NOBODY SPECIAL
Flash back to Father's Day 2010.........
My Dad went golfing, had a big family cookout and enjoyed being around his kids...
A Perfect day
The Day after Father's Day 2010.....
My dad woke up, got ready for work, called to my mom that he wasn't feeling well....
By 10:30 am He was gone.
POOF!!!
A VAPOR!!
GONE.
This post is NOT about the frailty of Life.....
It is about... How we live that life.
My Dad was an amazing man....
and He never knew it.
He worked for years in the Home Improvement Business....
He could fix ANYTHING.
I cannot even begin to count the number of times that I would call him .....
asking why something wasn't working, how to fix this or that and ALWAYS....ALWAYS He came.
My husband used to tease me because every single time my Dad was at our home........
I would say.... " I have an idea"
It could be anything from..."I'd like to put a room on"
To.... "I'd like built- in loft beds in the girls' room".
( of course he made them and they were spectacular)
He was talented and smart and kind and patient.....
and he always referred to himself as
NOBODY SPECIAL.
He went to work EVERY DAY in ALL types of WEATHER..
Not taking a single sick day in 31yrs.
He met all kinds of people,
worked with all kinds of people,
touched the lives of all kinds of people....
And still thought that he was NOBODY SPECIAL.
As we stood at his memorial service.....
We heard the stories.....
There were people that we had never met...
People with stories of his kindness....
People in awe of his exceptional talent for building...
Customers that he did work for......
He may have been at their home for a day or two...
maybe a week.....
They came because He made an impact on their lives....
In the short time he had spent with them.....
he made a difference......
So much so, that they came to pay respect to this man....
My Dad, the self-proclaimed NOBODY SPECIAL.
Not long after his death.....
My mom was in need of a new roof on her home....
My sister contacted my Dad's employer to inquire about the specifics....
How Much?
When?
The logistics were worked out....
The day came for the new roof.....
On that day.......18 men came to my mom's house......
18 men....including my dad's boss
It was a Friday...misty rain.....
and they came.
In that day.... they tore off my mom's roof. replaced the damaged lumber on her porch roof and laid a new roof.
WOW, you say that's alot to get done for a day's work....
It sure is.....
But here is the best part......
My dad's boss..told these guys that they would be doing "DICKIE"S" roof and that he was paying them to do it......
These 18 guys....
They volunteered to do it for NO PAY......
As an honor to a Man that had touched them so deeply.
Some of these guys that gave.... they were from other home building companies...
they were willing to give up a day's pay, as well.....
ALL of this for NOBODY SPECIAL
I sobbed that day because I realized that my Dad was such a hard-working, humble man.....
He never thought highly of himself...never prideful or boastful....
He just went through life doing what he thought was right...
Never seeking credit...or self-promotion.
There lies a huge lesson in there for each of us.....
How many times do we do something for someone and we want recognition or credit or appreciation?
And we want it immediately.......We want everyone to know of our good deeds...
Everyone should know how wonderful we really are.
I am reminded of the song "THANK YOU" by Ray Boltz....
It speaks of a man arriving in heaven and all of these people are there to greet him....
to Thank Him for giving of himself....
People that he had touched in even a small way.....
TODAY, I honor that NOBODY SPECIAL, that I called my Dad....
and I will try to live my life like he did.....
Never striving for Fame or Fortune....
Credit and appreciation.....
Instead I strive to be NOBODY SPECIAL....
What a legacy.....
I LOVE YOU DAD!!!!
Humbly,
Shelly
