PEOPLE OF INFLUENCE - PART ONE

More and more I am interested in people of influence and so I am beginning a series of blogs about people who have had great influence on my life.

To begin, I have to start with my parents. My dad was born in the family home on a farm between Ozark and Springfield, MO. He only went to the 8th grade because he was needed on the farm. Later, he went to work for a company owned by his uncle in Springfield and sold butter to grocery stores in that city. When asked how he met his wife, his response always was at the zoo where she was in a cage. Later, my father became a wholesale milk salesman for Foremost Dairy. He chose a route that went to Branson long before Branson was a great place to vacation. I remember he would often break the roads on snowy mornings just so the people who lived in that area could have their milk. He serviced them in a creative way. There was a restaurant in Forsyth, MO called "Paul's Cafe." Paul was having difficulty in obtaining meat delivered from a Crane, MO meat company. My dad said he went to Crane every day and he would deliver the meat order to Paul. That is just one example of his caring. Taking care of people six days a week, getting up early every day to meet people's need. I don't think he ever saw me play football, basketball, tennis, or run track because of his work. He was a great role model for a son. Early on, I can't remember his saying that he loved me, but I knew he did. In his family, that just wasn't done. Later, he did say that not only to me, but to Sue, Jamie, Rick, and Holly. He went to Sunday School and church regularly, and helped in any way he could. He was a good and faithful husband and father.

My mother took care of me in the formative years not only because she wanted to, but because of my father' job. She enrolled me in Greenwood where I went to school for 13 years, beginning in kindergarten. She was strict. I still have the 15 inch ruler she often applied to my backside. She was always incredibly interested in me and my activities. In adulthood, I jokingly called her "Nosey Mary." She would sit me down and inquire what was going on in my life. She did the same to Rick before Sue and I were married. In the years when it was just Rick and me, she would always want to help if he were ill. As a believer, she helped introduce me to Jesus and took me to the pastor's study to confirm my decision. My mother and Mrs. Leona Jones often sang duets in sunday schoold departments. They would practice over the phone. My mother was an alto, so you can imagine how that sounded on our end of the phone. When I was home, she would have me play the piano when they practiced and also when they sang in front of folks. She was president of the Women" Missionary Union of FBC, Springfield, and loved researching stories of those who served as missionaries. She attend most of my programs in elementary school and a few of my athletic endeavors in high school. Later in life, she managed the Kentwood Arms Hotel, which was THE hotel in Springfield. My mother was a classy and attractive lady.

What was the influence of my father and mother? Let's take a look:

1. She told me about Jesus and influenced my decision to accept Him as Savior.
2. They were both role models of a godly life.
3. Without a doubt they revealed their love for me.
4. They were interested in my activities and later in life, came to One Accord concerts in cities a good distance from Springfield.
5. They loved Sue, Jamie, Rick, and Holly very much.
6. They helped me financially many times.
7. We are always lovingly received when visiting them.
8. They took care of Rick and me when we were ill.
9. They saw that I had a good education.
10. They saw to it that I learned how to play the piano.

They were married for 65 years, before my mother passed away in 1993. My dad died in 1998. Some kind of influence!