This Man

This Man...

• was the most amazing father, even though his own father died when he was only two
• loved farming and happily looked forward to the busyness of both planting and harvest
• never missed an opportunity to tell his kids how proud he was of them
• married his neighbor girl and spent the rest of his life being the kind of spouse and parent that we all want to be when we grow up
• could bring your world crashing with the words, "your mom and I are disappointed in you"
• was a leader not because he put himself at the front of the line, but because everyone wanted to follow his example
• always told my mom that she had prepared exactly what he was hungry for--whether it was a gourmet meal or a bowl of cereal
• said "we'll be thinking about you" which really meant "we'll be praying for you"
• was concerned about us wasting ketchup, really concerned
• was gentle with his animals, disciplined in his work and playful with his children
• could sneeze louder than anyone I know and usually did it in sets of 9
• told us kids that he had the most beautiful wife around and believed it with all his heart
• never missed an opportunity to tease his grandchildren who adored him
• gave free rides in his combine
• always made my friends feel welcomed at our house
• was proud to have served his country
• grew up in a single parent home where his mom continued to run the farm even after she lost her husband
• prayed before and after every meal I ever ate with him
• owned a well worn Bible
• will not be in history books, but was one of the most influential men I've ever known
• asked me two questions before I married Eric, Is he good to you? and Does he love the Lord?
• let me lay my head on his shoulder and cry in the middle of night after Eric left us
• always had enough peppermints to pass down to each of us just when the church sermon started
• was a humble hero who saved a little boy's life on an autumn day during harvest
• is the reason I named my oldest son, Henry
• cried easily
• entered into his eternal home on a Good Friday
• lived conservatively and gave generously
• had calloused hands, but a tender heart
• was everything you could ever hope for in a dad and is missed deeply each and every day