Personal Congratulations

On Friday of this past week my Dad celebrated his 85th birthday.  I felt that I wanted to recognize this major accomplishment in the life of my Dad as well as the lives of his family.  There are many characteristics that I can identify as I look back at the life of influence that he has lived.  Him and my Mother have certainly influenced our family and influenced people whom they have served through the many years of Ministry in which they have been engaged.  We hear about and read about so much negativity in our society that I felt that we needed to "hear a little good news today."  This world has many wonderful people whose lives receive very little recognition or promotion and they go unnoticed by this world yet in the eyes of God they are very important and necessary to counteract the power of evil and wickedness that certainly exists in our society.

My Dad was called on to serve in the military during the second World War.  He served as an infantry soldier in the section of the army which was led by General George Patton.  His until was involved in some of the major battles in the European theater such as the crossing of the Rhine River, the Battle of the Bulge and the crossing of the Siegfried lines just to name a few.  My dad has been a faithful husband for almost 60 years.  Him and my Mother have served as loving parents to six children and now are able to see great-grandchildren being born into their family.  My Dad has served as a Gospel Minister for over 60 years and many of these years he served as a bi-vocational Pastor in churches throughout the state of Alabama.  Him and my mother continue these ministry efforts even in their golden years as they continue to visit people in the hospital and those shut-ins who need a voice of encouragement as they face their challenges and struggles on a daily basis.  My Dad has served as a Volunteer Chaplain at the local chapter of the Disabled American Veterans (DAV) in Alabama.  I am writing this because I believe that some of the "unsung" heroes of this nation need to be recognized.

We live in a time in which millionaire sports figures are held in high esteem as "heroes" and role models although they are good at simply playing a game.  We live in a time in which entertainers are lifted to a very high place of influence in many cases although their moral and spiritual values are at an all time low.  We live in time in which success is defined in the possession of material goods rather than the influence that a person is depositing in the lives of others.  My parents are far from rich yet their children, their grandchildren, and now their grandchildren are very rich because God has placed them in our lives. Certainly my parents are not perfect yet their good qualities far our number their negative qualities.  Each of us need to take time and recognize those individuals whose lives reflect their commitment to a relationship with God as well as their commitment to making a difference in the lives of people that God has placed around them.  Each of us need to do two things; 1) Take a moment and thank God for these individuals and 2) Take a moment and personally take the time to thank these individuals for the positive influence that they have had in your life.  This second action will bring a smile to the person who is being thanked and it will also bring a sense of sincere gratitude, appreciation, and recognition to your life.  Be blessed as you identify these individuals and the deep impact they have made in your walk through life.