My Dad

“My dad can beat up your dad!”

This was a taunt that was heard from kids in Kansas City where I grew up in the 1950’s. In those days, most dads were true to their wives and at home with their families. We really didn’t want to see our dads fight, but it was an assurance our dads would always protect us.

Let me tell you about my dad. He was an orphan. My grandmother, a Cherokee from the Eastern Band, died giving birth to her sixth child when she was 30 years old. He was pushed around from farm to farm until he joined the horse cavalry as soon as he was of age. When World War II broke out, he became a pilot and flew several different aircraft. After the war, he met my mother who had served in the Women’s Army Corps. She also had been orphaned as a child, so they had much in common. They had three children and I was the middle child in between two wonderful sisters. My dad worked hard, often working more than one job to support his family of five. He believes in strong family values based on the Word of God. He has always been faithful to mom. Times were tough, but he sent us to private schools and saw that we got a good education. He took us to Blue Valley Park to play, built us a sandbox in the backyard and bought us a swing set. I never had to wear “hand-me-down” clothes, which I thank God for, because they would have been my sisters…..

Dad worked at many government-related jobs, some of which required top-security clearance. When he retired in 1972, he had served Uncle Sam over 25 years. He was a great dad with a keen sense of humor. He lived with mom till he died in 2007. They were married 61 years. Dad gave his heart to Jesus two weeks before he died. Two days after his funeral, mom also gave her life to Christ.

Dad was a role model of faithfulness to his family. Bible-based family values work. They worked a half century ago and they work today, for God’s Word is eternal. “Train up a child in the way that he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.”  Proverbs 22:6.

As you continue to grow in God’s Word, you can leave such a similar legacy of faithfulness. My dad did –  and his family honors him for it. 

Maxim of the Moment

The height of your accomplishment will equal the depth of your convictions. - William Scolavi