He was a man of integrity, and honesty. He wasn’t out much, but when he was I could see how much other folks respected him. He worked hard until his arthritic body couldn’t take it any more. I remember him being one of the first farmers in Loop to have a tractor with power steering. The day the tractor was delivered I sat on his lap and turned the steering wheel back and forth, back and forth, watching the front wheels dig into the ground as he sat in the seat of the John Deere 4010, and visited with one of his sons. Once he realized what I was doing he made me stop.
I was too young to really know what was happening to him. I hadn’t realized that he couldn’t get on and off the tractor by himself. Each morning one of the boys, (his sons) would help him up, and he would not get off until one of them was there to help him down. He needed the new tractor for two reasons. One, the power steering, and number two was the flat and open foot platform. His hips had closed in at the joints so he couldn’t sit with his leg open wide enough to straddle the transmission on the older tractors.
When he could no longer work I sat and visited with him at the house. He sat in his chair, and watched TV, or read his Bible. I only remember hearing him say one four-letter word during my whole time of being with him. Looking back it’s actually funny to recall what happened. He was sitting in his chair watching the evening news when a commercial come on. I don’t know the pitchman’s name, but I do know he was the Billy Mays of his day. He was just as loud and just as obnoxious and just as irritating. Suffice it to say Granddad questioned if there was anything this pitchman would not sell.
You know what really brought me hear today don’t you? You know where I’m headed, don’t you? As amazing as it seems, I am now him. I don’t mean that I have his character. I can only strive to attain it. I don’t mean that I command the respect of my peers like he did. I don’t think I will ever be as wise as he was. What I mean is this. I am now the man with grandkids. I am now the man living an example that those kids see.
Randy Travis sings a song that describes how I felt as child, and still do all these years later. The chorus is below.
If the story’s told, only heaven knows.
But his hat seemed to me like an old halo.
And although his wings, they were never seen.
I thought that he walked on water.
I wonder how my little one’s view my old bucket hat? I wonder if they sometimes try to catch a glimpse of wings? I wonder if they think I can walk on water? In reality I know that Mary Alice and Major are already too smart to think those things. The two babies will soon come to realize that ole Grumps is just an ordinary man too. So the best I can hope for, live for, and pray for, is that I can show them a man worthy of following. A man worthy of learning from. A man worthy of their love, and admiration.
Dear Father, today and for the rest of my life, help me to live the words of the Apostle Paul as written in Philippians 4:9 (NIV) Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.
Till next time,
Grump