Thinking about Dad's this week. I thought about my own Dad and what made him so special to me. Sometimes when you write about loved ones whom have journeyed on to their Father in Heaven's home, you might have the tendency to paint the picture better then it actually was.
I can honestly say that the person that was chosen to be mine and my brother's earthly Father was a true gem. He was for all intents and purposes a gentle giant. Many times when a young boy is growing up he looks to his Dad to learn how to be a man. Our Dad,although he had a Dad present in the household, didn't really have a male role model to emulate. I have learned over the years, not from my Dad, that my paternal grandfather was not a very fatherly type man. Therefore our Dad looked to the women from both sides of the family as his role models and teachers. These fine women, were loving,strong in spirit,courageous,loyal, hardworking,with a wonderful sense of humor,and all had deep religious convictions. These are the very qualities that exemplified my Dad.
The memories I have of my Dad are like a kaleidescope of soft gentle flashes of colors. His handsome, kind and gentle face peering and smiling at me, teasing me sweetly, encouraging me to do my best, but stern when I failed to do what was expected of me. He wasn't boisterous or loud, he did not have an aggressive nature, he was respectful and kind and soft spoken. He was very tender hearted and managed to overcome a lot of of the neglect of his early upbringing. He bore no resentment and never required the need for retribution. It wasn't in his nature to dwell on such things and he never shared the sad stories of his early life.
Other then the fact that he had to share a bed with his brother George. I guess George was a heavy sleeper and didn't get up in time to make it to the outhouse many a time. So of course the bedding would have to be changed and laundered daily, which was all done by hand and hung out to dry. My Dad was always blamed by his Mom, George never spoke up, and my Dad took the daily whipping with a switch. The knowledge I have of those unhappy times in my Dad's life are through family members that shared these things with me.
Dad was adventurous,as well as brave. He left Clinton and joined the Navy at 16. He was on a ship in the middle of the Pacific during WWII. His ship was hit by a bomb as he stood at his gun and watched as his shipmate next to him met his demise. Traumatic to a young man so far away from everything he knew and loved. Although he never forgot those moments in his teenage years,it wasn't until after he started reconnecting with his old shipmates at reunions that he began to share and reflect about the horrifying experience that he actually encountered on board that ship.
I am putting a favorite picture of Our Dad on this post, there are many that I have but this one shows my Dad as I always picture him later in life.
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| Byron Trent Johnson-Our Dad |
Our Dad loved going to church on Sunday. He liked getting up, sharing breakfast with our Mom and then they would dress and off they would go to hear the gospel. The thing about Sunday's and Dad was the fact that he stayed in his dress shirt, pants, and tie all day. He said it helped him to keep the perspective of, Sunday, God's Day, as special. I have such lovely memories of Sunday's and my Dad in his Sunday attire. Loving you always Dad, until we meet again.
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| Dad and Daughter |
Our Dad was simply the best.
The words I have written about Byron Trent Johnson, are not really equal too, or whom or what he was really like...He was so much more!
He was and is a child of God.
He was a son, grandson, brother, nephew,
husband, son-in-law, brother-law, dad, granddad, great-granddad, uncle, great uncle
and a friend to all.Honoring all of the many men that have been or are Dad's on Sunday, June 19,2011.
Lifting you up, asking Our Father in Heaven to guide you, to give you strength, and the courage to stand strong and have the conviction to lead your families in a Godly way. Your path may not be easy, but the rewards that you will receive will be cherished always in the generations that will follow. God bless and keep you all.
God took the strength of a mountain, The majesty of a tree,
The warmth of a summer sun, The calm of a quiet sea,
The generous soul of nature, The comforting arm of night,
The wisdom of the ages, The power of the eagle's flight,
The joy of a morning in spring, The faith of a mustard seed,
The patience of eternity, The depth of a family need,
Then God combined these qualities, When there was nothing more to add,
He knew His masterpiece was complete,
And so, He called it ... Dad
~Author Unknown~
