“Humble people are Christ-centered!"
Most people think of romance when they hear the term “soulmate.” I truly believe that we encounter many soulmates throughout our lifetime.
When my daughter, Billie, was seventeen years old, she met one of her soulmates. He was eighty years old, and her best friend’s grandfather! Everyone referred to him as “Dad Dad.”
This man made such an impression upon my daughter's mind, heart and soul. Although, his body was eighty years old when they met, his soul was youthful, and his mind was brilliant. He was such a kind, gentle soul that was filled with infinite humility.
He stood with his hands in his pockets, was of slender build, average height, had sky blue eyes that sparkled, and exultant wisdom. Dad Dad was so kind, friendly, and down to earth that you would not ever have guessed that he was a psychiatrist that had practiced for decades, held a law degree, and was a retired United States Lt. Colonel. He was absolutely the most humble man that we had ever met or Loved. Billie Loved Dad Dad as if he were her own grandfather.
Dad Dad wrote one of Billie's professional letters of recommendation for Mercer University in Atlanta, Georgia. That letter is framed, and hangs in her office, along with a photo of Dad Dad, and his wife, Nana, when they were a younger couple. The stories that Dad Dad told Billie were part of the foundation for wanting to obtain her Pharm.D. degree.
A few years later, Dad Dad’s wife, Nana, suffered a stroke, and became bedridden at home. He Loved Nana endlessly, and literally wore himself out taking care of her, although he had round the clock nurses for many months.
No one could get Dad Dad to leave his house to do anything while he was caring for Nana after her stroke. Billie was able to talk Dad Dad into going to Dairy Queen, and getting an ice cream with her.
As time went on, Dad Dad slowed down just a little bit more. He had an office in his home that spoke volumes about the man he was. It had his books, special awards, a calendar that he wrote on, the East Tennessee State University (ETSU) college cardigan sweater that Billie bought for him, and a life size poster of Hulk Hogan on his door. I think Hulk Hogan was the healthy, macho part of Dad Dad that was tucked away deep inside him. This admiration for Hulk Hogan helped keep Dad Dad strong.
One of Dad Dad’s daughters called, and said that he was in the hospital in a coma. A few days went by, and his medical condition had not changed. Eventually, Dad Dad’s family had to make the most difficult medical decision of all. The team of doctors treating Dad Dad felt that there was nothing else that could be done medically for him. Dad Dad passed away and the sadness consumed us all.
Nana was unable to attend Dad Dad’s funeral because she remained bedridden as a result of the stroke she had. She was shown the newspaper with his obituary in it. She looked at the newspaper and tears were streaming down her face.
Dad Dad passed away exactly two weeks before Billie's birthday. He had written Billie's name on the 15th day of February, on his office calendar. It made her cry to see her name written in his handwriting on that calendar. That was the saddest birthday that Billie ever had. His daughter baked her a cake and that was the saddest tasting cake she ever ate. Everyone sitting at that table had tears dripping in their cake.
We think of Dad Dad very often. He was a man filled with Love, wisdom, intelligence, peace, integrity, humor and humility. Dad Dad lived his life by example.
James 4:10
Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.
Evelyn Minton and her daughter, Dr. Billie J. Minton are the authors of the Blue Ridge Tenderpup children's series. These books may be found at the author's website BlueRidgeMoments.com and Amazon.com/Author/drbillieminton
