"Bottles of Choco, and Coca Cola with Peanuts"

     Gary Lee Hill, my father, loved growing up, a "country boy," right outside the tiny, charming, town of, 'Otway, Ohio,' on, 'Rocky Fork Road,' in the lovely house, his mother, Flossie, made a home, and that, his father, Roy, built, with his bare hands, working from the saw mill, that, he had also, either purchased, and/or, constructed, himself.  Dad's parents were in their thirties when he came along, in "1945," around twelve years after his sister, Bessie Ann, arrived, who mothered him from the day he arrived at their home, until the day of his untimely passing, sixty one years later.  His death broke, her, mine, and, several other family member's, hearts, because, we all believed, that, his life was literally "cut short," due to, having a hip replacement surgery - without getting the approval from, and, the peace of, God, on having it, post surgery complications, and, medical negligence!  It was a, nerve racking, heart breaking, 4 months, back in "2006," from the day after 'Father's Day, when he went to the hospital, until his day of final departure, October, 17th., with the pain it caused us, his loved ones, still lingering today, and probably, for me, until the day that I die, and, meet back up with him in "Glory land!"  Whenever, I get to obsessing about him dying too young, and, everything he has missed since then, I have to pray, and, oftentimes, I thank God for delivering him from his addiction to alcohol, around twenty years before his death, after years of "failing" in his attempts, to do so!  And, sometimes, I remind myself that I should be grateful that he got to enjoy his life SO MUCH more than he would have had he not gotten the victory over "the bottle," through 'Christ Jesus!'  Because, he DID, he was able to enjoy his family, and, all of us (wife, children, grandchildren, great grandchildren, and, others), and, his life, so much more, than he would have, IF, he, had not surrendered to 'The Lord,' and, let HIM, take away his desire for "the booze!"  It is sad to think that he started drinking his father's alcohol, that, he would find hidden out in the barn, and, would sneak, and, drink, as a young boy (not sure of his exact age)!  If only, he had not drank that first drink, SO MUCH heartache would have been avoided!  But, thank GOD, he eventually did give it totally to God, and, therefore, God did give him the VICTORY!  Whenever I was younger, I got to the point where I lost hope that dad would ever be able to quit "drinking," but, after I started growing "in The Lord," HE began giving me hope, and, faith, that, HE could deliver dad, so, I began praying prayers of faith, on his behalf, and, expecting his deliverance (Romans 10:17).  Dad knew, and, spoke of knowing, that, his mother's prayers on his behalf, even after she passed, were being honored, and, answered, by God!  PTL!!  I cannot praise God enough for this!  He could have ended up in a terrible state, had he not gotten the VICTORY!!  Because, dad won his battle with alcohol addiction, through Christ, I know with whatever battle in which I find myself, that, through Christ Jesus, I can be victorious, also, and, you can too, my friend!  'Father's Day' is Sunday, so, I feel it appropriate to make this post about my precious father!  Dad Gary, was a very caring person, which added to his "worrying" problem.  Those two characteristics were a big part of who he was.  He loved 'The Lord, Jesus,' and, his devotion to, and, love for, HIM, grew very obviously stronger, the older he got, and, the more "stuff" God did for him, and, the more he grew "in HIM," spiritually, through 'Bible' study, a closer walk with HIM, and, a consistent prayer life, etc..  The spiritual growth that I witnessed with him, was tremendously encouraging to me!  At Anything dad chose to do, he was good (school sports, Golf, music - playing the guitar, and, other instruments, singing, etc.).  He was very handsome.  He had impeccable, personal, hygiene.  Being a "perfectionist," both, helped, and, hurt, him, in his endeavors!  Dad spoke of growing up out on "Rocky Fork," and, walking to the store down the road from his home, drinking from glass bottles, 'Chocos," and, 'Coca-Colas' with peanuts, and, eating candy bars, etc., bought there, and, lots of good times with his childhood friends, and, family.  He would have been perfectly content living out there his entire life, but, God had other plans for him, like, falling "in love" with Anna Fay Willis, marrying her, and, giving them three children, Timothy Lee, who died in the womb, right before birth, from umbilical cord strangulation, me, Kimberly Sue, and, Tina Ann.  After working several other jobs, he ended up, after going to school for it, becoming an 'electrician,' and, working for the 'N+W Railroad,'  20-30 years, and, having to retire prematurely, due to a messed up hip.  He messed his hip up in a, nearly fatal, car accident, where he had been, upset about something, and, was drinking, again, lost control of his yellow, 'VW' "Bug," hit an electrical pole, and, was thrown, quite a ways!  I heard, from listening to the adults talk about it, that, the reason that he did not die, was probably because his body was so limber from the alcohol?!  I remember, we were living with my grandparents at that time, and, I was riding my bike, as I did a lot, and, was riding in circles within the 2/way street intersection, in front of their home, and, having a "spiritual," or, (?) some kind of, sense, that, something was wrong with my daddy.  Thankfully, it was NOT "his time," yet, to leave us!  His victory over alcohol came around ten years (?) later!  Praise 'The Lord!'  Gary Lee, loved doing many other things, besides what I've already mentioned, such as;  reading, fishing, camping, watching car racing, and, most other sports, spoiling his grandchildren, and, going to their games, recitals, etc. He really enjoyed life, and, adored his family.  After he retired early from the railroad, he became depressed, and, struggled with it for a while.  Eventually, during a bad "manic episode," he sought medical attention, and, was diagnosed with 'Bi-Polar,' (which helped to explain his self medicating with alcohol - in his past), and then, was put on strong medications, which prohibited him from being in the sun, and thus, kept him from doing many outdoor activities in which he had always done.  This was all very upsetting, embarrassing, humiliating, etc., to him!  God, allowed, various "things" in my dad's life to, not only, break him, but, to somehow, even "break his spirit," which was heartbreaking to me!  The devil tried his best to completely destroy him, but, God kept that from happening!  Well, God, once again, sent him a special sort of help during his time of recovery from all of that, in the form of a great grandson, miracle, Darius Malachi Jordan!  As papaw Gary helped care for Darius, whenever he was needed, God graciously ministered to dad!  He loved that little guy so very much, and, he spoiled him, as he also, continued to spoil his grandchildren!  Dad knew, as all of us did, that, God, had miraculously left Darius with us, and, was extremely thankful and grateful to God!  Dad was a deep thinker, and, analyzed situations, which I inherited from him!  Thank goodness, I did not inherit the "worrying gene" from him, too!  There's a multitude more of stories, etc. I could write about my dear father, but, I'm running out of room!  I thank God for the earthly father, that, my heavenly gave me!  I continue to learn so much from dad, and, his life, as I reminisce, all the days of our lives!  Daddy never tried to be someone that he was not, and, I still admire that quality, whenever I see it in a person, and, it usually causes me to think about him.  "Happy "2018" Father's Day," dad Gary!  It won't be much longer, and, I'll, either, see you in 'Heaven,' or, meet you in 'The Rapture,' thanks to Jesus!  Thank you for loving me, and, for each and every thing, that you gave me, our family, and, this world! I love you, dad! Until next time...