Driving Into Daylight

This is about one of the greatest lesson I learned from my paternal grandfather W.R. Hancock, or as we called him Papa. He was, in my eyes, one of the greatest men to grace this earth, not because he was big in stature, had a booming voice or the life of the party but of his quiet, thoughtful wisdom. He was the type of man that didn't say much but when he did it was organic and cut passed the emotion and cluttering noise that deflects the real issues. He was practical in everything he did. Grounded in the difference between wants and needs.

Papa & my son, Drew

He came from a farming family in LA, Lower Alabama, for those not familiar with the acronym. Living in that part of the South, you were either a property owner or a sharecropper. Their lot in life was the latter. Papa worked hard to learn a trade and truly had a gift of troubleshooting mechanical engines of any kind. He didn't go to school pass the 5th grade. 

Papa started a family trying to make ends meet as a farmer but he knew he needed something more reliable to support them. So he left what he grew up knowing to take a job in Panama City at the International Paper Company paper mill. When he was tested, he scored one of the highest scores on the mechanical test given to all potential new hires. This began a career of over 20 years until he had to undergo open-heart surgery that made retirement necessary. 

In addition to his 40 hours of hard labor welding in some of the most dirty dangerous places throughout that plant, he always had a garden that he grew tomatoes, squash, beans, corn and peppers. Sometimes if we were lucky, he would throw a couple of watermelon plants in there. He was also the “go to” outboard motor mechanic in the area. For fun, he loved to hunt with dogs. We would load up in the truck on hot summer nights and head out to run the dogs.

Those nights were the time that his unique wisdom would be shared. He would tell us about how a person is only as good as their word and that if two people always agree, only one of them are doin' the thinking. Remember that through this political season!

But the one that stays on my mind these days is one that had such a bigger meaning than in the context he said all those years ago. I was living in Orlando when I got the news that my grandmother was admitted to the hospital and it was grave. It was about 9 p.m. and I wanted to pack my stuff and leave that moment. But he said to me, "Sugar Lump, you never drive into darkness - always drive into daylight. Sleep a few hours and leave before dawn and greet God's day in thankfulness." At the time, I was frustrated, worried but I agreed. 

The next morning around 4 a.m., I had my car loaded, Drew fastened in and kissed my husband goodbye not knowing what I was going to find when I arrived in Panama City six hours later. The darkness enveloped me. Not just the night but the uncertainty of what was next for my family. 

My grandmother was in the hospital for six weeks and suffered with congestive heart failure. In those weeks, I stayed with her nightly. I learned much about her and her life as a child, wife and mother. I also learned about my Papa, too.

Over the last several years, I have battled an unseen intruder and under gone over seven surgeries, developed life threatening blood clots and endure many unpleasant procedures. There’s never been a day that I haven’t thought of this quote from my grandfather of “driving into daylight” because I know this time of my life is the darkness with glorious mornings of God’s grace and brilliance.

I am thankful for everyday and even though I continue to battle on, I see the blessings that come my way. The beautiful smiles of my two grandkids being cared for by the man I helped to raised, my husband’s love, my siblings laughter, my mom’s wit and all those moments that come from an unforeseen place to bring true happiness to my heart.

My prayer for all of the people in my life is that you will take my Papa’s wisdom and spend your life “driving into daylight.” Chase that dawn everyday and our glorious God will rejoice in us with blessing in abundance.