How my dad lived his life:
My dad was a good man. There's few people in my small hometown that at one point or another he didn't 
help in some way. One night, I was probably fourteen years old, my dad and I were on the way home from Canada. Two young girls (18?, 19?) were hitch-hiking and it was getting late so my dad picked them up. They were headed to one of the girls' aunt down in Boston. It was about a two-hour drive back to home and if we went a little out of our way we could drop them off on route 2 which would leave them a straight shot to Portland and then on to Boston.
But as we got close to this point it was rather late and the girls had been dozing off and on; they were pretty worn out. My dad changed plans and brought them home with us. My mom fed them spaghetti and meatballs (funny what you can remember) and sent them to mine and my brother's room to get some sleep. My brother went and slept on the porch and I snuggled down in the living-room with the family dog.
The next morning over breakfast my dad asked me if I wanted to go for a ride. I figured we were going to take the girls to the place we were going to drop them off at the previous night. Not a chance. My dad drove them to Boston and dropped them off at the girls' aunt. I don't know how much, but the aunt offered my dad money which he, of course, refused. We all said our goodbyes. The girls told my dad they would never forget him or our family's kindness and then my dad and I drove the five hours back home. Sitting here tonight, writing this, I wonder if they do remember him.
Them are the shoes that I always thought my duty to fill. I can't fill them. I'm not my dad. I am selfish and self-centered and I grew up studying science and math thinking I was going to change the world. How delusional. All I have done is added a few structures here and there, bridges, roads, schools, etc 
and once in a while I preach the Gospel through my poems. My dad? Well, he sort of lived the Gospel. How am I suppose to carry a torch so bright?
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Comments: 59
Hats off to your father, and as for you Robert you give more to others then you know. I don't know you personally but I have seen your compassion in your words.
Blessings
You better believe those girls remember him. They probably tell their family and friends about him every once in awhile. And they might even remember the spaghetti and meatballs also.
We will never measure up to our ancestors, but I don't think my grandparents or even
my parents would try. Each individual is a part of the plan, each is given their own
singular gifts, or talents if you will. We must use them as best we can.
I hope that in time that you will recognize what YOU mean to so many of us here on Gather and most likely in your life away from here as well. You have meaning and a purpose for being just what you are, as you are...
Thanks for touching my heart as I am sure you have done for many others as well.
Believe in yourself.
Esther, wish you could have met him.
The acorn never falls too far from the tree.
Thanks for the inspirational insight of a man with the heart of Gold.
Anyone wishing, may drop out the L.
Thanks again
CL
remembrance of your loving Father. This story did
touch mine heart and I thank you for sharing such
a wonderful person that your Dad was Robert.
Just Me
Barbie
Starr
Trust Me-chapter 2
AMEN!
My mom has told me how blessed she is to have been given the connect to you as a friend & brother in christ, She looks up to you, plus she thinks you should publish a book or two. She say's your heart & soul is made out of golden shine, glows with all your words. So I only told you this because she think you fet your shoes very nicely. Kind, respectful, thinking of others. i go to church praise God workds, she told me you built a school among other things, we have a prayer list on are way with a cross above it and candle below it, you are on the list among others. I have to run or i will be late for work. I work at Von's store. I was here to work on my member sheet but late now,thanks for making her smile, reknew her faith in God. We could pick up people these days at least not where we live, people get shot or killes for less reasons
Your dad was a gift. A gift to impart to you...discernment of your need for God's help in getting to that very place where you yearn to be.
Your yearning is a gift from your Heavenly Father to let you know that this is His purpose for you.
Again beautiful article. Its warm and sincere, and the type of writings my heart enjoys reading! Thank you for sharing.
The problem is, we all know our own weaknesses and hold them over our own heads. We don't know the weaknesses of everybody else, not even of our parents ... so everyone else always looks better than us. "Man looks on the outward appearance, God looks on the heart." And that was said to Samuel, a wise and loving prophet of God who misjudged the situation when God went to choose David to be the next king. David did a few massive things wrong you will recall. :):) But God called him. "A man after God's own heart."
And, I have found that I am nothing like her, and that it is actually a good thing.
You can't be everything to everyone.
If you don't have that extra money, or time. You use the talents that God gave you..
Which is the power to build things.
You give people a place to congregate. Schools to teach our future leaders. Bridges that bring families together from opposite sides of the country. Every little contribution you make, help someone get to where they need to go.
If you think about it, you've helped millions of people over time, and that's no small feat.
Believe me Robert, your work is not for nothing.