Heaven's pews become box seats for the
other-siders to take their tally.
Hear the hearty laughs and the proud
remarks as they watch the roundup
of the clan
and see what they started.
Four generations have gathered
to honor
Albert,
head of the this-siders,
and his wife Ruth.
And the party
is a toast to those sitting
in the box seats.
What a show this gathering,
a time for memories
and story telling.
Stories of times
of empty pockets and
souls running over
will mark the occasion.
If all the stories told
were to be gathered in
leather bound books there would
be volumes as numerous
as the Encyclopedia.
Above all else this is a story telling family.
Remember when Albert
bought a model T from
his uncle Jack
and built a racer?
Or the times when Ruth
would bake bread
even though she was working
5 1/2 days a week?
Can you remember
the tutoring of Greek
in the kitchen just before dawn?
Remember the store in Springer
where we all gathered
to see Grandpa Ralph
define the essence of humanity
as he related to town characters
and Texas tourists with equal ease?
Stories of the beauty of a lake and
lily pads seen because adversity
needed a promising softening.
A piece of wire found where it never
should have been becomes a
simple miracle for those who
need nothing spectacular to
recognize His helping hand.
And remember the trips to Trinidad
and Alberta eating
Thanksgiving celery
with Mini-gram and viewing
the East Main House?
Minister, mechanic, CCC "boy",
day laborer and dam builder
don't tell enough.
Midnight seamstress, bread maker,
tutor in Greek,
Sunday School teacher
and Church worker
are words for a resume.
Who are these family leaders
we gather to honor?
No man is just what he is,
rather he is who he is.
And who Albert and Ruth are
will bring testimony from many.
He may be bent
not from work but
from shouldering
the burdens of too many
who needed his help.
And Ruth must be weary and worn
from loving so many
so long and so hard.
Their lives are a pulpit from which
they preach hope
by living hope.
We applaud the accomplishments
of these two.