Ninety-two years ago today I was given a gift. An invaluable gift. Yes, long before I was ever born, God gave me the gift of a parent when Marvin Burell Jones was born in a sod house deep in the Nebraska Sandhills. My Daddy was just a normal guy, a ranch kid who grew up to be a Pastor. I’ve written many times about Daddy and the lessons he taught me. About the gift of a godly father who led by example. I could talk about him for hours and even though he has been in heaven over six years now (how can that be?) I still am daily reminded of the lessons he taught me. I thought I would share part of what I wrote about him in my book All I Have Needed – A Legacy For Life on the anniversary of his birth.
Faith of My Father
ThIs mornIng In church, we sang the song that is sung in many churches on father’s day. It has become something of
a father’s day Anthem. As often happens with routine, I tuned out the beginning. Admittedly, it might have been subconscious since
the first couple of verses are so grim that my “happy-ending-loving heart” cringes at the words and descriptions. I know it is a part of the fallen world, but I only tolerate hearing about it so much, and then I’m done. Anyway, something brought me back to the words of the song as we started the last verse. I believe it was the Holy Spirit.
Faith of our fathers, we will love
Both friend and foe in all our strife.
And preach thee, too, as love knows how
By kindly words and virtuous life.
Faith of our fathers, holy faith!
We will be true to thee till death!
~ By Frederick W. Faber
As we sang those words, a face popped into my head. It was Daddy’s face. This verse could have been written about him. This
is one of the many reasons I believe I am so very blessed. you see, I have been given a father who loves both the foe and friend, preaches
in love, speaks kindness, and lives a virtuous life. What a gift. I will be true to the faith of my father.
All I Have Needed – A Legacy for Life is currently on sale at the lowest price EVER on my book sale page.
https://miriamjonesbradley.com/books/ This makes a great gift for adults.
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First, 94 years ago my paternal grandparents, George and Mildred Jones were married. They were married for 67 years when Grandpa went to heaven. Anyone who knows me well, or has read my blogs knows how important my grandparents were in my life. If you don’t know, let me tell you. They were invaluable.
After all, the impetus for writing the first Double Cousins Mystery was my desire to write a story based on our summers at the ranch with our cousins. No Grandpa and Grandma Jones, no ranch, no Miriam, no book.
If it wasn’t for all of my grandparents, there wouldn’t be a book titled All I Have Needed-A Legacy For Life. Besides the aforementioned fact that I wouldn’t be here, the legacy they gave me wouldn’t be either.
