Daddy

His name was James Breland Spruill, many of his friends called him JB. As I write this, in my mind I see him sitting at the head of the table. I have many fond memories of family gatherings around the table at mealtime. He served during World War Two as a machinist but did many different things to feed and clothe us. He ran a saw mill, farmed, grew cotton and corn. He asked for no government help and did no complaining. He was a free spirit, he hated government red tape. He was a dreamer, he always expected things to get better and when he went home at seventy nine he was still planning for the future. One of his sayings was, nothing ventured nothing gained. He learned that no matter what life does to you, you can start over. His first house burned to the ground, no insurance and then a tornado took the farm house down. He built a new one without any electric tools. A hammer, hand saw, square and a plumb bob was just about the extent of his tools. He said, “I have been burned out and blown out,” but he was never down and out. He made syrup with sugar and coffee, ran a gasoline engine on kerosene when he could not buy gas. He cut trees with a cross-cut saw for days and used mules to get them to the mill. He said anything can be fixed and often he proved it. He paid less than fifty dollars for his first car and brought it home in buckets and boxes. In a few days he was driving it around the yard on rims because he didn’t have money for tires. He was indeed the kind of man that made America great. In the early fifties he had a life change. He had a personal experience with Jesus Christ. I remember it as though it was yesterday. He was a good man before, but the change in his life was a great witness to me. It was the beginning of a new journey for him and he never looked back. He set his face toward heaven and lived a life worth following. He went home on Sunday night and the last words we spoke were, “I love you dad,” to which he responded, “I love you too, son.” Today much of what I have is at his expense and the greatest way I can honor him is to greet him at the door of heaven. Whatever your earthly father was like, good or bad, we all have a heavenly Father who loves us very much. Jesus said, “He that has seen me has seen the Father.” I am glad I can know my Heavenly Father through knowing Jesus. Jesus is the perfect revelation of the Father. Read the gospel of John and you will come face to face with the Father’s love. He wants you to come home. I love you daddy. jfs