Pastor Bill Hayden
Recently, I was reminiscing with my wife’s brother about how wonderful their father was. We talked about the times that he took each of us fishing and how much fun we had. Some of the fishing spots required a rowboat to reach them. Once, her father and I crossed a large lake and when it was time to return, we struggled to keep the boat straight because of the wind. It was a little frighting and that was my last time in a rowboat on a large lake. I think it was his last time also!
I remembered the many times that he would go to the store because their mother forgoten an item or ran out of something for a meal. When Gloria and I started dating there were nine children, with Gloria being the eldest. Their dad had a passion for hunting, fishing and gardening, which was an opportunity for him to have some alone time. When he returned from his trips or the garden it was all hands on deck to clean and preserve the food. He would also order half of a Black Angus for their freezer to have throughout the year.
He really impressed me as a father who loved God, his family and the simple things in life. He would load up the family in their Woody Ford Station Wagon for church on Sunday mornings and then after service he would pick me up and take me home with them. Often I would stay for dinner. Gloria’s mother had many talents; I relished her wonderful cooking. Her father made room for me in his heart and their station wagon. I admired him and wanted to be like him, with only two exceptions: 10 kids and going to the store multiple times in a day every week.
When I became a Christian, one scripture that I memorized, because of the way Gloria’s father lived his life, was Psalms 1:1-3NIV 1 Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, 2 but whose delight is in the Lord, and who mediates on his law day and night. 3 that person is like a tree planted by streams of living water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf shall not wither- whatever they do prospers.
When you leave your mark, how do you want others to remember your life? Will it be one of integrity?
Celebrate with us at the Villages Community Chapel in Cribari Auditorium, every Sunday at 10 a.m. to be encouraged over the Word of Life, enjoy a cup of coffee and cookies with friends. The chapel is a place for needs to be met, faith to be affirmed and new friends to embrace. You can view our worship services on YouTube at Villages Community Chapel San Jose, CA.