Gene Hanson turned 85 years old today. He is my hero of the "ambitious quietness" Paul described in 1 Thessalonians 4:11-12…
Gene Hanson kept a farm going as a very young man and captured the heart of a city girl with Juicy Fruit gum, lots of chickens and quiet strength. He helped raise five kids who all work hard and all still love him. He worked a string of crappy jobs without complaint.
Gene Hanson helped to very creatively remodel the Calvary Baptist Church many years ago - working tirelessly alongside other men who also came in after work to get the job done.
Gene Hanson surrounds his home with gorgeous flowers and growing things, countless bird feeders and a hundred different ways to collect rain water.
Gene Hanson befriends a disabled man next door just because it's the right thing to do.
Gene Hanson fills my life with good things. I have plant stands, a desk, a bookcase, coffee table, a wooden truck and countless other decorations and delights in my life - all beautifully handmade in his slap together basement wood shop. I cannot smell sawdust without thinking of and missing this man.
Gene Hanson enjoys life. One side of his recreation room in the basement is a train city, with a special subterranean track for a little grandson who isn't so very little anymore.
Gene Hanson is a good sport. He loses regularly at cards, mostly because he cares more about listening to the yappy kids and the table chatter than he does about winning dumb card games.
Gene Hanson is a little amazing. All the dogs, cats and animals in the world love him – he has an almost creepy way of connecting. A true story – last fall a bird was trapped in his garage and frantic about getting out. My sweet father held out one knobby, arthritic finger and said, "It's just me, bird. It's okay." The bird calmed down, jumped onto his finger for a moment and after a "thank you" look, flew peacefully out the open door. That was startling even for me...there’s no animal too fearful to approach this man for a snuggle and a scratch.
Gene Hanson is my very favorite miracle. We almost lost this dear man to a massive stroke and a couple heart attacks years ago, shortly after I came home from the Army. I desperately begged God for more time with him and, for whatever lovely, mysterious reason, Almighty God said yes.
So thank you, LORD, for Gene Hanson! Thank you, God, for a Father to truly look up to!
Happy Birthday, Dad!
Gene Hanson kept a farm going as a very young man and captured the heart of a city girl with Juicy Fruit gum, lots of chickens and quiet strength. He helped raise five kids who all work hard and all still love him. He worked a string of crappy jobs without complaint.
Gene Hanson helped to very creatively remodel the Calvary Baptist Church many years ago - working tirelessly alongside other men who also came in after work to get the job done.
Gene Hanson surrounds his home with gorgeous flowers and growing things, countless bird feeders and a hundred different ways to collect rain water.
Gene Hanson befriends a disabled man next door just because it's the right thing to do.
Gene Hanson fills my life with good things. I have plant stands, a desk, a bookcase, coffee table, a wooden truck and countless other decorations and delights in my life - all beautifully handmade in his slap together basement wood shop. I cannot smell sawdust without thinking of and missing this man.
Gene Hanson enjoys life. One side of his recreation room in the basement is a train city, with a special subterranean track for a little grandson who isn't so very little anymore.
Gene Hanson is a good sport. He loses regularly at cards, mostly because he cares more about listening to the yappy kids and the table chatter than he does about winning dumb card games.
Gene Hanson is a little amazing. All the dogs, cats and animals in the world love him – he has an almost creepy way of connecting. A true story – last fall a bird was trapped in his garage and frantic about getting out. My sweet father held out one knobby, arthritic finger and said, "It's just me, bird. It's okay." The bird calmed down, jumped onto his finger for a moment and after a "thank you" look, flew peacefully out the open door. That was startling even for me...there’s no animal too fearful to approach this man for a snuggle and a scratch.
Gene Hanson is my very favorite miracle. We almost lost this dear man to a massive stroke and a couple heart attacks years ago, shortly after I came home from the Army. I desperately begged God for more time with him and, for whatever lovely, mysterious reason, Almighty God said yes.
So thank you, LORD, for Gene Hanson! Thank you, God, for a Father to truly look up to!
Happy Birthday, Dad!
