In this day and age, it is no small thing to say "I am so thankful for the blessing of a godly father." My dad (Leo L. Pepper, Jr.) is the very best. And I am truly blessed!
I have learned so much from him over the years, through watching his life, from listening (wished I'd listened more as a teen), from hearing stories from and about him.
Of the many things he has taught me, the first is the importance of loving Jesus. Dad became a follower of Jesus not long after he married mom (1950) and hasn't stopped following Jesus since. Through his life as a follower, I learned much about authentic Christianity. Not just about 'religion,' but about knowing Jesus.
He taught me the importance of taking time daily to read the bible and pray. But even more than that, to ask myself what/how that teaching should apply to my life. I can still hear his and mom's voices early in the morning (before 5AM) as they read the "Our Daily Bread" together and prayed before he left for work. I have many mental pictures of dad at his desk reading his bible and making notes. When he discovered something good, he would share it with us.
He showed us (my brother and sisters) how to love through his loving mom. This year August they will reach 62 years of marriage!
He taught me the importance of work, of giving your very best at it, of living your faith at work, not just on Sunday mornings. To try to do things, even when you weren't exactly sure how to do it.
He taught me to fix things, to take care of things, and always to return a borrowed item in a condition better than it was when you got it (by cleaning it, etc.). And not to be wasteful.
He taught me to laugh, and to just plain have fun. Growing up we had many great family vacations together. He has loved Sally and our kids and has demonstrated that love by regularly praying for us, through making special things for the kids, and being a fun grandpa.
He taught me to not only love family, but to live in a way that our family name would always be respected. I'm proud to be a Pepper.
The past 4 years have not been easy for my dad. He has gone from a very healthy man that walked around Clarksville every morning praying as he went, to now walking short distances with a walker. He has suffered a lot, he's been through some dark times, yet he has persevered. I am so thankful for these coming months as Sally and I are living in the same apartment complex as mom and dad and almost daily having the opportunity to spend time with them. I still have a lot to learn and I am ready for more life lessons from my dad...
I love my dad!
I have learned so much from him over the years, through watching his life, from listening (wished I'd listened more as a teen), from hearing stories from and about him.
Of the many things he has taught me, the first is the importance of loving Jesus. Dad became a follower of Jesus not long after he married mom (1950) and hasn't stopped following Jesus since. Through his life as a follower, I learned much about authentic Christianity. Not just about 'religion,' but about knowing Jesus.
He taught me the importance of taking time daily to read the bible and pray. But even more than that, to ask myself what/how that teaching should apply to my life. I can still hear his and mom's voices early in the morning (before 5AM) as they read the "Our Daily Bread" together and prayed before he left for work. I have many mental pictures of dad at his desk reading his bible and making notes. When he discovered something good, he would share it with us.
He showed us (my brother and sisters) how to love through his loving mom. This year August they will reach 62 years of marriage!He taught me the importance of work, of giving your very best at it, of living your faith at work, not just on Sunday mornings. To try to do things, even when you weren't exactly sure how to do it.
He taught me to fix things, to take care of things, and always to return a borrowed item in a condition better than it was when you got it (by cleaning it, etc.). And not to be wasteful.
He taught me to laugh, and to just plain have fun. Growing up we had many great family vacations together. He has loved Sally and our kids and has demonstrated that love by regularly praying for us, through making special things for the kids, and being a fun grandpa. He taught me to not only love family, but to live in a way that our family name would always be respected. I'm proud to be a Pepper.
The past 4 years have not been easy for my dad. He has gone from a very healthy man that walked around Clarksville every morning praying as he went, to now walking short distances with a walker. He has suffered a lot, he's been through some dark times, yet he has persevered. I am so thankful for these coming months as Sally and I are living in the same apartment complex as mom and dad and almost daily having the opportunity to spend time with them. I still have a lot to learn and I am ready for more life lessons from my dad...
I love my dad!
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