Shirlina Mcarthur
There are just so many things that I could say about Papa. He was truly a remarkable man. He had a beautiful character unlike anyone I have ever known. I feel privileged to be his granddaughter. I learned a lot from Papa growing up and I will always cherish the memories we had together. Not very many people can say they spent their summer vacations with their grandparents on a remote farm and loved it, but I can. I tribute my passion and care for animals to the experiences I had in my childhood on the farm. From the pigs, the rabbits, and the cows to the barn cats and various dogs, donkeys, and even a nearby goat, there was an abundance of life, excitement and labor on the farm.
Throughout my childhood Papa was there for my birthdays, my school concerts and musicals, he was there for my soccer games, track and cross country meets, and various school performances and presentations. Even though Papa had a busy life on the farm, he always took the time to spend with his family and support us all every chance that he could.
I’ve spent the past week and a half reflecting on the great memories and all the various stories that Papa shared with me growing up. There are just so many I wish I could tell you all, but I know that would take hours upon hours...and I’m nowhere near as good a storyteller as Papa.
There is one particular story I would like to share. Papa told it to me was as if he were teaching me a lesson through his past. Now that I reflect back, often he did that. Papa was never one to discipline or even raise his voice at me. Rather than telling me what to do he would tell me why to do it. I believe Papa was about 6 years old, and even at this age he recalled how much he loved going to the movies. This particular day Papa had asked for some money and permission to go to the movies from his mother. She said no. Papa decided to go regardless, against her knowledge. He told me this decision changed his life. When he was crossing the street, he was struck by a car that sent him to the hospital and into a coma for 3 weeks. Although I remember how the story shocked me and even scared me, the advice he gave me after this particular story was to “listen to what your loved ones tell you.” I’ll never forget that. And I know we’re all thankful here that Papa survived that accident as a child and lived an inspiring life to which he instilled his morals and values into a family of his own. And I know that each of us made him proud and happy.
Papa was a loving and devoted spouse, a kind and caring father, and a thoughtful and charming grandfather. I admire Papa in so many ways. Never will I meet someone so completely selfless. He truly put the comfort and desires of others before he thought of himself. Papa looked to serve everyone in any way he could...even until his last days on earth. I always admired the way he so chivalrously attended to Mama, just like the ideal husband would, day in and day out. He was charming, spruce, polite, and handsome. I would often shower him in similar compliments to anticipate his immutable response, “you’ve got good taste.” Yes, Papa had a wonderful sense of humor. I’ll miss his witty jokes and the perfect timing he always seemed to have.
They say, “the precious are few,” and I couldn’t agree more. While I’m sad that Papa is no longer with us in body, I know he will always be with us in spirit until we meet again. I am comforted by the words found in the book of Romans that my future father-in-law reminded us all in his sermon last Sunday: “For if we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord. So then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord’s.” Papa is in a better place now and I can’t wait to see him again.
