We all need heroes……
We all need heroes, and mine was my father, William Pelle Fortney. I have a lot of memories of my father, but some of the best were strangely enough, from the visitation before his funeral. We never know what an impact we’ve had on the lives of others until we are gone. That’s when our family hears from others what should have been said to us in life. The following are statements that I can remember clearly that were made to me by his friends and family members, on that night almost 20 years ago.
“Your father was always kind to me, he never was too busy to talk with me and listen to my cares and concerns….”
“I don’t know that I have ever known a more honest man of integrity and character, you were fortunate to have him as your father….”
“”I can never remember him every saying a harsh or unkind word to anyone!”
“Your father never asked us to do anything at work, that he was not willing to do himself…”
“I knew your father really cared about me, he was a wonderful man….”
“I lost a great friend….”
“Your father truly lived a Chrisitian life…..”
“Your father was like a second father to me when I was in the Boy Scouts….”
When my father was buried and I went home I went into my bedroom, alone and wept, for a long time. When I got control of myself, I got down on my knees at the bed just as I did as a little child to say my evening prayers with my father by my side, and talked to him. I told him I hoped he could hear me, and I was so glad his suffering was over, but that I missed him, and didn’t know how I was going to go on without him. I thanked him for being a great Dad, and I made him a promise. I told him, that with God’s help, I was going to try and be the kind of man he had been. I promised that I wouldn’t ever forget what a difference he had made in my life, and my brother Homer’s life, and I wouldn’t forget how much he had touched not only our lives, but the lives of so many others. I confessed that I didn’t think I could be the man he had been, but that I would never stop trying. I told him I loved him, and cried some more…..
I don’t know if those that have gone on to be with the Lord can hear us, or know what is happening down here. Some days when I’ve done good, I hope my father can see me, I want him to be proud of me, other days I hope he can’t! I know my Heavenly Father sees everything, and I want to believe He shares with my earthly father what he would want him to know.
My father set a standard for me that I may never be able to live up to, but in encouraging me to try, he has made me a better man. Anyone that does that for you is a hero.
Blessings,
the pilgrim
About The Image: When I was a young boy my father was the manager of a Coca Cola Bottling plant in Harlan, Kentucky. Many of my great memories are of going to the plant and watching the bottling process. Later in life I actually had my first two summer jobs working in the plant as a teenager. To this day I am still a big Coca Cola memorabilia fan. My father’s Coca Cola apron still hangs in my darkroom, as a reminder of who I strive to be, as a man.
This entry was posted on Wednesday, April 3rd, 2013 at 3:24 pm
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Bill, knowing the man that is now and meeting the son that he helped raise, I am certain that your father is awfully proud. I feel lucky that He willed our paths to cross and I am proud to call you brother. Love you man!
Snake, I love you too, and I appreciate such kind words….
Ditto Snake!
The last week to 10 days of blog have been GREAT – way above and beyond average – you seem to have hit a groove – very detailed, riddle with excellent points, with outstanding conclusions! You are on a roll. Bless him more Lord!!
Grace to you and all who read your “Bill Fortney, Photography and Faith”!
Grace to you Carl, something is building, the Holy Spirit is truly on a roll, I’m glad to be hanging on!
Bill,
My dad has been gone 18 years and there is not a time that I say our Lord’s Prayer, that I don’t picture
myself on my knees bedside, with my dad, saying my prayers. He taught me my faith, and for that most of many, many things, I am so blessed to have had him as my dad. I can’t wait to spend time with you this summer and get to know you better. I know already that you are a stong Christian and a positive influence in very many lives. God bless you.
Thanks Brad, it never ceases to amaze me what blessings come from someone walking up the Nikon counter at a show, you’ve been a real blessing to me!!! I’m looking forward to shooting in the field with such a truly wonderful shooter as you! And to get to know you too….
Bill,
What a beautiful tribute to a loving father that modeled Christ for you, your family and friends! As one of your MANY friends, it is obvious how you learned to be the man you are today. We are blessed to call you friend because he taught you how to walk the walk. We are all thankful for that and challenged as dads to do the same thing. God bless you my brother!
Nick, your son Aaron, is a testament to the kind of father you are! There is no greater honor than to see God in your children!
Your father sounds like he was a wonderful man, Bill. You were truly blessed to be raised by such a man.
I was Eric, I truly was!
Bill,
Thank you for this post. It brought me to tears.
My dad was very important in my life also. I always looked up to him. I was blessed that he was my father. One of my biggest regrets was that I had an opportunity to see my dad on the day before he went home to be with the Lord and I missed it. When you mentioned about talking to your dad and hoping he could hear you, I just broke down because I did the same thing. I’ve learned from that event to not take for granted the time we have here or who we have it with. Now, I make sure to tell my own kids and my wife that I love them each time they or I leave house. May sound a little crazy, but it would mean the world to me if I could have told my dad, “I love you” one more time.
Go blessed Bill, thanks for all you do.
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