My Courageous Grandfather.
Carol’s grandfather, Ben, was a courageous man – but perhaps not in the way that you might think! Carol explains.
A Puzzle Piece Called Courage
One puzzle piece of life could be titled, Courage. The dictionary defines courage as the quality of mind and spirit that enables a person to face difficulty danger, pain, etc without fear; bravery; qualities of spirit and conduct. I believe that courage is a choice. We can’t always change the circumstance but we can change or choose our attitude or the quality we want to exhibit.
What or who comes to mind when you think about courage? Often it may be someone who has risked their life to help someone else such as a police officer, firefighter, or paramedic. Maybe it is someone in the armed forces who is serving their country, putting the welfare above their own. These people do show courage every day but so do many others.
A Courageous Gentleman
I want to share about a courageous gentleman who never made history or became famous for the courage he demonstrated in his everyday life. He was not a firefighter or police officer nor did he serve in the armed forces.
Yet, he faced life with quiet convictions, living what he believed. He worked hard to support his family and helped others in his community when needs arose. I believe he showed a great deal of courage.
Ben Fast
Ben Fast was born in Mountain Lake, Minnesota in the late 1890’s and immigrated with his family to settle north of Saskatoon in what was still the North West Territories in 1902. He loved to sing, spend time with family and friends, and helped his father on the farm. He grew up, bought his own land, and become a farmer, who also enjoyed carpentry. He married the love of his life in 1922.
He started building his house while sharing his parents’ family home with his brother after his folks moved to town. Even once he married, the couple lived there. They had their first child and his brother married the young woman who came to help look after the mom and new baby. The extended family grew and continued to live together so Ben could finish his own home, ½ mile away.
Unfinished Home
Eventually he finished the basement and the family moved into it. They used the unfinished main floor shell to store things in until it could be completed. Then the dirty 30’s hit and money was tight. No rain meant no or poor crops. But the struggles were shared by everyone else at a time of uncertainty and many unknowns. Life continued and he did the best he could to provide for his family.
His infant son died at five days old. His ten-year old daughter died after complications from an appendectomy. One year later, four days before the birth of their youngest child, his wife had a stroke and ended up in the hospital for a month. Ben brought home his wife, who was as helpless as his newborn daughter. Yet he cared for her, loved her, helped her, and provided everything he could without grumbling about how unfair life had treated them all.
My Grandfather
This man, my grandfather, was an everyday man of courage. I am sure you can think of men like this as well. I learned lessons, not only from the words he said, but his attitude and actions.
He worked hard all his life. He built a house, farmed during a time when this was no easy task, and even when he retired he continued to do whatever he could to help someone else.
My grandfather was a determined man. He married his sweetheart despite the pranks and prying eyes of her many siblings during their courtship. He moved his family into the finished basement of his new house, determined for them to be on their own land.
He was creative as he worked with wood. He made practical items like building his house and things he needed like a wood table. But he also had fun making spoon racks, a sewing cabinet for my mother and helped me build a model house for a project. It was bigger and better than anything I could imagine and he did it all with a smile.
A Demonstration of Love
I saw him demonstrate his love in quiet ways. His patience amazed me, especially when I think of how difficult life must have been for him when his wife had that stroke. Yet he never complained, never belittled her, and never raised his voice.
He was not perfect, for no one is. Yet his attitude, his actions, and his words all matched up and he modeled the positives we all need in our lives. The words of Micah 6:8 are words his life exemplified.
“He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.” Micah 6:8
Proud of My Grandfather
I am proud to call this man of courage, faith, and love my grandfather. He remains a shining example of courage and determination of quiet living out his beliefs and showing his love for family and neighbours whenever he got the opportunity. His name is Ben but I called him grandpa.
What man of everyday courage do you have or have had in your life? What lessons can you think of that they have showed you? Let’s take time to thank them if they are still around or share their story. Finally, how can we choose to be people of courage, of good attitudes, and live our faith for others to see?
How have you experienced joy in life? We would love to hear from you. Share your comment below or contact us at HopeStreamRadio.
Carol Harrison
Listen to Carol’s program Puzzle Pieces Of Life or visit Carol’s website carolscorner.ca
Carol Harrison B.Ed is a speaker and published author with one book, Amee’s Story and stories in twelve anthologies. She is passionate about helping people of all ages and ability levels find their voice and reach their fullest potential.
She knows, through personal experience that some of life’s experiences are tougher than others. She encourages people that even in the twists and turns of life God’s amazing grace provides hope. She lives in Saskatoon, SK with her husband Brian. They have four adult children and a dozen grandchildren.
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Image Credits
Grandfather – un-perfekt
Home construction – paulbr75
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