Last week I had the privilege of hanging out with my father-in-law, and we had a good time. Walter Johnson ("Dad") is almost 80 years old, was born and raised in the "old" south (Lexington, MIssissippi) when conditions for black folk weren't too pleasant. Dad had an 8th grade education, which, according to him, was "long enough to learn how to count my money."
Dad has been married to mom for 54 years, has 6 children by the same woman, and worked very hard on several jobs to make sure all 6 of his kids could go to college. He said there were many days when he was "sick as a dog," but he still went to work, because the family needed the money. No matter how hard things got, he kept pressing for his family's sake.
The discrimination, the racism, the injustice he endured- it was all in his eyes. His story touched me deeply, and inspired me to work harder for my family, and for others like him who have not been given the same opportunities and privileges I've had. Dad's story reminded me of how easy many of us men have it today, compared to what our fathers, grandfathers, and great grandfathers endured. Dad could have walked away, cheated on mom, and gave up. Instead, with God's help, he stayed, and built with mom a beautiful family.
So, on this Father's day, with so many bad examples out there, I thought I'd post a video of our son, Manuel Walter Scott (2 years old), playing with his grandfather, who is, to me, the greatest tangible example of what a "good" man, and good father, is.
It brings me joy to not only be the father that I never had, but also to also have a family in which which our children can know, love, and be loved by their grandfather.
