"89"

1/4/11 "89"---the number on Larry’s high school football jersey, 89---the longest verse in the KJV Bible is Esther 8:9 with 89 plus one words. 89¢ the cost that Mother would pay for enough hamburger meat (3 lbs) for meat loaf, spaghetti sauce and fried hamburgers from Haddock’s grocery (and they delivered) That woman could stretch a dollar, uh 89¢.

89 FM is a Foothills Broadcasting radio station in Knoxville that produces real faith, real life programming mixed in with their music. For years the station has been airing encouraging words to fill up those who are empty and lifting up God so that all listeners could “see” him. My Daddy has that kind of radio station in my life. His words, though few, were encouraging. In later years, his daily reading of the Upper Room devotional and consistent church attendance were visible to all who knew him.

Today, Daddy is 89 years old. Daddy the “softer” side of my parental duo. Daddy, who was soft of speech, scolded me only once that I remember. I still shudder when I think about it because I had made fun of my grandmother Davenport’s pronunciation of the prefix for our phone number. (Tuxedo for 88) Had she heard me, it would have been shaming. Shaming is never acceptable. How grateful I am for Daddy’s intervention.

Happy Birthday, Daddy! I love you and thank you for loving me.