My Favorite Teacher…

 

“Thanks Doc…Let’s go to heaven.”

Those are the last words my dad “spoke” to our family.  That was his reply to the following question.

 Dr. Chappell had just given him some very grim news.  His quality of life would be severely diminished if he lived.  My dad had a choice to make.  “Let’s go to heaven” was his choice.

I’ve been thinking a lot about our word PEACE this week and my memory bank keeps going back to that moment in time.  Like most little girls, my dad was my hero.  He was by no means perfect but he loved our family beyond measure.  A friend on facebook asked this question a few days ago, “Do any of you miss watching Andy Griffith with your dad?  I don’t remember doing that but I do remember the way he looked at me.  I remember those looks, and those memories bring me…peace.  I remember his last thirty days of life and they bring me…peace.

A lot of mommas and daddies are going to have kiddos at home the next couple (or several) weeks.  We will all have friends who are going to need help, older acquaintances who need to be remembered.  A lot of teaching will be done …What will we choose to teach?  I pray we all choose peace.

David, my youngest brother, spoke at our Dads service.  Being an educator/coach, he spoke from a teachers’ perspective.  He spoke as a son who had just been taught by a master teacher.  The following are excerpts of that service.

“As educators, which many people in attendance today are, we tell our students that education never stops, and, as long as we educate ourselves, we will be able to reach our goals…I honestly can tell you the last 30 days have taught me more about life than any other period of time in my life.  I guess you can say I attended J.D. Jones University.  It is fitting that the greatest professor I had was my Dad, when he was flat on his back and completely unable to verbally speak.  But, oh, did he speak to my heart.

On Friday, October 31, 1997, I witnessed my first lesson in Courage 101.  When Dad asked us what his chances were to survive, we knew that we would face the toughest report of all.  When Dr. Chappell told us death was possible, I saw a man raise his hand in an effort to shake hands and say “Thank You”.  You may ask, as I did, how could a man say “thank you” to that report?  You see, I learned firsthand what it means to have courage.  He stared at death and did not blink.

Courage 101   Passed with an A

Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.  Psalm 23:4

The second class attended was Faith 201.  While we (the family) were composing ourselves after the first report, Dad was already preparing for the next class.  Our Dad was impatient so we knew class #2 would be extremely short.  It went like this.

1. Hand me the clipboard
2. Give me the pencil
3. Prepare to read
4. Get ready for a journey

He said to all of us in the room that day that he was ready to begin his journey to Heaven.  Like most men, he was not going to stop and ask for directions, but then, he didn’t need to.  His way had already been mapped out.  His life was in order…that was all he needed.

Faith 201   Passed with an A

So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.  2 Corinthians 4:18

All of those A’s seem pretty odd for a man who, by educational standards, was average.  When November 1^st approached, we really believed our lessons had been learned.  Boy, were we wrong!  We got promoted to Graduate School.  We did not have to take any exams.  Entrance into his graduate program was automatic for all family members…Since we had moved into graduate school, the classes became a little tougher to take.  For some reason, when the class was full, it became extremely tough to know where to look.  It seemed we were all struggling to keep those tears from clouding our vision.  Of course, as all good teachers do, he quickly gathered us all back in.  It was time for class.  This was going to be extremely challenging.  Class 301 may have been the toughest yet.

When we were all getting in position, he noticed all were not present, so we got to relax and have some fun…He decided to use the time to help me with my lovelife.  Boy, what a teacher.  He informed me that I needed kids…after further instruction, I knew specifically to get married first.  We even got to play charades before the break was over.  My brother Randy and I were on the same team.  When Dad took his turn, there was no mistaking what he was telling us; He was ready for his time to be over.  Heaven was waiting.

We told him Kelly and the boys were on their way, and the teacher was going to have to wait a bit longer.  As he drifted off to sleep, we all took a break and laughed about what had just transpired.  Here he was, fighting for his life, yet trying to be funny and have a good time with his family.  To me CLASS means you handle tough situations with style and grace.  What could be tougher than this?

When Kelly and the boys arrived, it was time for a lesson in Class 301. We were given assigned seats this time.  We think he had a checklist going and was afraid someone might choose to skip this afternoon’s session…we all knew this could be the best lesson of all.  When Kelly read his poem, we were in a lot of trouble.  The teacher had to quickly get control of the class or all may have been lost.  As always, those eyes and that look were able to gain control.  We had our group prayer and the teacher dismissed us all at once.  We knew that our course in Class 301 had been completed, and we had all passed.  Class, remember, is handling a tough situation with style and grace.  The Teacher was very proud.

Class 301   Passed with an A

The Lord is my light and salvation – whom shall I fear?  The LORD is the stronghold of my life – of whom shall I be afraid?  Psalm 27:1

Before we could take our final class, we had several things to talk about, including wanting Rick and me to clarify the play-off picture.  He also wanted to know the scores of the football games in Oklahoma and Texas (no surprise for those of you who knew my dad).

…there was one more requirement before the degree could be granted, and demands of this course would test all members to the fullest.  In fact, we believe the instructor had already received special help in order to teach this class.  It’s called Dignity 400.  When you enroll in a 400 course, you are given guidelines and they are extremely hard to follow.  In order to graduate, we had to follow the instructor.  As time went by, the teacher began to illustrate exactly what this class was about.  With all systems shutting down, he taught us exactly what he had planned.  The final outline was delivered on November 2, 1997.

• Love God
• Love Family
• Be fair and honest
• Make a decision and never look back
• Do not be afraid to fail
• Die with dignity

Our diplomas from J.D. Jones will always be with us.  It was a blessing to be students in his class.  Some teachers, they say, care.  Some teachers, they say, are smart.  Some teachers, they say, are motivators.  Some teachers are all of the above.  He may be some or all of these, but I do know four things about our Dad.  For thirty days he taught us about Courage, Faith, Class and Dignity in a very special way.  Is there anything else to say?

Dignity 401    Passed with an A

DIPLOMAS GRANTED!”

Those were my brother’s words.  Here are mine:

Dad also taught another course.  A course in Peace.  Peace is defined as “quiet, contentment, friendliness, complete, wholeness, full”.

Peace is not the absence of conflict.  Peace is not life being perfect and beautiful all the time.  True Peace is not found outside of Christ.  It is found in doing your best at all times and in all situations.  Peace is found when we choose to put others above ourselves even when it may hurt.  Peace is found when we stand for what is right and true and good when others are turning away.  Peace is found when we surrender to THE ONE who allows quiet to surround us, contentment to fill us and our completeness to be found in Him.  Peace is found when your faith and hope has been put in THE ONE who loves you most.  That is what my dad knew and what he taught others…it is what he and my mom instilled in their four children.

Peace has been found when the last words you “speak” are;

“Thanks Doc…Let’s go to heaven”

“In peace I will both lie down and sleep, for you alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety.”  Psalm 4:8

Listen to His Voice,

Lee Ann

          “For you shall go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and the hills before you shall break forth into singing, and all the trees shall clap their hands.”  Isaiah 55:12