My Dad was a Titus 3:1-2 man

Titus 3:1-2

My dad, from a child’s eyes, was not someone you ran and jumped into his lap, he did not spend time playing ball or wrestling on the living room floor, and he often seemed grouchy.  But that was from the eyes of a child, as an adult I look back at him and see a totally different dad.  He worked shift-work at a refinery, and often slept during the time the neighborhood kids played in and out of the house as dad tried to sleep.  In that mother and dad’s bedroom adjoined the front porch, where the mail man, the milk man and the salespeople came and made noise, along with the neighborhood kids, with open windows and only screens to keep the racket and the bugs out; and I thought he was grouchy, he was a saint.  I recall his knees were bad from playing football, and often he had to wrap ace bandages around those swollen knees so that he could walk to his job at the refinery, or his second job selling “Real-silk” which was uniforms for ladies that worked in restaurants, and silk socks to both men and women, and even undergarments.  Yes, dad walked for miles because we could not afford a car, he had too many hospital bills from mothers many operations and he had children to clothe and feed.

But this is what my dad did often; he taught us how to live in our community, how to treat our neighbors, how to honor our mother, and how to look to God.  One of my fondest memories of dad is this saying, and one he lived by, “If you cannot say something good about a man, say nothing at all.”  I also remember this saying that came from his lips; “If that person knew Christ, they would not be like that” so it is our responsibility to tell them about how much He loves them.”  You may be wondering what this has to do with Titus 3:1-2, my dad was that kind of man.  Those verses read this way; “Remind them to be submissive to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good work, to speak evil of no one, to avoid quarreling, to be gentle, and to show perfect courtesy toward all people.” 

How different my life would have been if only I had modeled my dad in these areas, if only I had followed the doctrine of Titus chapter two.  But I go back to my daddy’s words, “if only that person knew how much they were loved,” if only I would have obeyed and applied what I now understand, God was able to change my mind and heart to these truths.  It is my choice and it is also yours, ask God to apply Titus 3:1-2 to your daily life.

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice