Last week, after speaking to a group in St. Charles Parish, a man in the group gave me the following article, written by me, which was published in the St. Charles Herald on July 10, 2004. I thought the message is as timely today as it was I first wrote it:

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 While walking early Monday morning, I was stopped by a man whom I see occasionally, but don’t know his name.

“How are you feeling?” he asked, evidently knowing that I had surgery for colon cancer a couple of weeks ago.

“I’m doing fine,” I answered. “The cancerous tumor was removed. I didn’t need a colostomy and I won’t need chemotherapy. God’s been good to me.”

Before I could resume my walking, he continued, “My dad died a few years ago from colon and bladder cancer.” Without hesitating, he shared, “When my dad was on his deathbed, my wife and I went to visit him. Before entering the room, my wife said that it was time for me to make amends with my dad. I told her that I didn’t know if I could do that.”

He then described his relationship with his dad.

“My dad was from ‘the old school’. He ruled our house with this! (He made a clenched fist.) The abuse I suffered left a scar, but not deeper than the abuse he dished out to my mom. He would beat her, sometimes for no reason. I hated him for that. Maybe hate is not the right word. Those memories still bring back pain, but I thank God for my last visit with my dad. I took my wife’s advice and made amends to the best of my ability.”

He continued, “I told my dad that I forgave him for everything he ever did to me and my mom. I then told him, ‘You know, dad, the only thing I ever wanted to hear from you is that you loved me.’ I wanted his approval and love so much!”

As he talked, I could feel the sincerity of his emotions.

He concluded our conversation with this, “I’m glad that I was able to tell my dad that I not only forgave him, but I also loved him.”

As we departed, he said, “I guess my dad loved me the only way he could.” He repeated, “You know, he was from ‘the old school.’”

As I continued my walk, I thought – ‘the old school’.   I wondered how many graduates from ‘the old school’ destroyed families, many without the chance to make amends.”

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If you have any questions, or comments, please write to Harold Keller at Get High on Life, P.O. Drawer U, Reserve, LA 70084, call (985) 652-8477, or e-mail: hkeller@comcast.net.