Daddy grew up during the Depression, each morning while he was in the first grade he would wake up and think of the boy in his class who always brought his lunch. That boy never ate his apple but would offer it to someone. Daddy used to think, "I hope he offers me that apple today."
My Dad has worked since he was 13. He used to catch a bus to downtown Little Rock where he would transfer to North Little Rock and the grocery store where he had his first job. At Central High School he told me he would hide behind the gym doors till everyone left school in the afternoon so they wouldn't realize he was the one who swept up.
And after WWII he gave his twin brothers their extra spending money at Abilene Christian while he attended on the GI loan. I say all this because very few people today think they should have to work that hard, but it is true what they say, Tough times don't last. Touch people do.
That's why my dad and the other dads from the WWII generation are the greatest generation. They knew what it was to work hard… it kept them grounded and appreciative. It gave them pride and the respect of others. It is what's so lacking in the world today.
Today the Hospice nurse told my mom she thought it was a matter of days, maybe weeks. It's killing me to lose this great man. We need all the great men we can find these days, men who are not afraid to work, not ashamed to grow up poor. My Dad's character is incredibly strong and I could not be prouder of him. Some of my sweetest memories are of him taking a second job, one year the Post Office and the next year the toy department at J.C. Penney. He did it so we could have Christmas gifts. I am convinced greatness comes from adversity and from looking to God to supply your needs. I have never known my Daddy to put himself first. He could never get the wolf far enough away from our door and he said the word no plenty over the years - but nothing he ever did was for himself… it was always for us.
Don't ever be afraid to let your children take a job, even a paper route like my brother had, because working hard produces character, hard work teaches a man how to be the head of his family. His children will rise up and call him blessed. And he will always have the respect of those who know him. Uncle Roger always said, "Life gets very simple when you are poor."
Daddy said when his ship sailed out from San Francisco headed for the Pacific he looked up at the Golden Gate bridge and thought, "I wonder if I will ever see that bridge again." Nineteen years old but possessed of courage and the belief that God would never leave him.
Thank you, Daddy, for teaching me to work hard, to define my goals and to never give up.
