Gilbert Springer is a brother in the Lord and a special friend of my family. My girls claimed Gilbert as their own and sometimes I catch them calling him PawPaw. He dotes on them, takes them to Dairy Queen, to Steak ‘n Shake, and usually to Mrs. Jody Cunningham’s house to play their special game called “sequence.” The girls would rather spend time with Gilbert and Jody than just about anyone their own age — and I think that’s just grand! I know they are with someone who loves them and looks out for them.
Gilbert brought his tractor over to the house beginning Saturday to start breaking up our garden spot. First, he used the turning plow. After he finished, I slipped out to the garden with a tape-measure and computed that the turning plow dug down almost to a depth of 30 inches. On Monday, Gilbert returned again with the tractor. This time, the roto-tiller was in tow and he set to work on the garden. I watched him from the lawn mower. He pulverized every last clod of dirt. It looked like fine powder to me. I would have thought the garden spot was great — one of the best I ever had, but it didn’t satisfy Gilbert! “Mike, I need a new pin in my tiller. I’ll get it in the morning and come back tomorrow to finish up right.” He was back on Tuesday. He went over and over the garden — then skipped over about ten feet and started going over and over what will be my little melon patch. Not one square inch of dirt missed his attention to detail. For you golfers out there, I actually could have practiced bunker shots when he finished.
They say the best sermons are preached without words by lives that are lived. I admire Gilbert Springer and the sermon he preaches everyday. The love and attention he showed my garden is the love and attention he shows my girls. I know for a fact it is the same love and attention he shows his children and grandchildren on a daily basis. He was no different with his wife, with the church he has loved for the better part of 50 years now, for every aspect of his life.
Yes Gilbert preaches a beautiful sermon.
If I had to define his love for God with a scripture, I can think of none better than this: ”Hear, O Israel ! The LORD is our God, the LORD is one ! You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. These words, which I am commanding you today, shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your sons and shall talk of them when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way and when you lie down and when you rise up.” ~Deuteronomy 6:4-7.
If I had to sum up the way he lives everyday with a scripture, it would be this: “Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might.” ~Ecclesiastes 9:10
Thank you, Gilbert, for all you do for so many people. You are appreciated!
Mar 23, 2011 @ 18:32:06
awww PreacherMan that was such a sweet, thoughtful, thing to say about Gilbert! He is a pretty sweet fellow even if he has beat me in that special game of squence. We have had a good time with him and Jody. Love them both so much. And we adore your babies. They are the sweetest, well mannered little girls. They Love every one and make all that come in contact with them feel special. We love you to Mike.
Mar 28, 2011 @ 19:21:02
Mike, I loved reading this post. Brought a tear to my eye. Gilbert is soooo special. We are blessed to have him in our lives, just like we are to have you and your family.