Father's Day 2011


"'Son,' he said, 'I had hoped you wouldn't run into anything like this till you were older, but maybe it's just as well. There are only two kinds of men in this world: Honest men and dishonest men. There are black men and white men and yellow men and red men, but nothing counts except whether they're honest men or dishonest men.

'Some men work almost entirely with their brains; some almost entirely with their hands; though most of us have to use both. But we all fall into one of the two classes - honest and dishonest.

'Any man who says the world owes him a living is dishonest. The same God that made you and me made this earth. And He planned it so that it would yield every single thing that the people on it need. But He was careful to plan it so that it would only yield up its wealth in exchange for the labor of man. Any man who tries to share in that wealth without contributing the work of his brain or his hands is dishonest.

'Son, this is a long sermon for a boy of your age, but I want so much for you to be an honest man that I had to explain it to you.'

I wish I knew how Father was able to say things so as to make you remember every word of it. If I could remember everything the way I remember the things Father told me, maybe I could be as smart a man as he was."


-excerpt from Little Britches: Father And I Were Ranchers by Ralph Moody


Alison

9 comments:

The J's said...

Special picture, wise words, and wonderful books!

Heather S said...

what a precious picture!!!

Ethel said...

love the picture! hope you are well!!

Anonymous said...

Love the picture!! Have I ever met you or your relatives? I know we know some of the same people! Hope you're doing well!

Melinda said...

Beautiful! What a wonderful privilege to have an honest, hard working, and loving father. Your children are among the luckiest in the world!

Anonymous said...

Loved seeing your blog again, i can't believe how big Melita is getting, plus your other 3, hope all is well, love to you 5,
Aunt Susie

Heather said...

cute picture. Love how your family always matches!

Alison said...

Hi Emily, I don't think we've ever met but maybe... :) We do have lots of relatives all over! Thanks we're doing good here. Hope your doing well too! Thanks for stopping by!

Anonymous said...

I really enjoyed Ralph Moody's Little Britches books as a teenager. I even thought of them again as we traveled through that area of CO several weeks ago.
LaRon