AS THE OAK TREE STANDS TALL AND STRONG MANY YEARS IT HAS GIVEN STRENGTH, WITH GRACE TO ALL WHO CAME WITHIN THE SPACE WHERE SHADE OR LEAVES DID FALL AS STANDS THE OAK, SO STOOD THE MAN HE, TOO HAD BROAD SHOULDERS AND STRENGTH OF HAND. YET GENTLE AND DEEP THE HAZEL EYES OF HIM THAT COULD GIVE, WITH GRACE, A HELPING HAND TO ANY AND ALL WHO THROUGH HIS LIFE WOULD PASS OR JOURNEY NEAR SO STANDS THE OAK, SO STOOD THE MAN. THE OAK HEARD MANY LAUGHS AND SAW MANY TEARS WHILE CHILDREN SAT OR PLAYED ON HIM THOUGH STRONG AND PURE FROM GOD'S CREATING HAND, NATURES WEATHER BEAT HIS LIMBS AND FRIGHTENED HIM. WHILE THE FEAR OR PAIN THE WORLD NEVER KNEW MANY A STORM LIFE PUT HIM THROUGH. BUT NEVER A BROKEN LIMB THAT DID NOT MEND JUST A WINDING BEND GIVING CHARACTER TO HIM. AS STANDS THE OAK, SO STOOD THE MAN CREATED IN GOD'S IMAGE, MAN BUT LIFE'S TRIALS AND TRIBULATIONS SO TOO CAN WEATHER HIM. ONE COULD GIVE UP OR FORGET TO STRIDE CLOSE TO GOD THE FATHER'S SIDE, BUT STILL STANDS THE OAK, STILL STOOD THE MAN. THE OAK ALONE EXCEPT FOR A FEW WHO MIGHT ADORE HIS BEAUTY OR SHARE HIS SHADE AS THEY PASS THROUGH, BUT YOU, THE MAN, NO MORE ALONE WERE YOU WHEN BY YOUR SIDE GOD GAVE A GIFT OF LOVE TO SHARE LIFE'S TRIALS AND TRIBULATIONS WITH YOU. AS STANDS THE OAK, SO STOOD THE MAN STILL STRONG, YET GENTLE, WITH EYES SO TRUE BUT HAND IN HAND, TILL GOD CALLED YOU HOME YOUR LOVE ALWAYS RIGHT THERE WITH YOU. AS STANDS THE OAK, SO STOOD THE MAN GOD'S WONDER WE COULD SEE IN YOU. THROUGH LIMBS THAT REACH AND TOUCH THE SKY AND THE LOVE GOD PLACED IN THIS BIG MAN'S EYES. YOU WERE LIKE THE OAK THAT GRACED THE LAND THE MAN WHO TAUGHT US THE LOVE OF GOD AND HIS FELLOWMAN. WHO WITH DIGNITY, AND THROUGH GRACE HAS TAKEN HIS PLACE IN HIS HOME ON HIGH TODAY WITH OUR SAVIOR HE STANDS. SO STANDS THAT OAK, SO STANDS THIS MAN |
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IN LOVING MEMORY OF ROLAND GLEN BRADFUTE SR. | ||
WRITTEN BY: SHERRI KAYE BRADFUTE 2015 |