Building on Yesterday: Reflections of My Father R Ronald Reedy
Nov. 22, 2016 – Trinity EC Church, Lititz PA
Tim Reedy
“He was not an ordinary man. He was distinct because of his devotion to God, his church and his community. He left his footprints on the sands of time. He gave of himself 100% to what he ever aspired. His thoughtful influence will be greatly missed by his church and his community. To be missed is to be valued. His faith went to work. His life encouraged others to become Christians. He was on call and responded with a ready ‘here I am’. He passed this way and left a blessing in the hearts of those who knew him.”
The young boy, probably 8-10 years old, was up early on this summer morning. He ran to the window and most likely, saw the sun rising in the east, warming the air. “Mom, I’m going up to the flats today. I heard that there is this man saying some pretty cool things about loving one another. He even heals people. I can’t miss that.” “Okay honey,” said his mother. “Just be careful. And, before you leave, I’m packing you a basket of food for lunch.”
It was a summer day just like any other summer day in 1947 --- warm morning, dry, birds chirping…perfect. A little boy on S. Spruce St would be seen running to his front door on these types of summer mornings shouting, “he’s here!” “Ok, Ok. Calm down. You’ll wake the neighbors”, his mother would say repeatedly. “Hi Uncle Luce!! Gonne’ be a great day watching the trains,” the boy yelled from inside the screen door. “Have a wonderful time. I love you,” said his mom as he sprinted out the door grasping his uncle’s arm in one hand and a lunch pail in the other.
And just like that, in the blink of an eye, the uncle and his 8-year old nephew, would walk hand in hand two and a half blocks due south. When they arrived at their destination, the Lititz Springs Park, they would find a bench next to the railroad tracks and settle in for the day, to watch the railroad workers and engineers switch the freight cars bound for Wilbur Chocolate and the nearby lumber yard. And, at certain times throughout the day, they would enjoy watching the passenger trains come to the train station.
Sprinkled amidst the screeching of the box cars and the engineers’ yells, my dad and his uncle talked about Lititz, trains and family. While only 8 at the time, my dad most certainly listened intently, while munching on a sandwich. He took everything - the beauty of the park and the lessons being given.
My father would write in his journal some two months before his death that these weekly trips to the park forged his passion for the community park he loved, the park’s history, and the history of the Reading Railroad. Most importantly, these trips to the park taught him about the importance of having conversations with anyone and everyone. Listen before you speak, my dad would say.
The true measure of a gift is what you gave up to give it.
The boy – we don’t even know his name - whom Peter found in the crowd with five loaves of bread and two fishes, gave everything he had to help others - his lunch. It tells us in the Bible that the loaves we made out of barley, telling us that he was poor. He gave his meal in order for Jesus to perform a miracle to feed everyone. And his act of kindness was recorded in all four gospels of the Bible for all to read.
Uncle Lucien never lived to see what my father became: a husband, a father, a storyteller, a historian and an administrator. Lucien gave up his time to educate his nephew. His simple act of kindness helped make the man we honor today. What a gift my great-great uncle Lucien gave my dad --- and us.
My dad used to tell me that small acts of kindness create ripple effects throughout the streets and towns of Lititz and points beyond. These ripples can transcend one day, one year, 30 years and over generations.
When you make someone’s day, you don’t just make his or her day, because there is a good chance that they will make someone else’s day.
Two boys – one who gave all that he had to feed others and one who gave all that he had so that people will remember the past – were separated by some 2,000 years, but their mark on history lives on. A boy’s packed lunch was used to feed multitudes of people after hearing a man speak about God’s love. A man’s uncle gave his time so that a little boy could learn about history and relationship building. Those chats by the park bench spurred that boy to take an interest in history, which he wrote down for current and future generations to read.
Never underestimate the powerful act of kindness, one act of courage, one act of generosity, one conversation, one compliment or one divine appointment because you never know where it will lead.
My dad taught me that you don’t have to know where those acts of kindness lead, just that it goes somewhere.
The generations will come and go. My father’s greatest legacy is that he worked hard to foster relationships so that the next generation will be better than his.
How will you affect the next one? Answer – by building on today to shape a better tomorrow.
In other words, build on yesterday to make yourself, your family and your society better. That’s what my father did.
“He was not an ordinary man. He was distinct because of his devotion to God, his church and his community. He left his footprints on the sands of time. He gave of himself 100% to what he ever aspired. His thoughtful influence will be greatly missed by his church and his community. To be missed is to be valued. His faith went to work. His life encouraged others to become Christians. He was on call and responded with a ready ‘here I am’. He passed this way and left a blessing in the hearts of those who knew him.”
The preceding – I read this when I first started talking – was written by a pastor as a tribute to my grandfather when he died in 1987. It also fits my dad, doesn’t it?
The love my grandpa Reedy had for others moved from his generation to my dad’s. And I’m doing everything I can as a husband, father, brother, uncle and community leader to keep the love going.
My dad told one time that his best friend was his dad. To me, a true friend is someone who understands your past, believes in your future, and accepts you just the way you are. I can confidently say that my father was a true friend to me.
So, what have we learned from my father’s life? It’s this:
People matter. Relationships matter. Good conversations matter. True friendship matters. Kindness matters. And, use your God-given gifts to help others.
That’s what my dad did. He touched so many lives as evidenced by the outpouring of support that my family and I have experience since he died.
My challenge to you today is to honor my dad by touching people’s lives in a positive manner as he did for 77 years.
And, take what you learned yesterday and build for a better tomorrow.
Simply put, BUILD ON YESTERDAY.
Nov. 22, 2016 – Trinity EC Church, Lititz PA
Tim Reedy
“He was not an ordinary man. He was distinct because of his devotion to God, his church and his community. He left his footprints on the sands of time. He gave of himself 100% to what he ever aspired. His thoughtful influence will be greatly missed by his church and his community. To be missed is to be valued. His faith went to work. His life encouraged others to become Christians. He was on call and responded with a ready ‘here I am’. He passed this way and left a blessing in the hearts of those who knew him.”
The young boy, probably 8-10 years old, was up early on this summer morning. He ran to the window and most likely, saw the sun rising in the east, warming the air. “Mom, I’m going up to the flats today. I heard that there is this man saying some pretty cool things about loving one another. He even heals people. I can’t miss that.” “Okay honey,” said his mother. “Just be careful. And, before you leave, I’m packing you a basket of food for lunch.”
It was a summer day just like any other summer day in 1947 --- warm morning, dry, birds chirping…perfect. A little boy on S. Spruce St would be seen running to his front door on these types of summer mornings shouting, “he’s here!” “Ok, Ok. Calm down. You’ll wake the neighbors”, his mother would say repeatedly. “Hi Uncle Luce!! Gonne’ be a great day watching the trains,” the boy yelled from inside the screen door. “Have a wonderful time. I love you,” said his mom as he sprinted out the door grasping his uncle’s arm in one hand and a lunch pail in the other.
And just like that, in the blink of an eye, the uncle and his 8-year old nephew, would walk hand in hand two and a half blocks due south. When they arrived at their destination, the Lititz Springs Park, they would find a bench next to the railroad tracks and settle in for the day, to watch the railroad workers and engineers switch the freight cars bound for Wilbur Chocolate and the nearby lumber yard. And, at certain times throughout the day, they would enjoy watching the passenger trains come to the train station.
Sprinkled amidst the screeching of the box cars and the engineers’ yells, my dad and his uncle talked about Lititz, trains and family. While only 8 at the time, my dad most certainly listened intently, while munching on a sandwich. He took everything - the beauty of the park and the lessons being given.
My father would write in his journal some two months before his death that these weekly trips to the park forged his passion for the community park he loved, the park’s history, and the history of the Reading Railroad. Most importantly, these trips to the park taught him about the importance of having conversations with anyone and everyone. Listen before you speak, my dad would say.
The true measure of a gift is what you gave up to give it.
The boy – we don’t even know his name - whom Peter found in the crowd with five loaves of bread and two fishes, gave everything he had to help others - his lunch. It tells us in the Bible that the loaves we made out of barley, telling us that he was poor. He gave his meal in order for Jesus to perform a miracle to feed everyone. And his act of kindness was recorded in all four gospels of the Bible for all to read.
Uncle Lucien never lived to see what my father became: a husband, a father, a storyteller, a historian and an administrator. Lucien gave up his time to educate his nephew. His simple act of kindness helped make the man we honor today. What a gift my great-great uncle Lucien gave my dad --- and us.
My dad used to tell me that small acts of kindness create ripple effects throughout the streets and towns of Lititz and points beyond. These ripples can transcend one day, one year, 30 years and over generations.
When you make someone’s day, you don’t just make his or her day, because there is a good chance that they will make someone else’s day.
Two boys – one who gave all that he had to feed others and one who gave all that he had so that people will remember the past – were separated by some 2,000 years, but their mark on history lives on. A boy’s packed lunch was used to feed multitudes of people after hearing a man speak about God’s love. A man’s uncle gave his time so that a little boy could learn about history and relationship building. Those chats by the park bench spurred that boy to take an interest in history, which he wrote down for current and future generations to read.
Never underestimate the powerful act of kindness, one act of courage, one act of generosity, one conversation, one compliment or one divine appointment because you never know where it will lead.
My dad taught me that you don’t have to know where those acts of kindness lead, just that it goes somewhere.
The generations will come and go. My father’s greatest legacy is that he worked hard to foster relationships so that the next generation will be better than his.
How will you affect the next one? Answer – by building on today to shape a better tomorrow.
In other words, build on yesterday to make yourself, your family and your society better. That’s what my father did.
“He was not an ordinary man. He was distinct because of his devotion to God, his church and his community. He left his footprints on the sands of time. He gave of himself 100% to what he ever aspired. His thoughtful influence will be greatly missed by his church and his community. To be missed is to be valued. His faith went to work. His life encouraged others to become Christians. He was on call and responded with a ready ‘here I am’. He passed this way and left a blessing in the hearts of those who knew him.”
The preceding – I read this when I first started talking – was written by a pastor as a tribute to my grandfather when he died in 1987. It also fits my dad, doesn’t it?
The love my grandpa Reedy had for others moved from his generation to my dad’s. And I’m doing everything I can as a husband, father, brother, uncle and community leader to keep the love going.
My dad told one time that his best friend was his dad. To me, a true friend is someone who understands your past, believes in your future, and accepts you just the way you are. I can confidently say that my father was a true friend to me.
So, what have we learned from my father’s life? It’s this:
People matter. Relationships matter. Good conversations matter. True friendship matters. Kindness matters. And, use your God-given gifts to help others.
That’s what my dad did. He touched so many lives as evidenced by the outpouring of support that my family and I have experience since he died.
My challenge to you today is to honor my dad by touching people’s lives in a positive manner as he did for 77 years.
And, take what you learned yesterday and build for a better tomorrow.
Simply put, BUILD ON YESTERDAY.
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