I offered this some time back in a more informal setting but have chosen to edit and offer it as a tribute to my father this Father's Day weekend. Pastor Ron Smith is a hero to his children and has been very careful to guard the name he handed to his three sons. Andy, Myron, Sharla, Kay and I have much to be thankful for. Mom has followed him through rain and flood to help him follow his dream. Blessings...rks
Dad is a preacher man...
The old fashioned kind that believed that white was white.....
Black was black.....
And gray had too much white to be black and black to be white...
He started and pastored numerous churches.....
Accumulating five kids along the way.....
Of which all five are in full time ministry with the United Pentecostal Church...
To this day he apologizes for the things he was never able to give us....
He shouldn’t….
Look what he was able to.....
Faith, trust, conviction, work ethic, willingness to sacrifice, conviction, manhood, independence and unwavering stamina are to name but a few.....
A few days ago we talked again on this matter I wanted him to know what I considered to be the greatest thing he gave us....
Dad was always there......
No, his was never a marquis name.....
You never saw him on conference platforms....
Nor his name printed on little postcards.....
He never flew off to preach for some big name....
Or in some other country...
Dad was always there.....
He took us to school....
And then picked us up.....
He would let me play hooky and run around town with him and then send a note to the principal saying that Kent was sick yesterday and needed a treatment....
Ah those treatments from Dad.....
Breakfast at Whataburger, coffee at 7-11, and back to Whataburger for lunch.....
Those treatments consisted of garage sales....lumber yards....trips to his bank....
And laughing.......
Laughing....
And then laughing some more.....
I think I might could use one of those treatments this week.....
Dad was there......
Dad was poor when I was growing up........
But God changed all that for him.....
Poor that is by monetary standards.....
But today he is a very wealthy man.....
When he goes to conference or camp meeting.....
He has some or all of his five kids sitting on the bench beside him......
His grown grandchildren are all seeking ministry.....
He even had an old dog one time that he taught to sing and preach.....
Dad is rich....
Dad was there......
He retired from pastoring a few years ago....
But took another little church earlier last year and is working his little miracle on it......
He took me by it yesterday and wanted to show off the new annex, sign, parking lot, sound system and even brag about some of his new saints…….
Old preachers never really retire….
He has refired……..
I heard him preach at the Texas Camp Meeting today……
The same clear sound as the last forty years……
I just want to salute the old rascal this morning.....
Dad was always there for his wife, his five nappy headed little kids and his church
Thanks Dad.......
On this Father’s Day week I salute you….
You stand head and shoulders above many………
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2 comments:
What a great tribute. You are blessed to have such a father, and he is blessed to have such a son.
Happy Father's Day, Papaw! Kent should have posted the pic I have of the two of you from the wedding. You look so much alike. Thanks for being a great Father-in-Law. I love you!
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