When my dad went in to the hospital March 1st, I knew things weren’t good.  His health hadn’t been good for a while.  I think he knew that time on earth was getting close to an end.  I truly believe God works things out and only gives us what we can handle.  He is so good in that.  I think we all got time, time to process that death was getting near, all in God’s Due Time.  In my dad’s last days, one night he said he wanted to hear “Springs Speech” as he called it.   When I first heard him say that in his quiet hard to hear voice at the time, I just knew he knew that he was dying and  he wanted to know what I would say at his memorial.  I went with God’s prompting and wrote to my dad the next morning.  I had a sense of urgency to get over to share it with him.  I’m glad I went.  I got a chance to share with Pop and he responded well.  He even told me he could hardly wait to get to heaven.  Glory, glory he repeated.  He was ready to see Jesus!  Pop and I talked many times through the years, of heaven and how our funerals would be that of celebration, because we would be home and with Jesus! Today we celebrate his life.  A life well lived! I’m grateful God blessed me with a special time and the opportunity to say these words to Pop, I changed it a little since I’m not reading it to Pop this time. I know he would want me to share with all you. 

Pop was the most amazing Father.  He did so much for all of us six kids.  He was a man of God and not afraid to follow the Lord.  I love the way he would think and always have an answer to help with stuff.  I’d call him often, for various things and he would always help me.  He’s the ROCK in the family.  Pop was the guy that we would go to and bounce off ideas and thoughts.  He would be able to talk through life situations and help counsel and guide.  We all loved that about Pop.  Most people know Pop as being very generous, even when he had little to give.  His favorite saying to me was “All in due time”.  He was always reminding me to be patient and not rush into things and that everything happens ALL IN DUE TIME.  I appreciate that about him.  Even though I hated hearing “all in due time”,  this is something that I will treasure and try to remind myself of.  Not to rush, but to mull and think through things. 

I remember all our family meetings growing up.  He would sometimes lead us in a little Bible study or just get together to talk about house chores or other things.  Some of my fondest memories are the Sunday spur of the moment drives we would take.  Not planned.  Just fun.  Our Halloween home parties he made very fun and I’m so thankful we have some of those on home video.  Those were all his ideas and he made it memorable for us.  The hayrides and Bamboo Lilly will never be forgotten by our family.  We will always laugh and remember those special family times.  The many BBQs and gatherings we would have with people coming over. I loved that about Pop.  He was always open to having friends and family over.  They didn’t  get invited over to other people’s home much when we were all young.  Maybe people were afraid of a big family.  I’ve got a big family now and I’m seeing that is true in our own lives.  Maybe that is why Pop hosted so much and always prepared enough food for an army!  I want to be like that and be open to having friends and family over to share in food and fellowship.  I’m thankful that Pop showed me how to reach out.  I am gonna miss Pop and Mom together.  I’m gonna miss hearing him call out “Hun”.  I’m gonna miss the creeks in his chair as he sat at the head of the HUGE kitchen table that he made.   I Went to Pop not too long back and told him I needed a paddle, one that I could hang up in and easy to go to place.  He always taught us the importance of training up children in the way of the Lord, and to spare the rod is to spoil the child.  I’m thankful he made each of us a paddle for us to use to raise up our children. Several other families have one of those too.  I’m never gonna forget that anytime I needed something Pop would respond and say “you can get that at PATERSON’S”.   We would get a good laugh out of that!  So many things we will miss.  But I know all things happen in God’s Time, all in God’s Due time.   

I really was hoping Pop would stick around so much longer for all my sweet babies to grow up knowing.  All my kids love him so much.  Even little Annie Mae got a bright smile and her eyes lite up to see Pop in these last days!  I will tell her that Pop would call her “a real cutie” and loved to look at her.  Pop touched them all in different ways.  Gregory loved and misses watching football and car shows with Pop on TV.  He always felt special getting invited for the many Clemson games he and Levi would watch.   He has so many fond memories of all the special birthday meal requests that Pop would take from Gregory (steaks and and his famous chicken to name a few). Pop encouraged him to save his money for a bike first and then in the more recent years a car.  Gregory got to share his testimony at One At A Time church one time and I know he will remember that always.  He’s always gonna treasure the memories he has of Pop.  I’m glad he and Adam got a chance to go out working with Pop a couple times.  Growing up I remember how hard he worked. He thought through so much and worked hard for our family.  Adam really admires all he did in the service and is proud to have a couple of his hats.  It will be a treasure for years to come for him.  Pop helped Adam through some rough times.  He was a great mentor and counselor for Adam.   Adam loved hanging out with Pop in the workshop and doing wood burning together.  Gideon will never forget how Pop  bought him watermelon and loved watching him eat it! He likes watermelon just like Pop did! Titus has always reminded me of my dad.  Even as an infant he sort of looked like him.  Every time I look at him I’m gonna remember Pop.  He loved when I would go to the door and say “I’m going to see Pop”.  He would run and say POP and wanted to tag along to walk down to their house.   And our Luke Samuel, Pop has a special place in that little boys heart.  He has been a treasure for him.  I have so many stories of Pop and his buddy. Luke still says he is best buddy.  It all started so young. I remember even at 16 months old, he ONLY wanted POP to peel his tangerines so we would walk down to see Pop to get them peeled.  It went on from there.  All the nut cracking, sitting with him, watching survivor man together, all the projects in the work shop, all the talk of animals, and trips to the chicken farm.  Luke knows Pop loves armadillos and squirrels and he’s never gonna forget that!!  It was urgent in Luke’s mind that we order this stuffed squirrel for Pop while he was in the hospital and Pop named it Luke-a-ka. One of the most special gifts to Luke was Roostew and Girl (as many of you know, those were a pair of bantam Chickens).  That was one of the best things for that little boy.  He was so very proud of them.  He loved bringing them down for Pop and Granma to hold. They would have many discussions about the chicken business they were gonna start up.  Luke played a big part in Pops quail adventure and he still loves collecting those eggs and eating them too.   Pop had a connection with Luke and Luke says Pop will always be his favorite and best buddy! I’m never gonna forget how out of the blue Luke would say “I’m heading down to see Pop”.  Just so matter-o-factly like that was what he was going to do.  Often times I would let him  go because i know Pop wanted to see him too. I’m thankful for those times.  Treasured Times.   When Pop was in the hospital he didn’t want us telling “little stories” or making light of the situation to Luke about why he was there, he wanted Luke to know the truth.  The Truth was we didn’t know that Pop was coming home (I realize that now).  We all hoped.  It just wasn’t in the plan and deep down I think he might have known that.    

It was all in God’s time that Roostew first passed and then just a couple weeks before Pop, Girl (his little pet chicken) died.  God needed that to happen to prepare Luke’s heart!  It was all in His Time.   I’m so thankful that my kids had Pop as an example of a Man who is strong and bold for God, I was only hoping for a bit longer on this earth.  Pops love is evident in the way he loved other people.  His love for those on Skid Row was amazing. It takes a special person to work with the homeless and Pop and Mom loved those people and they connected and let God guide that One at A Time ministry for many years.  God blessed it and all the lives that were touched through it.

I like how Pop “mulled “ on things for a while and would often  share them when the time was right.  He would share with me some of the things he was studying and ask my thoughts of different Bible topics.  I always loved talking with him about those things and I miss it! I miss discussing Bible stuff with Pop! Pop and I have always thought similar in many ways.  I feel like I’m a lot LIKE my dad (some good ways, some not so great ways ha ha ).  I hope i can pass on some of the good things to my kids.

My Great Great grandfather Fed made a prayer alter next to a big tree in South Carolina.   Fed’s father started that prayer alter and he continued to add rocks to it.  He prayed for many years. Each day he’d go down to the woods to a that particular big tree. It was there that Fed spent many hours in prayer. He would place a rock at the base of the tree each time he would go there to pray.  I remember going to South Carolina to gather some of the rocks at the Prayer alter of Great great Grandpa Holladay’s.  Pop went back several times to gather rocks.  Pop encouraged all of us marrieds to pray together each night.  He spoke at all our weddings and gave us our rocks mounted to a stump (the very stump he proposed to Mom on) I don’t think Brian and I have missed a night except on retreats.  Its a blessing that Pop and Mom were that example to us and we each have those treasured rocks as reminders to pray.  And we will.  

I’m so thankful i have a mantle that Pop and Lin Thomas made.   I have a whole story about my mantle (but that’s for another day).  One funny thing is that my Dad was joking and said he was going to put ALL IN DUE TIME across the front of it.  Instead, Great is Thy Faithfulness it says and you know what….. God is faithful.  He’s been faithful to our family and He always will be.  When Pop said something that night about a speech, I know he wanted God’s love spoken at his memorial.  This life is NOT about us.  It is all about Him.  All about bringing glory to God and I know POP would want us all bringing GLORY to God on this day and days to come.  

All of us are going to die.  As we travel through this life on earth we need Jesus and we must admit that.  As we go through life we are faced with many choices and decisions.   The most important decision we will make is to reject or accept God’s free gift.  I’m thankful I got to grow up in a Christian home and I accepted Christ as Savior at a young age.  All in due time, All of us will get to a point in life when that time is up.  Pop reached that point already.  When your time is up and you have died, where are you going? We know where your body is going, but what about your soul? Will you be in heaven or hell? Yes, you will be in one place or the other.  In these remaining minutes I must share with you what the Bible says.  For Hell, we do nothing.  We have already done enough.  As the Bible tells us in Romans 6:23 “For the wages of sin is death”.  For Heaven, its a gift to us from our loving heavenly father.  Believe we are sinners “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” romans 3:23.  Believe Jesus died to pay for our sins.  Trust Jesus as your Savior.  “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved” Romans 10:13  One of my dad’s favorite verses is  John 8:31-32 So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples,  and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”  Our time is short in this world.  I pray that God will soften hearts to hear the truth, and that the truth will set you free.

God loved Pop and he loves all of us so much.  I am so glad that we KNOW Pop knew and had a relationship with the Lord. We can pretty much rest assured and find joy and comfort in that alone.  I know that I get to see Pop again when I get there and I hope and pray that you get to see my dad again in heaven! 

Don’t let the pricking on your heart go on, listen to God and let Him be Lord of your life! 

Pop always told me…. when he died he wanted a celebration! To die is to gain Christ and what more of celebration can that be!  ….. I’m really thankful God blessed me with an earthly Father like my Pop.  He’s gonna be missed very much!
  But All in Due Time we will see him again!