We are running an Adventure Trip in the mountains for 19 families from Calvary Church of Clearwater, but I wanted to pay tribute to THE BEST DAD IN THE WORLD (who is now in Heaven). There are so many amazing things about my Dad that I could share. I've shared a little about his incredible journey of overcoming, but today I want to focus on another one of Dad's most definable traits >>> his heart to give! Dad was the most generous person I have ever known. He loved, loved, loved to give. If he found out you liked something or needed something then it would be at your doorstep the next day. Or he would just buy extra things to give gifts to people (tomatoes, pens, flashlights, Battery Daddy's, gift cards, money, fire trucks, fruits, vegetables... you name it and he would do his best to get it for you!). He always had a cooler full of drinks & snacks ready to give out everywhere he went. And it wasn't just things that he gave; he also gave his time & hard work. Dad loved to help people. Giving was never an obligation for my Dad... it was his DNA... it was his love language. He expressed his love for others by giving, giving, giving. As Carson and I are running this trip we are surrounded by things my Dad gave to help this ministry function... we are driving a truck he helped get donated to GTD. We are cooking on a huge griddle he donated to GTD. We are pulling a trailer that he paid to have the axles replaced as a donation to GTD. In fact, the entire ministry would not have ever started if he & Mom didn't give me a small addition on the back of their house so I could live there rent free while I built GTD. I'm sure he would have loved to use that addition for something else, but somehow I think he had even greater joy just giving it away. My Dad wasn't materialistic. He could have had a nicer house, a nicer van, nicer clothes, nicer everything... but his heartbeat was this: LIVE TO GIVE! LIVE TO GIVE! LIVE TO GIVE!! In his last year of life while he was in so much pain and misery he could have withdrawn and rightfully backed off from so much giving, buy I actually watched him give even more and more. It was like his grand finale. After he sold his house we watched him give tens of thousands of dollars away to people... he didn't want to keep anything for himself, he just want to bless other people to brighten their day and lighten their load. About an hour before he passed away (the first time) he called me into his room and said, "Doug, I just want to make sure you and Traci are taken care of." Even in his last moments of life he was giving it all away. My Dad was a remarkable human being and an incredible example to me & my Sister. We count it as one of the highest honors of our lives to be "One of Jerry's kids" (a 1970's & 80's Jerry Lewis reference). Thank you Dad for every way you impacted, blessed, and changed my life through your selfless acts of giving. You are THE BEST DAD EVER!! Happy Father's Day in Heaven! I love you ❤️
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