REFLECTIONS ON MY PAPA

          I’ve known for a long time that I would want to speak at my Papa’s funeral.  I unfortunately still don't know what I’m supposed to say. When it comes to vocally expressing feelings, that hasn’t been something that me or him have been known for.  We were alike in a lot of ways but not in every way.  I certainly didn’t inherit his passion for mowing.  And no matter what anyone says you can't convince me that I have his stubbornness, so don't even try, I won't change my mind.  I have been told on many occasions that I've acted just like him, and I always take that as a compliment, even times when I know it wasn’t meant that way. 

          I grew up three houses down from him.  Being able to just go over there from a young age was great.  I was happy to be there, every time I was there.  One day when I was very young we were sitting in the breezeway and he asked if I wanted to watch anything on TV.  I told him I wasn’t allowed to watch TV because my mom had grounded me.  That’s when I learned that when I'm at Nana and Papa's house they make the rules.  I loved spending time with him - - he’s the kind of man it felt good to be around.  When I lived out of state and would call to talk to Nana and Papa I knew that whenever it was Paps’s turn on the phone that the call was almost over.  After a few minutes he’d just tell me, "I done, I don't really like talking on these things.”

          I prayed every night for years and years that one day Papa would start coming to church.  His baptism was a great relief that brings me a

lot of peace today.  Until this past October all of my grandparents were alive.  I know that not many people are lucky enough to say that when they’re my age and it was a great blessing to be home these past few years and get to spend time with Papa and I’m extremely grateful for that.  Last Tuesday I went to visited him in the hospital, despite the setting, just his presence made it feel as comfortable as talking to him in his recliner at home.  I learned that it wasn’t one big moment or event that led Papa back to church but the affect of years of faithfulness from Nana and my mom and others in his life.  I could stand here and speak for hours but I don’t have one big thing to say to make everything better, but I have 29 years of memories with a great Papa.  That’s it.  I’m done.  I don’t really like talking on these things.

                                                                                                                                                Kris Wildman / Cortland Church of Christ

(The above words were shared as part of Ed Phillip’s funeral eulogy on July 11, by his grandson Kristopher).