Happy Father’s Day! I hope all of you are having a wonderful day honoring your fathers on this special day. I hope each one of you have had the privilege of having a wonderful father as I have. My Dad has been the single most inspiration in my life. He has been a stalwart of faithfulness in every area of his life. He has been totally devoted to my mother through all of her health problems and never once wavered. Since he accepted Christ as his savior when I was young I can never remember a single time when he was not in church when the doors were open simply because he did not want to go. He taught Sunday school for many years and I have seen him go to church on Sunday sick and stay home from work on Monday because he was still feeling so bad, but he didn’t want someone to have to fill in for him on Sunday at the last minute. He has been the church treasurer for over 30 years and I have seen him worry and fret for days because he could not find a two cent mistake in the church books. After he left the farm he took a job with Dekalb Seed Corn Company and stayed for 19 years until the company closed the plant for a year. Then he worked for Kraft Foods for five years until he had an opportunity to go to work for the city of Marshall Parks Department. He took that job because the strong chemicals used in the Kraft egg plant was starting to affect his health. He has been with the park for 20 years and still at age 77 goes to work 5 days a week and then helps me on our vegetable farm. When Rose became ill with environmental illness he and Mom stepped up and helped me in so many ways. I could not have survived without their assistance. Dad was one that while he loved his children he did not want them living at his back door once they left home. Yet it was he who suggested that we try to build a special house for Rosie essentially in his back yard when we could not seem to find a house she could handle in the community.
I heard an illustration one time about a father who was walking along and his young son was following along behind. The father looked back and his son was stretching his legs to the limit to step in the exact footprints of his father. My Dad told me one time, “Son, it takes a lifetime to build a reputation but only a few seconds to tear it down.” I have tried to follow in my Dad’s footsteps throughout my life because I have found no better human example. If I follow in those steps I may die without any success according to the world’s standard of success but make no mistake I will have been a success at life! For those of you who are a part of my CSA family. The reason I consider our relationship such is because my Dad taught me when people are counting on you, you don’t let them down. CSA is more than a business arrangement to me it is a commitment.
Because I am a junior in name as I was growing up people always called me Little Jimmy. As I got old enough to receive calls at home when someone would call and ask for Jim they would be asked little or big Jim and latter it was changed to young or old Jim. I know some parents who will not name their sons after the father for that very reason but let me tell you I have always been proud to have those titles. Even thought my Dad and I are somewhat different in personality the greatest compliment anyone ever pays me is when they say, “You are just like your Dad.” I love you Dad! Happy Father’s Day!
Your friend in farming bringing you food with integrity.
