a minute or two." As I leave, I always tell him, "No matter what happens, always remember that you had a Papaw who loved you no matter what!" He responds the same way, every night...he looks at me and smiles and says, "Me too, Papaw!" I can't resist either one of them!
I also got to spend time with my daughter and son-in-law and we all got to "meet" our soon-to-be-born grand-daughter. She is not a big fan of her two big brothers climbing all over her Mommy's tummy and she usually responds by kicking back! September should be interesting around the Williamson house!
All in all, it was a great time and we fell blessed beyond measure! We Love you Mark and Meghan! We love you Alicia and Tim! And, Mark and Luke and Baby Girl Williamson, always remember that you have a Mimi and Papaw that love you no matter what!
Friday, July 2, 2010
Giving Away Your Heart
Yesterday, I received a voicemail from my daughter, who called to say, "Well, just in case Mark Garrett didn't have your heart already, just wait until you hear him sing "the Spirit of Aggieland!" Now, she knows a lot about me giving my heart away, because I gave it to her one Sunday morning, in September of 1978. As I thought about her voicemail, I began to realize that there were a number of times I have given my heart away, to different people and what that meant.
I remember a Christmas season, in 1974, when I realized that a young lady named Anita, had taken my heart, almost before I knew it. What had been a good friendship had become the beginning of a lifelong love. Over the past 36 years, I have never regretted giving her my heart and I would do it over again every day!
In 1978, I met a little girl named Alicia, who with one little quiver of her bottom lip, stole my heart away. For the next 25 years, she continued to own my heart and then, even after she stole another man's heart (sorry, Tim!) she has always known she had mine as well. Two years after she was born, I once again gave my heart away to her brother. I knew the minute I saw him and held him that he too would own my heart. Through all the days since, he has had my heart, to carry around with him.
In September of 2005, I met a little boy named Mark Garrett and held him for the first time. He definitely stole my heart and I didn't even mind. I don't know if he even knows it yet, but he will always have my heart and there is nothing that could ever change that. Two years later, at a pay phone in Malindi, Kenya, I knew that once again, I would be giving my heart away to another little grandson. This time, it would be to Luke Patton. He has, like his brother before him, completely captured my heart! I think the real trouble lies in the fact that in September, I will be giving my heart away again...to a little granddaughter that will be just as wonderful as her brothers. I can't wait!
Over the years, I have realized that God intended for us to develop the kind of relationships where we give our hearts away to those we love. In fact, it was so important that he gave us a model, in His Son. You see, the most important time I gave my heart away was a summer night in Irving, Texas, when I gave my heart of stone to Jesus and He gave me His heart of flesh. As the poet said, "...that has made all the difference!"
I have no idea what your life is like. You may be lonely and have not a single person to whom you have given your heart. Or you may have lots of people in your life. Either way, I can tell you that if you have not given your heart to the Lord and Savior of the world, you are not complete. Unless that heart give-away has taken place, you are just going through the motions of life...without purpose and without hope!
I would love to sit down and tell you how that heart transplant can take place. If you would like to know more, just post a comment for me and I will get back to you. In the meantime, I just would like to keep giving my heart away...it's the only way to really live!
I remember a Christmas season, in 1974, when I realized that a young lady named Anita, had taken my heart, almost before I knew it. What had been a good friendship had become the beginning of a lifelong love. Over the past 36 years, I have never regretted giving her my heart and I would do it over again every day!
In 1978, I met a little girl named Alicia, who with one little quiver of her bottom lip, stole my heart away. For the next 25 years, she continued to own my heart and then, even after she stole another man's heart (sorry, Tim!) she has always known she had mine as well. Two years after she was born, I once again gave my heart away to her brother. I knew the minute I saw him and held him that he too would own my heart. Through all the days since, he has had my heart, to carry around with him.
In September of 2005, I met a little boy named Mark Garrett and held him for the first time. He definitely stole my heart and I didn't even mind. I don't know if he even knows it yet, but he will always have my heart and there is nothing that could ever change that. Two years later, at a pay phone in Malindi, Kenya, I knew that once again, I would be giving my heart away to another little grandson. This time, it would be to Luke Patton. He has, like his brother before him, completely captured my heart! I think the real trouble lies in the fact that in September, I will be giving my heart away again...to a little granddaughter that will be just as wonderful as her brothers. I can't wait!
Over the years, I have realized that God intended for us to develop the kind of relationships where we give our hearts away to those we love. In fact, it was so important that he gave us a model, in His Son. You see, the most important time I gave my heart away was a summer night in Irving, Texas, when I gave my heart of stone to Jesus and He gave me His heart of flesh. As the poet said, "...that has made all the difference!"
I have no idea what your life is like. You may be lonely and have not a single person to whom you have given your heart. Or you may have lots of people in your life. Either way, I can tell you that if you have not given your heart to the Lord and Savior of the world, you are not complete. Unless that heart give-away has taken place, you are just going through the motions of life...without purpose and without hope!
I would love to sit down and tell you how that heart transplant can take place. If you would like to know more, just post a comment for me and I will get back to you. In the meantime, I just would like to keep giving my heart away...it's the only way to really live!
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
For Alicia, Mark, Tim, Meghan, Mark Garrett and Luke Patton (and a grandaughter to be named later!)
Throughout my life, I have been blessed to have had several great "dad" role models. I have had two grandfathers, Papa and Papaw, who left no room for doubt about whether they loved me. I had a father who, though he is no longer here, is by my side every day. And, I have a father-in-law, who showed me what the phrase "Duty, Honor, Country" was all about! I believe that there have been no greater influences on my life, by anyone on this earth, than these men. So, what did I learn from them? I am glad you asked.
My Papa was my mother's dad. He had coal black hair and had a 1948 Jeepster that he drove. I remember thinking that I would really like to have a red Jeepster when I got big. His was filled with all sorts of tools, most of which I had no idea even what they were. However, I knew they had to be cool! It seemed to me that even though he was retired when I came along, he always had some job to do around the house or at church. I don't know if he knew it (now that I am a grandfather, I am actually sure that what he did and what he said to me, were very deliberate) but to a 5-year old boy, there is nothing that means more than for a grandfather to take him and show him how to use a tool...especially ones that required electricity, gasoline or acetylene to run! I remember to this day that after we would eat breakfast (usually biscuits, gravy, eggs and bacon; old men and young boys require lots of calories for work purposes!) we would go out to his old garage. His garage was an old dirty, musty structure, with dirt floors and cobwebs all around. It was amazing to my small self! He would then lay out a few tools and tell me to take them to the chicken coop or the garden fence or any number of locations where a minor construction project awaited us. I seriously doubt that I did anything helpful for him, but I can never thank him enough for spending those mornings with me and teaching me how to work with my hands. I can probably trace some of my love of tools and building to my Papa. By the way, he was the first person to ever "let" me use a gasoline-powered tiller! I remember thinking, when he died, that the world would never be the same...and I was right. However, I have my memories and I never see an antique Jeepster without smiling and thinking of him!
Another role model in my life was my Papaw. When I think of him, I think about the Brad Paisley song, "When I Get Where I'm Going." There is a line in that song that says, "I want to walk beside my grandaddy and match him step for step and tell him how I missed him every minute since he left!" I always tell my grandson, Mark Garrett and Luke Patton, that no matter what happens to me or to them, to always remember that they had a Papaw that loved them more than his own life. I tell them that because it is what I know about my Papaw and it has carried me through some hard days. My Papaw believed that a boy was never too young to learn how to run an outboard motor on the back of a small fishing boat. Later, I did learn that he had an ulterior motive for teaching me how to run an outboard by the time I was 5-years old! He knew I would be willing to run the motor all day and he could fish! As Mark Garrett says, "That would be pretty tricky!" He also taught me how to finish concrete, put on shingles, cut and lay building stone. I think the most valuable thing he taught me was simply that spending time with a child is really the only way to show them how much they are loved.
I met my father-in-law, Charlie Horton, in 1975, almost a year before I married his daughter. From the first time I met Charlie, he treated me like a son. He recruited me on many a crazy trip to the dump, to scavenge building material..."perfectly good lumber, after you remove the nails, cut off the rotten parts and scrape all the concrete off!" I remember the Christmas after Anita and I married, when we had no money and were going to have to borrow money for me to finish my last semester of college. He called and said if I wanted to earn a little bit of money, he could set up a couple of odd jobs. I readily agreed and he told me to come to Abilene as soon as I finished the semester. When I arrived in Abilene in mid-December, he had lined up a "couple of jobs!" Apparently in "Charlie speak" that meant as many as we could do working 12 hour days for three weeks. I never knew how much he would pay me, but we figured anything would help. However, when Anita and I got ready to go back to Arlington, Charlie gave me an envelope that had more than enough money to pay for my tuition, fees and books! I learned the value of helping someone while letting them keep their dignity. To this day, I never think about Charlie, that I am not grateful to the Lord for bringing him into my life (along with Anita, of course!)
The fourth man that molded my life was my Dad, G.C. Miller. I am amazed every day that I am still learning from the things he taught me and told me and showed me throughout my life. With Dad, he never made a big outward show that he was teaching you something, he just did it and expected it to stick. My Dad taught me that loving the Lord was more important than anything you could ever accomplish and that loving your wife and family came next. He also taught me, by years of being a living example, that because God and Christ loved the Church, we needed to love it too. The Church was the only organization that was given the charge of spreading the Gospel...and, is there anything more important? My Dad also taught me how to appreciate and care for God's creation. He always taught my brother and me to make sure when you left a deer lease or a ranch or farm, to leave it in better condition than when you arrived. However, the one thing I know from my Dad, is that there is ONE THING...to live life by looking through the eyes of eternity! For that I will be thankful every day of eternity!
This Father's Day is the first without my Dad and I cannot begin to tell you how hard that is! This Saturday, several children, grandchildren and my Mom will all go to the DFW National Cemetery, where we will see his burial place. We will laugh and tell good "Papaw" stories and yes, I will admit we will cry, but here is what my Dad would tell us. If he could, he would use the words of the angel who said to the followers of Jesus, on that resurrection morning almost 2,000 years ago, "Why do you seek the living among the dead? He is risen, he is not here!" You see, my Dad will not meet us at the cemetery on Saturday. He will be spending his first Father's Day with His Heavenly Father and with his Savior and Lord! There is one more thing he would tell all of us and all of you, "BE THERE!" When the day dawns that you and I cross over that river or if the Lord returns first, my Dad would want you to be there in heaven with him! He would ask for no better Father's Day gift!
I don't believe I could tell you anything more important...just be there! And I will see you there! If you don't see me when you first get there, just find Jesus and I will be the one holding His hand and touching His side!
My Papa was my mother's dad. He had coal black hair and had a 1948 Jeepster that he drove. I remember thinking that I would really like to have a red Jeepster when I got big. His was filled with all sorts of tools, most of which I had no idea even what they were. However, I knew they had to be cool! It seemed to me that even though he was retired when I came along, he always had some job to do around the house or at church. I don't know if he knew it (now that I am a grandfather, I am actually sure that what he did and what he said to me, were very deliberate) but to a 5-year old boy, there is nothing that means more than for a grandfather to take him and show him how to use a tool...especially ones that required electricity, gasoline or acetylene to run! I remember to this day that after we would eat breakfast (usually biscuits, gravy, eggs and bacon; old men and young boys require lots of calories for work purposes!) we would go out to his old garage. His garage was an old dirty, musty structure, with dirt floors and cobwebs all around. It was amazing to my small self! He would then lay out a few tools and tell me to take them to the chicken coop or the garden fence or any number of locations where a minor construction project awaited us. I seriously doubt that I did anything helpful for him, but I can never thank him enough for spending those mornings with me and teaching me how to work with my hands. I can probably trace some of my love of tools and building to my Papa. By the way, he was the first person to ever "let" me use a gasoline-powered tiller! I remember thinking, when he died, that the world would never be the same...and I was right. However, I have my memories and I never see an antique Jeepster without smiling and thinking of him!
Another role model in my life was my Papaw. When I think of him, I think about the Brad Paisley song, "When I Get Where I'm Going." There is a line in that song that says, "I want to walk beside my grandaddy and match him step for step and tell him how I missed him every minute since he left!" I always tell my grandson, Mark Garrett and Luke Patton, that no matter what happens to me or to them, to always remember that they had a Papaw that loved them more than his own life. I tell them that because it is what I know about my Papaw and it has carried me through some hard days. My Papaw believed that a boy was never too young to learn how to run an outboard motor on the back of a small fishing boat. Later, I did learn that he had an ulterior motive for teaching me how to run an outboard by the time I was 5-years old! He knew I would be willing to run the motor all day and he could fish! As Mark Garrett says, "That would be pretty tricky!" He also taught me how to finish concrete, put on shingles, cut and lay building stone. I think the most valuable thing he taught me was simply that spending time with a child is really the only way to show them how much they are loved.
I met my father-in-law, Charlie Horton, in 1975, almost a year before I married his daughter. From the first time I met Charlie, he treated me like a son. He recruited me on many a crazy trip to the dump, to scavenge building material..."perfectly good lumber, after you remove the nails, cut off the rotten parts and scrape all the concrete off!" I remember the Christmas after Anita and I married, when we had no money and were going to have to borrow money for me to finish my last semester of college. He called and said if I wanted to earn a little bit of money, he could set up a couple of odd jobs. I readily agreed and he told me to come to Abilene as soon as I finished the semester. When I arrived in Abilene in mid-December, he had lined up a "couple of jobs!" Apparently in "Charlie speak" that meant as many as we could do working 12 hour days for three weeks. I never knew how much he would pay me, but we figured anything would help. However, when Anita and I got ready to go back to Arlington, Charlie gave me an envelope that had more than enough money to pay for my tuition, fees and books! I learned the value of helping someone while letting them keep their dignity. To this day, I never think about Charlie, that I am not grateful to the Lord for bringing him into my life (along with Anita, of course!)
The fourth man that molded my life was my Dad, G.C. Miller. I am amazed every day that I am still learning from the things he taught me and told me and showed me throughout my life. With Dad, he never made a big outward show that he was teaching you something, he just did it and expected it to stick. My Dad taught me that loving the Lord was more important than anything you could ever accomplish and that loving your wife and family came next. He also taught me, by years of being a living example, that because God and Christ loved the Church, we needed to love it too. The Church was the only organization that was given the charge of spreading the Gospel...and, is there anything more important? My Dad also taught me how to appreciate and care for God's creation. He always taught my brother and me to make sure when you left a deer lease or a ranch or farm, to leave it in better condition than when you arrived. However, the one thing I know from my Dad, is that there is ONE THING...to live life by looking through the eyes of eternity! For that I will be thankful every day of eternity!
This Father's Day is the first without my Dad and I cannot begin to tell you how hard that is! This Saturday, several children, grandchildren and my Mom will all go to the DFW National Cemetery, where we will see his burial place. We will laugh and tell good "Papaw" stories and yes, I will admit we will cry, but here is what my Dad would tell us. If he could, he would use the words of the angel who said to the followers of Jesus, on that resurrection morning almost 2,000 years ago, "Why do you seek the living among the dead? He is risen, he is not here!" You see, my Dad will not meet us at the cemetery on Saturday. He will be spending his first Father's Day with His Heavenly Father and with his Savior and Lord! There is one more thing he would tell all of us and all of you, "BE THERE!" When the day dawns that you and I cross over that river or if the Lord returns first, my Dad would want you to be there in heaven with him! He would ask for no better Father's Day gift!
I don't believe I could tell you anything more important...just be there! And I will see you there! If you don't see me when you first get there, just find Jesus and I will be the one holding His hand and touching His side!
Sunday, May 16, 2010
The Road Taken
Anita has been one of two anchor points in my life. The other is my relationship with Jesus Christ. Through the mountain-top experiences, as well as the deep valleys of life, she has stood by me and given me the kind of unconditional love that most people only dream of. She has never wavered in her commitment to her Lord and Savior or to me and her family. She has always had one goal in her life...to see as many family members and friends know Jesus Christ as possible! I have come to love her wit and sense of humor. She can laugh at herself and can cry with a friend who is hurting. I admire her determination to stand for what is right, no matter the personal cost. I think there is no one I personally know that has a heart more attuned to truth.
However, my favorite side of Anita is the one she reserved for her two grandsons. She loves them both and they know it. They both consider her "their own personal Mimi!" And, they are right. Whether it is making a hand print wreath or reading a Bible story, they know that Mimi loves them. As with our own children, she prays for these two little boys every day, just like she prays for their mom and dad and their uncle and aunt!
As I contemplate the last almost 35 years I have been privileged to spend with her, I am humbled by her love, for me and others and especially her Lord. I cannot imagine what my life would have been like without her, but to paraphrase the poet, "she has made all the difference!"
I love you, Anita! Happy anniversary!
Friday, May 14, 2010
What's Your Perspective?
I have a strange hobby. I read lot's of obscure, technical books, articles and reports about a variety of historical subjects. I have just recently slogged through the three-volume set of Shelby Foote's Anthology of the Civil War. It took me a while to get through all 2,000+ pages, but I did and I found it very interesting. I tell you this, so you will hopefully not think me crazy! I recently stumbled across several writings and film documentaries about Biblical archaeology. I have been fascinated by the lengths some authors will go to "prove" their own pet, implausible ideas about how events happened in the Bible.
Most secular scientists start their writing by telling us that they come at the study from a scientific and unbiased perspective. They usually make some kind of statement about letting the facts and the evidence speak for themselves. I believe there is a technical term for this...hogwash! I do not believe there is anyone alive, who has the ability to approach anything from a completely unbiased perspective! We all have a "worldview", that pervades all that we do, say and think...and that is not necessarily a bad thing! However, when you claim you have no bias from your own worldview, you are trying to pull the wool over your audience's eyes. Worse still, you are blinding your own eyes to the truth! I will tell you that I am very much biased by my worldview. You see, I believe that the universe and all that is in it was created by God. I also believe that God loved mankind so much that He sent His son, Jesus Christ, to be the perfect sacrifice for our sin debt and that same Jesus died on a Roman cross but was resurrected three days later. Every interpretation of data that I make, has this as the grounding perspective. However, I also recognize that there are many who totally discount this perspective and have a secular or postmodern worldview as their perspective. This secular worldview generally rejects the idea of God and certainly does not accept the idea that God can and does perform miraculous acts on this earth. They also, in order to remain true to their worldview, reject the idea of the bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ! So, when I hear someone tell me they have no bias, my response is one of great skepticism.
I recently came across an article titled, "Alternate Theories of Resurrection." It was written by Norman Geisler. In the article, Geisler puts forth the alternative theories that many with a postmodern worldview offer as "proof" that the resurrection of Jesus either did not happen or that there is a rational explanation that would explain it away. He then proceeds to point out the very real problems with all of the alternatives, except of course the real resurrection story. Anyone who reads this article and still denies the resurrection must suspend reality and rational thought in order to retain their secular, postmodern worldview.
At the end of the day, we are left with a choice between two worldviews...Christian or postmodern. There is no middle ground. You cannot have both. Either you accept that God is who He says He is or He is not. If you accept that God is who He says He is, then you have one more choice...to bow the knee and your heart and acknowledge Him as your Lord or to admit the truth, that you refuse to acknowledge Him as your Lord. The second choice places you squarely in the camp of the secular, postmodern worldview...in direct rebellion toward and rejection of God and His Son. So what's your perspective?
For interesting reading you can go to Associates For Bible Research for a variety of technical articles from a Christian worldview perspective.
Most secular scientists start their writing by telling us that they come at the study from a scientific and unbiased perspective. They usually make some kind of statement about letting the facts and the evidence speak for themselves. I believe there is a technical term for this...hogwash! I do not believe there is anyone alive, who has the ability to approach anything from a completely unbiased perspective! We all have a "worldview", that pervades all that we do, say and think...and that is not necessarily a bad thing! However, when you claim you have no bias from your own worldview, you are trying to pull the wool over your audience's eyes. Worse still, you are blinding your own eyes to the truth! I will tell you that I am very much biased by my worldview. You see, I believe that the universe and all that is in it was created by God. I also believe that God loved mankind so much that He sent His son, Jesus Christ, to be the perfect sacrifice for our sin debt and that same Jesus died on a Roman cross but was resurrected three days later. Every interpretation of data that I make, has this as the grounding perspective. However, I also recognize that there are many who totally discount this perspective and have a secular or postmodern worldview as their perspective. This secular worldview generally rejects the idea of God and certainly does not accept the idea that God can and does perform miraculous acts on this earth. They also, in order to remain true to their worldview, reject the idea of the bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ! So, when I hear someone tell me they have no bias, my response is one of great skepticism.
I recently came across an article titled, "Alternate Theories of Resurrection." It was written by Norman Geisler. In the article, Geisler puts forth the alternative theories that many with a postmodern worldview offer as "proof" that the resurrection of Jesus either did not happen or that there is a rational explanation that would explain it away. He then proceeds to point out the very real problems with all of the alternatives, except of course the real resurrection story. Anyone who reads this article and still denies the resurrection must suspend reality and rational thought in order to retain their secular, postmodern worldview.
At the end of the day, we are left with a choice between two worldviews...Christian or postmodern. There is no middle ground. You cannot have both. Either you accept that God is who He says He is or He is not. If you accept that God is who He says He is, then you have one more choice...to bow the knee and your heart and acknowledge Him as your Lord or to admit the truth, that you refuse to acknowledge Him as your Lord. The second choice places you squarely in the camp of the secular, postmodern worldview...in direct rebellion toward and rejection of God and His Son. So what's your perspective?
For interesting reading you can go to Associates For Bible Research for a variety of technical articles from a Christian worldview perspective.
Monday, May 10, 2010
What Do You Do When God Answers Your Prayers?
Have you ever wondered what to do when God answers your prayers? According to a number of surveys, a large majority of people in this country claim to pray at various times. I will accept that at face value (only because I don't want to argue about that!) However, I wonder what the response of these same people would be if they really believed God would answer their prayers and then saw Him do it? There is no debating that as Christians, we are told to pray without ceasing in I Thessalonians 5:17. In fact, the word for prayer or pray is used over 400 times in the Bible, so it must be important, don't you think? Jesus himself told us that whatever we ask in His name, he will do. So why do we pray such wimpy prayers? And, why are we so shocked when God answers our prayers?
Over the past few months, Anita and I have been struggling financially and we have asked God for His provision for our needs (it's amazing what I see as a need, that God doesn't!) We have been praying for a job and it appears He has provided es opportunities. So what do I do now? One of the jobs will require that Anita and I travel overseas for the next two years. There are lots of unknowns associated with the job and the move, but God has certainly done what we asked. The second job will be in the States, and will require that I travel to San Antonio every week. In retrospect, I did not respond properly when I received the job offers. My first response was not to go to my knees and thank a faithful Father for His amazing provision. No, my first response was to begin to see the problems and challenges that would come from working in an international setting, wondering what to do with our home, and probably most important, would our grandchildren even remember us when we returned (that's a big one on my list!) So, let me say, somewhat belatedly, that we are so grateful for these opportunities God has put before us and we humbly acknowledge that He is indeed Lord! I would also ask that He forgive my ungrateful hearts!
I have just told you how not to respond, but let me give you an example of what to do when God answers your prayers...even in a way that you never saw coming. And, even in a way that may cause your heart to hurt! We have some dear friends who have been a part of our family for more than 25 years. Their youngest daughter was inseparable from our daughter. We will call these friends T an D (we do change names to protect the innocent around here!) From the time their daughters were babies, they have prayed for them to be obedient to God and to be used to His glory. I know this, because I know their hearts! When their oldest daughter was in college, she felt called to full-time service ministry. In fact, she spent almost two years in Asia, as a missionary. When she returned home she fell in love with and married a young man who, like her, felt called to the ministry, as a missionary. They pursued the education and training necessary to become missionaries. All the while, T and D continued that same prayer for their daughter. Last year, we all learned that their daughter and her family (now with a grandson and a precious granddaughter) would be travelling back to Asia to spread the Good News of the Gospel! I am sure that their hearts were hurting as they put their daughter's family on a plane to travel half-way around the world, but I also know they had found an amazing joy in the obedience of their daughter and her husband and they were truly grateful to God for His answered prayer!
So, what do you do when God answers your prayer...even with an answer you don't want? First, respond with thanksgiving. God wants only the best for His children, not the easiest, not the safest, not the most comfortable, but the best. Second, go ahead and tell God that you will need His grace and His mercies to get through that answer to your prayers. He already knows when you feel disappointed and hurt. You can't surprise Him or shock Him and He will love you no less, just because you are unhappy with His answer to your prayers. Lastly, like the woman who persistently begged the judge for justice, keep praying!
Over the past few months, Anita and I have been struggling financially and we have asked God for His provision for our needs (it's amazing what I see as a need, that God doesn't!) We have been praying for a job and it appears He has provided es opportunities. So what do I do now? One of the jobs will require that Anita and I travel overseas for the next two years. There are lots of unknowns associated with the job and the move, but God has certainly done what we asked. The second job will be in the States, and will require that I travel to San Antonio every week. In retrospect, I did not respond properly when I received the job offers. My first response was not to go to my knees and thank a faithful Father for His amazing provision. No, my first response was to begin to see the problems and challenges that would come from working in an international setting, wondering what to do with our home, and probably most important, would our grandchildren even remember us when we returned (that's a big one on my list!) So, let me say, somewhat belatedly, that we are so grateful for these opportunities God has put before us and we humbly acknowledge that He is indeed Lord! I would also ask that He forgive my ungrateful hearts!
I have just told you how not to respond, but let me give you an example of what to do when God answers your prayers...even in a way that you never saw coming. And, even in a way that may cause your heart to hurt! We have some dear friends who have been a part of our family for more than 25 years. Their youngest daughter was inseparable from our daughter. We will call these friends T an D (we do change names to protect the innocent around here!) From the time their daughters were babies, they have prayed for them to be obedient to God and to be used to His glory. I know this, because I know their hearts! When their oldest daughter was in college, she felt called to full-time service ministry. In fact, she spent almost two years in Asia, as a missionary. When she returned home she fell in love with and married a young man who, like her, felt called to the ministry, as a missionary. They pursued the education and training necessary to become missionaries. All the while, T and D continued that same prayer for their daughter. Last year, we all learned that their daughter and her family (now with a grandson and a precious granddaughter) would be travelling back to Asia to spread the Good News of the Gospel! I am sure that their hearts were hurting as they put their daughter's family on a plane to travel half-way around the world, but I also know they had found an amazing joy in the obedience of their daughter and her husband and they were truly grateful to God for His answered prayer!
So, what do you do when God answers your prayer...even with an answer you don't want? First, respond with thanksgiving. God wants only the best for His children, not the easiest, not the safest, not the most comfortable, but the best. Second, go ahead and tell God that you will need His grace and His mercies to get through that answer to your prayers. He already knows when you feel disappointed and hurt. You can't surprise Him or shock Him and He will love you no less, just because you are unhappy with His answer to your prayers. Lastly, like the woman who persistently begged the judge for justice, keep praying!
Tuesday, May 4, 2010
Double Standard
It seems to me that the current debate over whether the State of Arizona has the authority to pass a law that Arizonans believe will help them protect the borders of their State, reveals a great deal about our country. Some of the things that have been revealed are disconcerting, like the fact that many Americans apparently believe the Constitution is no longer a document that is an absolute guarantor of negative rights...those things the government cannot do to you, but it is now a document that more closely sets out what the government will do for or to you. This is a slippery slope for this country, just like the idea that truth is not absolute, but relative. Once you take the first step towards the slippery slope of relative truth, the hinges come off the gate and the worms come out of the open can (I do realize that I am mixing metaphors, but I really wanted to see if I could fit three idiomatic metaphors in one sentence...and I can!) Another issue of note, revealed in the current debate is that we appear to be unable to have a debate at all. This country was founded on the principals of open debate and discussion. In fact, I believe, based on everything I can read, the Founding Fathers of this nation had some very heated disagreements. However, those disagreements were marked by educated and well-thought out discussions that did not routinely fall to the level of the personal attacks and name-calling that are hallmarks of today's disagreements. However, the real issue that I see in the current debate about the Arizona law is the double standard we see applied. You may ask, "What double standard?" Well, I am glad you asked!
For the past several days, I have not heard a news report from any source, that did not at least mention the Arizona law in passing. I thought I might escape the furor over a law that many would deem unconstitutional (although, few of those speaking out can offer a reason as to why it is unconstitutional!) by turning to the local ESPN radio station. Alas, it was not to be! The ESPN telephones were filled with people calling in to tell the world (or at least the sports world in the DFW area) why baseball should or should not be involved in the current discussions. I was fascinated by the fact that so many people have such strong opinions about the issue. It seems that many people believe that baseball has no business in politics. However, there is a vocal minority like Al Sharpton, Jesse Jackson, Alec Baldwin, Jeanine Garafalo (who made her the expert on anything?) and Bill Maher, that claim that baseball must be involved with politics, at least in the current immigration debate. Now here is where the double standard comes in. Listen to the following comments made by some of the above mentioned folks, "Baseball, as the American past-time, must make sure the voices of these who cannot speak for themselves are heard!; Baseball must weigh in on the side of fairness and equality!; and, Baseball owes it to future generations to do the right thing!" Now, suppose the debate was over abortion, do you honestly believe the same folks above would make statements like, "The Church must speak for those who cannot speak for themselves!; The Church must weigh in on the side of fairness and equality! and The Church must stand for future generations!" So, apparently baseball should be involved in politics, but the church should butt out? I think that if you look up "double standard" in the dictionary, this will be the example you will find...unless of course the dictionary is in a public school classroom; then, all references to "church" will be removed!
So, what is my point? Simply this, the world hates the Church. Jesus actually promised us this, so why are we surprised? So, if the world hates us already, shouldn't we then be more focused on obedience to God and stand for absolute truth (whether it is political or not?), double standard or not? If pleasing the world is your goal, Jesus tells you exactly how to achieve that objective. He tells us that the way is broad and smooth to gain the world's approval and friendship. The catch is that not only will you be loved by the world, but you will end up spending eternity with them, in destruction!
For the past several days, I have not heard a news report from any source, that did not at least mention the Arizona law in passing. I thought I might escape the furor over a law that many would deem unconstitutional (although, few of those speaking out can offer a reason as to why it is unconstitutional!) by turning to the local ESPN radio station. Alas, it was not to be! The ESPN telephones were filled with people calling in to tell the world (or at least the sports world in the DFW area) why baseball should or should not be involved in the current discussions. I was fascinated by the fact that so many people have such strong opinions about the issue. It seems that many people believe that baseball has no business in politics. However, there is a vocal minority like Al Sharpton, Jesse Jackson, Alec Baldwin, Jeanine Garafalo (who made her the expert on anything?) and Bill Maher, that claim that baseball must be involved with politics, at least in the current immigration debate. Now here is where the double standard comes in. Listen to the following comments made by some of the above mentioned folks, "Baseball, as the American past-time, must make sure the voices of these who cannot speak for themselves are heard!; Baseball must weigh in on the side of fairness and equality!; and, Baseball owes it to future generations to do the right thing!" Now, suppose the debate was over abortion, do you honestly believe the same folks above would make statements like, "The Church must speak for those who cannot speak for themselves!; The Church must weigh in on the side of fairness and equality! and The Church must stand for future generations!" So, apparently baseball should be involved in politics, but the church should butt out? I think that if you look up "double standard" in the dictionary, this will be the example you will find...unless of course the dictionary is in a public school classroom; then, all references to "church" will be removed!
So, what is my point? Simply this, the world hates the Church. Jesus actually promised us this, so why are we surprised? So, if the world hates us already, shouldn't we then be more focused on obedience to God and stand for absolute truth (whether it is political or not?), double standard or not? If pleasing the world is your goal, Jesus tells you exactly how to achieve that objective. He tells us that the way is broad and smooth to gain the world's approval and friendship. The catch is that not only will you be loved by the world, but you will end up spending eternity with them, in destruction!
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
Advice To My Son-In-Law
My son-in-law, Tim Williamson, is an amazing guy. He is a great husband to our daughter and an awesome father to our grandsons. Most importantly to Anita and me is the fact that Tim loves the Lord and gives spiritual leadership to his family! He also is one of those self-sacrificing young men who serves in the U.S. Navy submarine service. As a naval officer, he spends many hours away from all of us, defending our nation from those who would wish us harm and for that we are truly grateful.
However, Tim is about to enter the realms of Barbie dolls, tea parties and princesses! In September, he will meet the newest addition to the family, a precious baby girl. As a father who went through the same thing almost 32 years ago, I thought I might offer him some thoughts about what to expect.
First, be prepared to never own your heart again! From the time you meet this little girl and she curls her tiny hand around your finger, through her first day at school, to her leaving home for college, all the way through walking her down the aisle at her wedding, she will carry your heart around with her. She will be the only person in the world, besides your wife (my daughter...who still walks around with her daddy's heart) who can melt you with a smile, a look or a tear! Furthermore, you will love every minute of it!
Second, remember to make as many memories with this little girl as you can. Memories as simple as reading a bedtime story or taking her to get a snow cone or listening to her talk to her dolls, when she doesn't know you are there! Remember how she looks when she plays dress-up. Listen to her little girl giggles that sound like the music from the greatest symphony in the world. Mostly, remember and cherish those times when she climbs into your lap or comes into a room just to give you a hug!
Third, make sure she knows how much you love her and that you will love her, no matter what. She will need to understand that the love you have for her, no matter how great, is only a fraction of the love her Heavenly Father has for her. Remember, that you will always be the first man in her life!
Finally (and this is the hard one!), remember that your job as her father is one of planned obsolescence! You will begin working yourself out of a job, the day she is born! I can tell you that every milestone she reaches, will be a bittersweet one to you. When you see her take those first steps, when she walks from your car to the front door at kindergarten, when you drive away from her college dorm and when you walk her down that church aisle you will remember every moment you spent with her and be better for it. I can tell you from experience, you will be proud of her, but you will also feel like you are losing a small part of her. That's why I hope you make lots of special memories, because you will always have those! It seems like only last month that we brought your wife and my little girl home from the hospital, and then, last week she went off to school and this week she has a family of her own, with you! It has been a joy to watch her grow, but it sure seems like it went by too quickly! That's the way time works, as the poet said, "Time waits for no man!" However, our Father tells us to make the most of our time and to redeem those moments and memories and that is what I pray for you, Tim!
There is one more piece of advice I would offer...make sure you meet her first date, at the front door, with the shotgun you just happen to be cleaning! I love you and can't wait to meet your daughter!
However, Tim is about to enter the realms of Barbie dolls, tea parties and princesses! In September, he will meet the newest addition to the family, a precious baby girl. As a father who went through the same thing almost 32 years ago, I thought I might offer him some thoughts about what to expect.
First, be prepared to never own your heart again! From the time you meet this little girl and she curls her tiny hand around your finger, through her first day at school, to her leaving home for college, all the way through walking her down the aisle at her wedding, she will carry your heart around with her. She will be the only person in the world, besides your wife (my daughter...who still walks around with her daddy's heart) who can melt you with a smile, a look or a tear! Furthermore, you will love every minute of it!
Second, remember to make as many memories with this little girl as you can. Memories as simple as reading a bedtime story or taking her to get a snow cone or listening to her talk to her dolls, when she doesn't know you are there! Remember how she looks when she plays dress-up. Listen to her little girl giggles that sound like the music from the greatest symphony in the world. Mostly, remember and cherish those times when she climbs into your lap or comes into a room just to give you a hug!
Third, make sure she knows how much you love her and that you will love her, no matter what. She will need to understand that the love you have for her, no matter how great, is only a fraction of the love her Heavenly Father has for her. Remember, that you will always be the first man in her life!
Finally (and this is the hard one!), remember that your job as her father is one of planned obsolescence! You will begin working yourself out of a job, the day she is born! I can tell you that every milestone she reaches, will be a bittersweet one to you. When you see her take those first steps, when she walks from your car to the front door at kindergarten, when you drive away from her college dorm and when you walk her down that church aisle you will remember every moment you spent with her and be better for it. I can tell you from experience, you will be proud of her, but you will also feel like you are losing a small part of her. That's why I hope you make lots of special memories, because you will always have those! It seems like only last month that we brought your wife and my little girl home from the hospital, and then, last week she went off to school and this week she has a family of her own, with you! It has been a joy to watch her grow, but it sure seems like it went by too quickly! That's the way time works, as the poet said, "Time waits for no man!" However, our Father tells us to make the most of our time and to redeem those moments and memories and that is what I pray for you, Tim!
There is one more piece of advice I would offer...make sure you meet her first date, at the front door, with the shotgun you just happen to be cleaning! I love you and can't wait to meet your daughter!
Thursday, April 22, 2010
My First Letter to My New Granddaughter!
Dearest Little Girl,
Today has been an anxiously awaited day for our family. Today was to be the day that your Mommy went to the doctor for her official first sonogram and we were to find out whether you would be a little girl or a little boy. You cannot know how excited we have all been since we learned that you were to be born. We all wait for you to arrive in early September.
You are going to be born into a family that will love you more than you ever could imagine! The first people you will meet in our family are your Mommy and Daddy. They will take care of you and help you grow, but most importantly they will love you and tell you about how much God loves you. In fact, God loves you even more than your Mommy and Daddy and all the rest of you family! The next people you will meet will be your two big brothers, Mark Garrett and Luke Patton. They are both very excited to meet their new little sister and to help take care of you. In fact, since Mom and Dad told him that he was going to be a big brother again, Mark has insisted that you would be a "baby sister!" He was quite emphatic and would in fact, argue that you were a baby sister anytime someone would suggest otherwise. I guess he was right after all! Luke will be almost three years older than you and he is looking forward to teaching you all about Thomas and his friends. He will probably try to boss you, but remember he loves you very much!
The next person you meet will be a very special lady. She will be your Mimi. Mark and Luke can tell you how amazing she is, but you will get to find out yourself! She is a wise, godly and funny lady who will have tea parties with you and take you to see the spring flowers and who will always have books and toys for you. You will be Mimi's very first granddaughter and she will love you and take care of you.
Next, you will meet Uncle Mark and Aunt Meghan. Mark Garrett and Luke think that Uncle Mark is the coolest guy ever and they think Aunt Meghan is very special too. Aunt Meghan will read to you and tell you stories. They will both love you and are very excited to meet you! I'll bet that somehow, Uncle Mark will buy you your first camouflage baby clothes!
Now, let me tell you about myself. I am your Papaw. Your Mommy was my little girl. It will take you a little while, but you will quickly learn that Papaw is wrapped around your little finger. Mark and Luke will confirm that for you! I am very excited to meet you and to hold you and love on you. We will do fun things together, like read books, play games and pretty much anything else we can think of! As your big brother Mark would say, "It will be fun!"
Well, you have a few more months to grow inside of Mommy and then when you are ready, you will be born and we will all meet you then. I can't wait to hold you and sing to you and tell you the story of Jesus! I hope you know that you already have your Papaw's heart!
I love you,
Papaw
Today has been an anxiously awaited day for our family. Today was to be the day that your Mommy went to the doctor for her official first sonogram and we were to find out whether you would be a little girl or a little boy. You cannot know how excited we have all been since we learned that you were to be born. We all wait for you to arrive in early September.
You are going to be born into a family that will love you more than you ever could imagine! The first people you will meet in our family are your Mommy and Daddy. They will take care of you and help you grow, but most importantly they will love you and tell you about how much God loves you. In fact, God loves you even more than your Mommy and Daddy and all the rest of you family! The next people you will meet will be your two big brothers, Mark Garrett and Luke Patton. They are both very excited to meet their new little sister and to help take care of you. In fact, since Mom and Dad told him that he was going to be a big brother again, Mark has insisted that you would be a "baby sister!" He was quite emphatic and would in fact, argue that you were a baby sister anytime someone would suggest otherwise. I guess he was right after all! Luke will be almost three years older than you and he is looking forward to teaching you all about Thomas and his friends. He will probably try to boss you, but remember he loves you very much!
The next person you meet will be a very special lady. She will be your Mimi. Mark and Luke can tell you how amazing she is, but you will get to find out yourself! She is a wise, godly and funny lady who will have tea parties with you and take you to see the spring flowers and who will always have books and toys for you. You will be Mimi's very first granddaughter and she will love you and take care of you.
Next, you will meet Uncle Mark and Aunt Meghan. Mark Garrett and Luke think that Uncle Mark is the coolest guy ever and they think Aunt Meghan is very special too. Aunt Meghan will read to you and tell you stories. They will both love you and are very excited to meet you! I'll bet that somehow, Uncle Mark will buy you your first camouflage baby clothes!
Now, let me tell you about myself. I am your Papaw. Your Mommy was my little girl. It will take you a little while, but you will quickly learn that Papaw is wrapped around your little finger. Mark and Luke will confirm that for you! I am very excited to meet you and to hold you and love on you. We will do fun things together, like read books, play games and pretty much anything else we can think of! As your big brother Mark would say, "It will be fun!"
Well, you have a few more months to grow inside of Mommy and then when you are ready, you will be born and we will all meet you then. I can't wait to hold you and sing to you and tell you the story of Jesus! I hope you know that you already have your Papaw's heart!
I love you,
Papaw
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
"I No Teach To Catch Flies!"
In our family, we have been very excited since Christmas when Alicia told us that she was expecting Baby Williamson #3. Mark Garrett has been very pleased with the prospect of being a big brother to a second sibling. He is pretty confident that he has done a great job with Luke and is ready for new challenge. He is also quite sure "it will be a baby sister!" We are not quite that confident, but we will find out soon! Luke has been a different story, however. He has been fairly uninterested in the concept of being a big brother! However, that may be changing!
At school this week, Alicia was talking to Luke's teacher, who told her about a book they had read. In the book, the mother of a young frog had a baby frog and apparently the story was about how the young frog was the big brother and how the frog taught his new sibling how to be a frog. After reading the story, Luke's teacher asked he would be a good big brother when his Mommy had her baby. Luke looked at her and calmly replied, "I no teach to catch flies (apparently that was a big part of the little frog's job!)"
We are pleased that Luke is now getting excited about his new sibling (that would be a baby sister for those of you who take Mark Garrett's side in this!)" However, we are even more pleased that we will not have to worry about Luke teaching the new baby how to catch flies! I love this kid!
At school this week, Alicia was talking to Luke's teacher, who told her about a book they had read. In the book, the mother of a young frog had a baby frog and apparently the story was about how the young frog was the big brother and how the frog taught his new sibling how to be a frog. After reading the story, Luke's teacher asked he would be a good big brother when his Mommy had her baby. Luke looked at her and calmly replied, "I no teach to catch flies (apparently that was a big part of the little frog's job!)"
We are pleased that Luke is now getting excited about his new sibling (that would be a baby sister for those of you who take Mark Garrett's side in this!)" However, we are even more pleased that we will not have to worry about Luke teaching the new baby how to catch flies! I love this kid!
Thursday, April 1, 2010
He Knows The Answer!
Most people know that my youngest grandson, LP, has a pretty straightforward view of life. When you are tired, you take a nap; when you are hungry, you eat; when you are not sleepy or hungry, you play; and when you are hungry for marshmallows, you eat the whole bag! Last week, he revealed that he knows the answer to pretty much any question.
On Palm Sunday, my daughter and son-in-law were working in LP's Sunday School class. As the teacher had the children gathered around her for the Bible story, she asked, "Do you know what next Sunday is?" Before she could get the question out of her mouth, LP shouts, "God!" We all laughed about that story when my daughter told us and it was a cute story. However, the more I thought about it, the more I realized that LP was right. The answer to pretty much all of life's hard questions, is God! The most amazing part of the whole thing is that LP is only two-years old and yet, he knows and accepts what many adults refuse to acknowledge. Maybe that's why Jesus told His disciples that we would need to become like little children to inherit the Kingdom. My prayer for all of us, is that we would become more child-like in our faith and love for Jesus!
I love you, buddy!
Monday, March 22, 2010
Epic Battle!
I will admit that I am a history junkie! My wife knows that if we travel somewhere together, we will be stopping at every historic site along the way and that I am one of those people that feel compelled to read every plaque in every museum! She is quite patient with me!
However, there is one battle site that I have never seen, but it is the site of the most epic battle of all time. It was a battle that determined the very fate of all mankind and yet there were only a handful of people involved in the battle. Unlike many of the great battles of history, very few people even knew it was taking place and at the end of the day, there appeared to be only one casualty...and that casualty was a spotless lamb. You see this battle had been shaping up since before the foundation of the world. You see, nothing that happened after Creation was an accident or a surprise! God knew we would need someone to pay the penalty for our sins. So before "In the beginning..." God planned for our sin and for our redemption with the death of His Son. And on a small hill outside of Jerusalem, the battle for the souls and hearts of men took place. The forces of evil were represented by satan and all his minions, and yet the forces for good were represented by one solitary individual who really put up no fight at all. He did not speak a word of command in the battle, in fact, he did nothing to defend himself. He was lead to the small hill and with the pounding of a Roman hammer on 3 iron spikes, it appeared that the battle was over, once and for all, and that the forces of evil had finally taken complete control of God's creation.
However, like many battles, it took awhile for the dust to settle and to determine the real impact of the battle. In this case it took exactly three days, but for those three days, satan and his demons rejoiced at the fact that the One who was sent to redeem the souls of men was now dead and entombed along with any hope for redemption. As the dawn broke that third day, a sad group of disciples came to the tomb. They had no idea that the battle was still raging and that they were about to see the event that would change the course of eternity. When they reached the tomb and looked inside expecting to find a body of the One they had followed, they saw grave clothes, but no body! I can imagine that at that point a demonic scream echoed through the halls of time and eternity as satan realized that not only had he lost the battle, but the war was over and he had been utterly and completely defeated for all time. Through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, you and I were redeemed from the penalty of our sin for all time.
Most people do not think of Easter as a time to remember a battle, but I think it is the perfect time!
However, there is one battle site that I have never seen, but it is the site of the most epic battle of all time. It was a battle that determined the very fate of all mankind and yet there were only a handful of people involved in the battle. Unlike many of the great battles of history, very few people even knew it was taking place and at the end of the day, there appeared to be only one casualty...and that casualty was a spotless lamb. You see this battle had been shaping up since before the foundation of the world. You see, nothing that happened after Creation was an accident or a surprise! God knew we would need someone to pay the penalty for our sins. So before "In the beginning..." God planned for our sin and for our redemption with the death of His Son. And on a small hill outside of Jerusalem, the battle for the souls and hearts of men took place. The forces of evil were represented by satan and all his minions, and yet the forces for good were represented by one solitary individual who really put up no fight at all. He did not speak a word of command in the battle, in fact, he did nothing to defend himself. He was lead to the small hill and with the pounding of a Roman hammer on 3 iron spikes, it appeared that the battle was over, once and for all, and that the forces of evil had finally taken complete control of God's creation.
However, like many battles, it took awhile for the dust to settle and to determine the real impact of the battle. In this case it took exactly three days, but for those three days, satan and his demons rejoiced at the fact that the One who was sent to redeem the souls of men was now dead and entombed along with any hope for redemption. As the dawn broke that third day, a sad group of disciples came to the tomb. They had no idea that the battle was still raging and that they were about to see the event that would change the course of eternity. When they reached the tomb and looked inside expecting to find a body of the One they had followed, they saw grave clothes, but no body! I can imagine that at that point a demonic scream echoed through the halls of time and eternity as satan realized that not only had he lost the battle, but the war was over and he had been utterly and completely defeated for all time. Through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, you and I were redeemed from the penalty of our sin for all time.
Most people do not think of Easter as a time to remember a battle, but I think it is the perfect time!
Monday, March 15, 2010
Goodbye's Are Hard
We said goodbye to my dad this past week. My dad, Garland Clinton Miller went home to be with his Lord and Savior on Tuesday, March 9, 2010. He left behind a legacy of faith that will live on in countless lives that were touched by him.
Some people would look at his life and see that he never made a lot of money, never found a miracle cure for some terrible disease, travelled extensively or any of the other things that are seen as marks of worldly success. Those people are the same ones that would say he just lived an ordinary life. Those people could not be more wrong. You see, my dad knew the secret to living a life that would be more successful and make more impact than any riches or fame on this earth. To him it was as simple as this...to view everything through the eyes of eternity and to follow after God with his whole heart. He knew that the only thing that really mattered and had lasting impact was a life lived in Jesus Christ. My dad, along with my mom, raised four children, who in turn have raised eight grandchildren, who in turn have given him two great grandchildren (with one more on the way!) He loved everyone of those lives, too!
So what made his life so different from most peoples...just one thing - his commitment and love for Jesus Christ. So, what did my dad accomplish in this life? He was married to my mom for over 57 years and he loved her more the day he died than when they first met. He served our nation in the cause of freedom and was awarded the Bronze Star as a hospital corpsman, attached to the 1st Marine Division at Inchon and Chosin Reservoir. Years later, he told my brother and me that they called the Korean Conflict a "police action", but that it seemed like a war to him. He worked for the same company for more than 40 years and was respected and always worked "as unto the Lord." As I grew into adulthood, I saw him accept and love the woman I married, just as he did his own children. I saw this repeated with every addition to the family, when my brother and sisters were married. In 1978, he met his first grandchild and gave his heart away once more, to a precious granddaughter. Over the years, I think he was the only person who was wrapped tighter around her little finger than me! Over the next 20+ years, he saw six grandsons and one more granddaughter born and he loved everyone of them. In fact, they will all tell you that he loved them too much to let them get away with things they shouldn't! In 2003, he saw his first granddaughter married, to a U. S. Naval officer, and again he accepted and loved him like one of his own! In 2005, he met his first great-grandson and became Papaw G.C. to Mark Garrett and later to Luke. Like all the previous grandchildren, they became Papaw G.C.'s hammerheads! Throughout these years, he served faithfully as a deacon and later an elder at his church. He taught every grandson to hunt and to appreciate the beauty of God's creation. I am sorry that he never had the chance to take his great grandsons hunting, but we will make sure they know what he taught us, and not just about hunting!
On Saturday, we held a memorial service for my dad. The chapel was packed with people who had felt the impact of his life...family, friends, friends of family and even friends of friends, who had been touched in some way, by his life. A number of people said that it was "the best funeral" they had ever attended! He would have liked that. He would have liked the fact that we celebrated his life, more than mourned his passing. In the book of Psalms, Psalm 71 is one that was written by David, as he approached the end of his life. In verse 18, David tells us, "So even to old age and gray hairs, O God, do not forsake me, until I proclaim your might to another generation, your power to all those to come." My dad proclaimed His might to at least three more generations and I have no doubt that will have eternal impacts that we can never imagine!
I was proud to be his friend and hunting companion, but mostly I am proud to have known this quiet man of God as my dad! I will miss him, but I will see him again and we will walk across heaven's expanse together.
Thursday, February 25, 2010
I Know A Hero!
This post was written about my Dad, G.C. Miller, about two weeks before he went home to be with the Lord! I find myself missing him in the oddest moments. I miss him when my daughter calls to tell me something his two great-grandsons did or said...you see, I always called him and gave him the latest news about those two, and now I can't. I came across this post and thought it was still something that might mean something to our family and friends.
Well, I suppose I owe an explanation for the reason I have not posted since late November. First there was Christmas and grandsons visiting and then I was busy with work. Then in late January, my dad went into the hospital and has been there until this week, when he was moved to a short-term skilled nursing facility, at least that's what the doctors and health care professionals call it. I could write multiple posts about the state of health care in this country (PLEASE DO NOT READ THAT STATEMENT AS SUPPORT FOR OBAMACARE OR ANYTHING LIKE IT!), but I won't.
I would like to tell you about my dad. You see, I have amazing memories of my dad. One of the first memories I have was when I was about 4 years old. My dad took me and Jack (my first dog, the best pointer ever!) to an area that today is filled with suburban houses and elementary schools, but in those days it was prime quail hunting territory. All I really remember about the trip was that when I became too tired of trying to keep up with what I saw as giant steps, my dad picked me up and carried me on his shoulders back to the car. When I couldn't go any farther, he carried me. I guess you could say that was my first picture of what a father should be like. Over the years, I can remember so many times that my dad either stood beside me or somehow "carried" me and for that I will be eternally grateful and both time and computer memory would fail me should I try to write them all down.
A lot of people throw the word hero around and try to apply it to people whose lives and character is anything but heroic. My dad was different; he was the real thing! I remember that as a child, I learned that my dad had fought in the Korean Conflict and that he had been awarded the Bronze Star for valor in battle, but I did not know the rest of the story, as Paul Harvey would say. I remember vividly, to this day when I heard him tell the story of his wartime experience to my brother and me. It was the summer before I was to marry (we had not told anyone, even our parents at this point) and my dad and brother and I were driving back from a fishing trip, on the Texas coast. I was driving and my dad and brother were dozing as best they could, when my dad realized I was getting that glassy-eyed look and he began to talk in a low volume. We talked about lots of things, but two things stand out to me today. The first was that he looked at me and said that marrying the right woman had meant all the difference in his life, second only to his salvation and relationship with Jesus Christ. I have told this to my kids, to other young people and to anyone who would listen, because it is still true today (funny how that absolute truth thing works!) The second thing he told me was about how he won the Bronze Star.
In September of 1950, the North Korean armies had poured across the 38th parallel and were about to push the South Koreans and the US troops stationed in Korea, off the peninsula and into the sea. Things were desperate and to save the country of South Korea would require desperate measures. This took the form of an amphibious landing at Inchon. There was apparently little confidence on the part of US commanders, that this would be successful. However, they felt they had to do something and this would be it. As it turned out, the US forces, lead by the 1st Marine Division (with whom my dad was assigned as a Navy hospital corpsman) overran the North Koreans and broke out of what was called the Pusan Perimeter. It was during the early parts of the invasion, that my dad won his Bronze Star. It seems that the North Koreans had my dad's unit pinned down with machine gun fire, behind a rice paddy dike. A wounded Marine lay out in the rice paddy, some 300 yards away. As he called out, "Corpsman! I'm hit!", my dad looked at the 1st Sergeant, who told him there was no way to get him back without getting more Marines shot up. My dad told him to get the platoon ready, that he was going over the dike and take 3 Marines with him to bring the wounded man back. My dad said to have everyone fire when he went over the dike, to keep the North Koreans' heads down. It was a good plan, until they reached the wounded Marine. It was at that point that the North Koreans decided they would come to the ball and open up with .50 caliber machine guns again. My dad and the other Marines carried the wounded Marine out and as it turned out no one was hit, except of course the previously wounded Marine, who was shot again (apparently, it was not his day!) My brother and I were both staring at my dad, with open mouths. My dad ended the story by saying, "So, they gave me a medal, but anyone of those guys would have done the same thing." I remember thinking, "I doubt that, dad!" He went on to tell us about his experience at Chosin Reservoir, on the North Korean and Chinese border, when 16,000 Marines of the 1st Division held off more than 160,000 North Koreans and Communist Chinese, in what would go down in the history of the USMC and this nation as the real picture of what is means to defend liberty. At one point, the Marine commander, General "Howlin' Mad" Smith was told to leave behind all his equipment and wounded and retreat to save as many Marines as he could. Smith replied to MacArthur, "No thank you sir! We'll come back just like we went, with all my boys accounted for. Marines do not leave other Marines." After 30 days of sleeping less than 2 hours a day, fighting untold battles with vastly superior forces, eating frozen C-rations and living in temperatures that routinely dropped to -40 below, the men of the 1st Marine Division, including my dad, returned to the port city of Hungnam...with their wounded and dead. When asked by the press about "the retreat", General Smith said, "When you are surrounded it is impossible to retreat! The only thing you can do is attack in a different direction!" The men of the 1st Marine Division became known as "The Chosin Few" and my dad was one of them.
As I look at my dad though, I do not see a war hero, even though he was one. I do not see a man who was hard working engineer who designed and built modern industrial equipment and automated entire sectors of the US spring manufacturing business, even though he did. I do not even see an elder in the church, even though he was. No, when I look at my dad, I see the father that carried me on his shoulders when I couldn't make it on my own. You see, that's a hero...in my book. I know a hero!
Well, I suppose I owe an explanation for the reason I have not posted since late November. First there was Christmas and grandsons visiting and then I was busy with work. Then in late January, my dad went into the hospital and has been there until this week, when he was moved to a short-term skilled nursing facility, at least that's what the doctors and health care professionals call it. I could write multiple posts about the state of health care in this country (PLEASE DO NOT READ THAT STATEMENT AS SUPPORT FOR OBAMACARE OR ANYTHING LIKE IT!), but I won't.
I would like to tell you about my dad. You see, I have amazing memories of my dad. One of the first memories I have was when I was about 4 years old. My dad took me and Jack (my first dog, the best pointer ever!) to an area that today is filled with suburban houses and elementary schools, but in those days it was prime quail hunting territory. All I really remember about the trip was that when I became too tired of trying to keep up with what I saw as giant steps, my dad picked me up and carried me on his shoulders back to the car. When I couldn't go any farther, he carried me. I guess you could say that was my first picture of what a father should be like. Over the years, I can remember so many times that my dad either stood beside me or somehow "carried" me and for that I will be eternally grateful and both time and computer memory would fail me should I try to write them all down.
A lot of people throw the word hero around and try to apply it to people whose lives and character is anything but heroic. My dad was different; he was the real thing! I remember that as a child, I learned that my dad had fought in the Korean Conflict and that he had been awarded the Bronze Star for valor in battle, but I did not know the rest of the story, as Paul Harvey would say. I remember vividly, to this day when I heard him tell the story of his wartime experience to my brother and me. It was the summer before I was to marry (we had not told anyone, even our parents at this point) and my dad and brother and I were driving back from a fishing trip, on the Texas coast. I was driving and my dad and brother were dozing as best they could, when my dad realized I was getting that glassy-eyed look and he began to talk in a low volume. We talked about lots of things, but two things stand out to me today. The first was that he looked at me and said that marrying the right woman had meant all the difference in his life, second only to his salvation and relationship with Jesus Christ. I have told this to my kids, to other young people and to anyone who would listen, because it is still true today (funny how that absolute truth thing works!) The second thing he told me was about how he won the Bronze Star.
In September of 1950, the North Korean armies had poured across the 38th parallel and were about to push the South Koreans and the US troops stationed in Korea, off the peninsula and into the sea. Things were desperate and to save the country of South Korea would require desperate measures. This took the form of an amphibious landing at Inchon. There was apparently little confidence on the part of US commanders, that this would be successful. However, they felt they had to do something and this would be it. As it turned out, the US forces, lead by the 1st Marine Division (with whom my dad was assigned as a Navy hospital corpsman) overran the North Koreans and broke out of what was called the Pusan Perimeter. It was during the early parts of the invasion, that my dad won his Bronze Star. It seems that the North Koreans had my dad's unit pinned down with machine gun fire, behind a rice paddy dike. A wounded Marine lay out in the rice paddy, some 300 yards away. As he called out, "Corpsman! I'm hit!", my dad looked at the 1st Sergeant, who told him there was no way to get him back without getting more Marines shot up. My dad told him to get the platoon ready, that he was going over the dike and take 3 Marines with him to bring the wounded man back. My dad said to have everyone fire when he went over the dike, to keep the North Koreans' heads down. It was a good plan, until they reached the wounded Marine. It was at that point that the North Koreans decided they would come to the ball and open up with .50 caliber machine guns again. My dad and the other Marines carried the wounded Marine out and as it turned out no one was hit, except of course the previously wounded Marine, who was shot again (apparently, it was not his day!) My brother and I were both staring at my dad, with open mouths. My dad ended the story by saying, "So, they gave me a medal, but anyone of those guys would have done the same thing." I remember thinking, "I doubt that, dad!" He went on to tell us about his experience at Chosin Reservoir, on the North Korean and Chinese border, when 16,000 Marines of the 1st Division held off more than 160,000 North Koreans and Communist Chinese, in what would go down in the history of the USMC and this nation as the real picture of what is means to defend liberty. At one point, the Marine commander, General "Howlin' Mad" Smith was told to leave behind all his equipment and wounded and retreat to save as many Marines as he could. Smith replied to MacArthur, "No thank you sir! We'll come back just like we went, with all my boys accounted for. Marines do not leave other Marines." After 30 days of sleeping less than 2 hours a day, fighting untold battles with vastly superior forces, eating frozen C-rations and living in temperatures that routinely dropped to -40 below, the men of the 1st Marine Division, including my dad, returned to the port city of Hungnam...with their wounded and dead. When asked by the press about "the retreat", General Smith said, "When you are surrounded it is impossible to retreat! The only thing you can do is attack in a different direction!" The men of the 1st Marine Division became known as "The Chosin Few" and my dad was one of them.
As I look at my dad though, I do not see a war hero, even though he was one. I do not see a man who was hard working engineer who designed and built modern industrial equipment and automated entire sectors of the US spring manufacturing business, even though he did. I do not even see an elder in the church, even though he was. No, when I look at my dad, I see the father that carried me on his shoulders when I couldn't make it on my own. You see, that's a hero...in my book. I know a hero!
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
The Best Daughter-In-Law...Ever
Just for the record, I have the best daughter-in-law...ever! Meghan and Mark have been married for about 7 months now and everyone in our family agrees that we cannot imagine our family ever being without Meghan. She is a wonderful wife to Mark, friend to Alicia and Tim, a sweet and loving daughter-in-law to Anita and me, and of course the super cool Aunt Meghan to Luke and Mark Garrett! However, she is also an amazing grand-daughter-in-law to Mark's grandparents. This past year, Mark's Mamaw (my mother) continued her fight against breast cancer (we think she is winning!) In light of that, Meghan wanted to do something tangible to support her and other women like her, in this fight. So Meghan has decided to enter the Avon Foundation Walk for Breast Cancer, in honor of my mother. On April 10 and 11, Meghan will go to Houston and walk 39 miles, with hundreds of other walkers. Every walker raises funds that go directly to breast cancer support and research. This is where you come in! I would appreciate and I know Meghan would appreciate any support you can give her. It is very easy to donate and to follow Meghan's training, by going to the following link http://info.avonfoundation.org/site/TR/Walk/Houston?px=5271398&pg=personal&fr_id=1900&et=7x9WdhG57zMSJ2pmHkkGQA..&s_tafId=404014Meghan, we love you and are excited to support you in this worthy effort!
Love, Clint
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