72 years ago today in Brownfield, a small town in Texas, a little boy named William Claude was born to Ruth and Virgil Ray. As he grew up, some called him Willie, some called him Claudie, some called him Bill. I called him Dad!
Bill Shelton was one of those people you sometimes say this about: “He never met a stranger”. Bill died on October 30, 1985 at the age of 48….too young. I remember talking to my dad about his mom and dad; they divorced when he was in his early teens ( I think that is right). My dad quit school after 9th grade. My dad got married to my mom in 1960. They left home to become missionaries not long after that…they never made it to the mission field. My dad went to floral design school and my mom went to Draughn’s Business College. They opened a flower shop in 1965….my sister still has it…..tell her you talked to me I’m sure you will get a better deal….hahaha!!!!!
Why the bio? My dad would have been 72 today. I don’t understand why he died at such an early age, but I do know this: God’s plan is perfect and as I look back over the past 24 years since my dad died, I see God leading me in a direction that I’m not sure I would have taken had Dad still been alive…. As I have stated in a past blog, I know my dad was not a saint, but he was the best dad in the whole world….he loved God, he loved my mom, he loved his three children, and he tried to be kind to everyone he met (that is close to sainthood in my book).
I hope and pray that my kids will look back some day with the same fond and indelible memories of me loving them and spending time with them as I do when I think back to my relationship with my dad.
Not sure who said it: “Any man can be a father, but not every one can be a daddy”.
My prayer for you guys, and myself: “Help me be a daddy.”
Here’s to you William Claude Shelton……
Thanks for teaching me to be a daddy……
Have a great week!
July 28, 2009 at 11:39 am |
WoW!! What a blessing to have such a precious heritage. Thank you for sharing your heart on such a special day. You are a wonderful Daddy to your children. Your kids already have those fond and indelible memories of you loving them and spending time with them. You are truly a godly Daddy and I pray God will richly bless you to live long and enjoy your grandchildren!!!!!!!!!
July 28, 2009 at 11:45 am |
John– Wow it makes me so sad to read this for my children.. Yes they have a father, but do they really have a “daddy” ? You make it sound so easy, I just wish Mike could be they way you are with your children, and of course, how Brad is with his.. I just know my kids have missed out in their little lives.. Hopefully the Lord will turn Mike around someday before it is too late.. Sometimes I think it already is..
July 28, 2009 at 3:44 pm |
John,
I just had to say you and I truly understand how important our fathers on earth were to us and who we have become today. I also feel they are why we take such an active role with our Father above. I will cut and paste a letter below I wrote to my father about six months ago when he was receiving an award that will bring back other good memories of when we were young. I hope you enjoy and was one of the hardest and best things to put on paper I have had to do.
Dad,
I truly wish I could be there for you in your time of recognition as you always were and are still there for me. Whether it was on the football field, tennis court, or on the stream in Colorado I could smell your cigar when you walked up and knew you were there to support me. Shoulder to shoulder we held hands and cried together as a father and son should do when we have lost someone close. I understand this award exemplifies what ”you,” being a leader truly possess, “skill, integrity and responsibility.” I have always been proud of you just as “my Dad.” You have taught me how important it is to always be there for your children big or small and now as I am a single father of three. This is the reason I cannot be there, as I promised my son Rhett I would be with him on his 1st grade field trip.
Being the son of an ARCHITECT I have tried to take the “BLUE PRINT” you have drawn for me to BUILD and raise my children with the same PLANS you had for me. I will reflect how your influence and the “TOOLS” of fatherhood and leadership as an architect have had an impact on me.
As a child growing up I wanted you to tell me what to do or what to become. But this was not in your “BLUE PRINT SPECIFICATIONS.” You said to find what I love and the success will come. With these precise instructions I was blessed to find my calling and career. I have now changed the “BLUE PRINTS” as any good architect’s son would do. To tell my children “success is not in a title or money you make but in the passion you have for your job and the positive legacy you leave behind.” You are the example I share with them!
While in college I wanted to take short cuts and play my first semester. You taught me not to ever take short cuts in life and that a strong “FOUNDATION” true to the “PLUMLINE” will withhold any storm. I learned this by having to work two jobs and one of those was with Mr. Shiver, where I learned hard work never hurt anyone but it helps you refocus on the goal and end result.
I have made some mistakes and gone through some difficult relationships. You have shown me with spirit-directed guidance and prayer a “LEVEL” can maintain a strait “FRAME” to support a “ROOF” of protection around your children no matter what the circumstances the Holey Spirit will prevail.
You have shown me how organization and structure help finish the job for the “FINAL WALK THROUGH.” I am still working on this one. You know what the inside of my car or the rooms look like when the children and I come to visit. But I think some of it has rubbed off on me, as there is not a week that goes by and a person will come up to me and say, “I do not know how you do it, with your work, your three children and stay so involved with them.” All I can say is it is the Lord; they are my responsibility and I had a good role model.
You have showed me over the years to never “MEASURE” quality with quantity. To work hard and give more then expected while living every day to it’s fullest as no one is guaranteed tomorrow. To under promise and over deliver and not be afraid to take calculated risk after I have put the “PENCIL TO THE PAPER.”
Even though I can not be there by your side to honor you, look out in the audience in the room and know we are the ones who are truly blessed to have you the “ARCHITECT” over our shoulder in the “DRAWING BOARD” of life!
I love you, your son,
Brad
July 28, 2009 at 10:13 pm |
My Dad taught me about having a work ethic, and a plan. He taught me about the Lord, and that a man says “I’m sorry” and means it.
My Daddy, on the other hand, took weeks and weeks of vacation time each year so we could go snow-skiing and backpacking; hunting and camping.
He came home for lunch during the summer months to be with me and Mom. He prayed with us, and for us.
He taught me how to seek the Lord, first. And how to never, ever, ever put myself ahead of my family.
I learned alot from the man I call “Dad”. I’m thankful to say I learned even more from the man I call “Daddy.”
And, I’m even more thankful they were the same man.
July 28, 2009 at 11:06 pm |
John,
I have fond memories of your daddy. Your parents were always so loving and kind. I loved to hang out with your dad at the flower shop and just visit. I know he would be so proud of the husband and daddy you have become.
July 29, 2009 at 2:14 am |
John,
You know how much I loved your mom and dad. If there ever was a thing as a second set of parents they were for me. I do remember all the good times we had with him. Especially going to him when your mom already said no because we know what he would say.
You were and are truly blessed and your kids were also because you learned from a great teacher.