By their own acknowledgement, these were simple men. None claimed to be extraordinary in any way. They graduated high school and entered the military or workforce. They did not seek to acquire wealth, but strove to provide comfortably for their families: an honest day’s wage for an honest day’s work. A satisfying day was one that included a round of golf, a couple hours of fishing, watching their favorite college team on TV or, better yet, time spent with family.
These men did not seek power, but that does not mean they were not leaders. They led by example. Most were not comfortable in the spotlight; their words in private revealed their character. They would have been hard-pressed define love in so many words; it was exemplified by their attitudes and actions.
They were men of integrity. One of them was my car salesman for many years. (He often joked about car salesmen being near the top of any list of least-trusted people.) When we struck a deal, I knew without a doubt it was a fair price, for both me and the dealership. The agreement was sealed with a handshake, as binding as any signature on a legal document.
God’s law was the moral compass of these men. While none was perfect, each understood that ultimately he was accountable to his Creator, and the faith of each was a guiding light in his life.
These men lived within their means. They clearly distinguished between wants and needs. Debt was sometimes necessary to meet a need or to invest in something with a reasonable expectation of return, but was never undertaken lightly. Delayed gratification was the rule, instant gratification rare.
These men were committed to God’s plan for marriage. Their marriage vows saw them through the inevitable trials their relationships may have endured. Marriages were neither started nor ended on a whim.
These are some of the lessons these men tried to teach by example. The question is, have we been paying attention?
