The Book

Happy Birthday Paw

Today would have been my grandfather's 103rd birthday. I don't think a day goes by when his memory doesn't pop into my head at some point or another. He was one of the most influential men of my life. He taught me how to shoot straight, skin a whitetail and bait a trout line. But most importantly, one cool autumn night when I was eight years old, he sat with me on the back steps of the Mills River Baptist Church and prayed the sinner's prayer with me. That night I so many years ago, I accepted Christ into my heart-an act that guaranteed that I would one day see my grandfather once again.

When that day comes, I'm sure he'll meet me up in Heaven with a fresh box of .06 shells, slap me on the back and say "Glad you're finally here, son. You won't believe the size of the bucks up here."

I love you Paw. Happy Birthday.