Many years ago, 15-16 years perhaps, our youngest daughter arranged with the church office of the church my husband and I were attending,( totally unbeknownst to either of us) to put an extra page in the bulletin with a tribute to her dad. Here it is:
THERE ARE NOT MANY MEN LIKE MY DAD. WHEN I WAS GROWING UP HE WORKED HARD AND CONSTANTLY, BUT HE WAS ALWAYS HOME BY DINNERTIME. CHILDREN NEED CONSISTENCY AND HE MADE UP 50% OF OURS. HE WAS ALWAYS UP BY FIVE A.M. (PROBABLY A HABIT LEFT OVER FROM HIS FIRST ALMOST TWO DECADES ON THE FARM). ON SUNDAY MORNING YOU NEVER HAD TO LOOK FOR HIM. YOU COULD ALWAYS HEAR THE TENOR FROM VARIOUS CHRISTIAN QUARTETS KEEPING HIM COMPANY AS HE SAT PREPARING FOR SUNDAY SCHOOL WITH HIS BIBLE, HIS PAD OF PAPER AND HIS GOLD PEN.
WE ALL LAUGH BECAUSE HE'LL WATCH ANY SPORT BROADCAST. (I'VE EVEN SEEN HIM WATCH FISHING!!) BUT WHEN YOU LOOK AT HIS HIGH SCHOOL YEAR BOOKS YOU UNDERSTAND WHY. HE WAS IN EVERY SPORT OR CLUB HIS SCHOOL HAD TO OFFER (BESIDES CHEERLEADING) AND HE HAS A SMILE ON HIS FACE IN EACH PICTURE. HOWEVER SINCE A FOOTBALL KNEE INJURY HE ONLY PARTICIPATED IN TWO SPORTS; GOLF AND GARAGE SALE-ING. HE WAS EVEN SUCCESSFUL WHEN CHOOSING A WIFE. HOW DID HE KNOW SHE'D BE SUCH A GREAT MOM? MARRIAGE CAN BE HARD AT TIMES, BUT IF THEY EVER HAD A PROBLEM...WE NEVER KNEW IT. WHAT A TEAM THEY MAKE! MY DAD WAS NEVER WHAT YOU COULD CALL A 'KID PERSON', BUT WE KNEW INSIDE THAT SERIOUS EXTERIOR WAS A TNEDER HEART...ONE THAT LOVED US.
DAD, THANK YOU FOR FAITHFULLY TAKING US TO CHURCH AND FOR SERVING THE LORD. THANK YOU FOR PLAYING BATTLESHIP, PLAYING CATCH AND WORKING SO HARD FOR YOUR FAMILY.
NO, THERE ARE NOT MANY MEN LIKE MY DAD...KEN PRATT.
P.S. HAPPY FATHER'S DAD. DAD, DO I STILL HAVE TO BUY YOU A CART?
LOVE, BETH.
Memories. Good ones. Often found between the pages of Bibles. My husband has been with the Lord for over 10 years now. Memories are good.
10 months ago
