June 25, 2012

• A Great Man

  The most influential people in my life have always been women. With Christ as cornerstone, they are the foundation and encouragers of my life. 

  Tom Stockton was an exception. He was not a perfect man - but he was an influential man. When others met him, they discovered a man who was driven to succeed and who, for the most part, loved enabling others to succeed. He did so with me.

  I spent many hours of my late teens and early twenties working with him at his small discount store in Fayetteville, Ar. During that time, I learned what it meant to step out of my teenager's world-view and into one that belongs to a man. I learned what it meant to make a decision and stick with it. I learned what it meant to stand up for what I believe in, even many might oppose me. And I learned, through a frailty of his own (and with the strength of the precious aforementioned women in my life), that relationships are more important than any work achievement. 

  Tom died 5 years ago today, but a very solid part of who I am as a man remains because of him, and is reinforced by his middle daughter, Melinda (@SaintVi) whom I married nearly 32 years ago.

  

   

  • 7:00 am
  • 3 Comments