In honor of my dad,
I remember riding on his shoulders, I could almost touch the sky.
This mode of transportation made me feel 10 feet high.
When he would make noises like a duck, it seems so funny to me,
I would ask him to do it again and again and clap my hands with glee.
I would pretend to fall asleep, trying not to grin.
So he would carry me up the stairs, and gently tuck me in.
When he would get a new camera or new type of film,
The persona of an artist would clearly transform him.
When looking through his camera lens, he sees past all the clutter,
And captures another masterpiece, when he trips the shutter.
He was not one to rant and rave, nor was he full of bluster,
He raised his seven children, with all the patience he could muster.
Of course I was the only perfect child, out of this great brood,
And to contradict that simple fact, he would never be so rude.
He tried to teach us right from wrong, to follow the Golden rule,
For reinforcements with this task, he took us to Sunday school.
He read the Bible daily, and in this devotion he would never fail,
He prayed for his children daily, in their lives Christ would prevail.
He’s been in heaven almost 30 years, he left this earth too soon.
He’s walking on heaven’s golden streets, it is salvation’s boon.
Walking and talking with my Lord, what he now must know,
This loving tribute I now write for him, with honor to bestow.
In honor of my father Melvin L. Graves 10/31/1915-11/29/1989
And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.
Ephesians 6:4
The father of the righteous shall greatly rejoice: and he that begetteth a wise child shall have joy of him.
Proverbs 23:24
The just man walketh in his integrity: his children are blessed after him.
Proverbs 20:7
I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.
III John 1:4