Generations
My grandfather taught me that actions speak louder than words.
Papaw taught his life lessons through actions, not words.
On Feb. 22, 1916, my hero was born. It would be some 55 years later that I came along and met my grandfather Johnie Hennessee. I called him Papaw.
I can’t remember a time when I was not around Papaw. Before I started elementary school, we had bonded, and I learned a lot of life’s lessons from him.
He bought me my first calf when I was 4, and I raised it on a bottle.
Lesson No. 1 Responsibility builds character.
I sold the calf back to him after about a year or so. He gave me a $100 bill and I bought a bicycle.
Lesson No. 2 Hard work brings reward. Or should it be that huge profits like that can only come from grandfathers?
Once I was “working” with him building tobacco beds. He swung the hammer and hit his shin. As he hopped around in pain, I explained that I once had hit myself with a hammer and didn’t even cry. I was still only 4 years old. Lesson No. 3 Someone is always watching to see how you react to what life hands you. Or should it be only offer advice when someone asks?
Once we spent the better half of a day taking a man around town to get parts to fix his truck, which had broken down on the side of the road. We just stopped to see if we could help, and it turns out we
could. Lesson No. 4 There is always someone who needs help, and we should be looking for them.
Once he bought a bull from a man and then decided he didn’t want it. So he sold it at the stock barn and doubled his money. He returned to the man’s house and split the profit. Papaw told him if he had known the bull was worth more, he would have paid more. Lesson No. 5 Conduct business with the highest level of integrity. And oh yeah—a clear conscience sleeps well at night.
My hero took a terrible blow in the fall of 1999. A stroke left him weak and unable to speak. For about seven years we watched as he drew closer and closer to the end. His life on earth ended in the early morning hours of April 1, 2007.
Because Papaw had no way to verbally communicate, I foolishly thought the lessons would stop.
But then I realized he had never
spoken any of his lessons. Papaw taught them to me by example, carefully living his heroic life in the watchful eyes of his grandson. He had never told me to be honest, to treat others fairly, to pray each day, or to live a life with God in control. He just did those things.
And so, in the weakest time of his life, he taught me the most important lesson: Actions speak louder than words.
Twelve years have passed since my grandfather’s death. I think about him often, and about the time we spent together. He was an ordinary man who took on extraordinary powers simply by living his good life in full view of those around him.
Upon his death, Papaw left behind a small farm, a small bank account, and a huge legacy of honesty, integrity and love.
“But then I realized he had never spoken any of his lessons. Papaw taught them to me by example…”