Lessons Learned On the Farm

• Apr. 8, 2008 - A Flash From The Past

My middle son, Jake (who almost never blogs), rather fancies country music and saw a commercial for a new CD on TV the other day. How Great Thou Art: Gospel Favorites from the Grand Ole Opry.

If you go to that link, you can listen to samples of each song.

Well, he is really hooked on Charlie Daniel's version of "I'll Fly Away". I was just happy that it was a hymn since I appreciate hymns, but then we were driving down the road and singling along to it and it hit me -

My daddy would have LOVED this CD. It's all very old-fashioned style country and my daddy loved true country music. Oh I can remember being a teeny-bopper and just cringing when he would turn the radio to a country station. I'd fuss and grumble about how I just couldn't stand "the twang".

But he'd keep it on that station despite my protests and he'd sing along and I'd think, "Well, he's got a pretty good voice."

My daddy would have enjoyed the sing-a-long in the truck today.

I enjoy seeing glimpses of the grandfathers in my boys. Tony's dad died when Joe was just a year and a half old and then my dad died shortly after Jon's first birthday. We tell the boys a lot about their grandaddies and especially about just how much they would have enjoyed getting to spend more time with them.

Losing both of our fathers so young taught Tony and I to appreciate the things that sometimes drive us nuts about people because we know that later on you miss even the quirky things - like being subjected to "very uncool" country music.

In fact, I was watching Extreme Home Makeover the other night and heard someone say the neatest thing. "I love you for who you are. I thank you for all you do."

Tony's dad and my dad were both great about doing things for us, but even if they hadn't been able to, just being themselves would have been enough.

And I'm striving to express that to the people in my life. I love them just for being them and I'm just extra thankful for the sweet things they do.

It reminds of the song by Casting Crowns - Who Am I?
Not because of who I am,
But because of what You've done.
Not because of what I've done,
But because of who You are.

And I am most thankful for Who He Is, for all the loved ones He has blessed me with, and for precious memories and sing-a-longs in the truck.

Comments

• Apr. 9, 2008 - Untitled Comment

Posted by Anonymous

Charlie Daniels is awesome to listen to:) What you said is so true, it is important for us to pay more attention to the presence of our loved ones than it is to the things that drive us batty(funny how we don't seem to realize that we have quirks that others politely don't notice because they love us).

Have a blessed day! Melissa www.melissaomarkham.com

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• Apr. 10, 2008 - Untitled Comment

Posted by Anonymous

Nancy,
I lost my dad when I was 37. I love it when I see my dad and his mannerisms or quirks in one of our children. Our second son is so much like my dad it is down right funny. I am so thankful that God made our son this way because it keeps the memories of my dad very much in our mind. I do miss him so much...he would have loved everything about our farm and our way of life. Thanks for sharing about your dad and your memories...by the way, I too was "stuck" listening to uncool music with my dad in the car, but it did broaden my horizons of music at the time!
grace and peace,
julie

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• Apr. 12, 2008 - Untitled Comment

Posted by drewsfamilytx

Great post, Nancy!

I'll Fly Away was one of those songs that we sang in church every Wed night. So much so that I began to really hate it.

Well, now that I've been going to churches that don't sing that song at all for the past 14 years, I MISS IT! And it is one of my favorite songs that I love to sing with my sisters and brother. It's funny how your tastes change over time.

I think it's wonderful that you are honoring your parents even after they have passed. Even in the odd little things, it is good for our children to know about their family-- even those that are long gone.

Love ya,
Marsha

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