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Chip Shots from the Ruff of Life
by Tom Kelley
Every now and then you realize that you have slipped up. Last night I sat with my son, Sean, in the upper arena of Rupp Arena in Lexington and watched my beloved Ohio State Buckeyes win their first round game of the NCAA National Basketball Tournament. At one point my emotions got the best of me and I put my hand on Sean's shoulder and told him, "Thank you, son. I love you." That was such a tremendous gift for a son to give his father. Then I remembered why I am such a fan of the Buckeyes. I had a father, too.
My dad was raised in the radio era. He used to listen to the OSU football and basketball games faithfully on the radio every chance he got. There were times that I would tell Dad that I was going to get him and me tickets to either a football or basketball game and he would dismiss the idea by saying, "I can't let you do that, son. Besides, who wants to fight the crowds getting there and back and then all that standing in line just to get in. And I'm not sure that my knees could take all those steps." Dad, if you're reading this, I'm sorry. You instilled a love for Ohio State in me that I have passed on to my sons. I should have gone ahead and gotten those tickets for whatever and just told you we were going, even if I had to carry you.
My dad and I did a lot together. He taught me when I was young, and, in later years, confessed that I had become his teacher in a number of things. We built picnic tables, cabinets, engines and a life in Christ together. At his death in 1998 he was, next to my wife, the closest friend I had. For much of 1997 I spent two days a week in my old home in Jeffersonville, Ohio, taking care of my parents as my mother was suffering from mini strokes and senile dementia, all while in a full time ministry in Winchester, Kentucky. But I never took my dad to a game.
I just wish that my dad could have felt what I felt last night. He always talked about what it must have been like to actually be there, but then sloughed it off by saying that he had the best seat in the house in his recliner at home. Being there is better. Trust me on that one. The traffic, the crowds, the line going in, my poor old arthritic knees; that was all forgotten when I took my seat and watched Greg Oden practicing his short range jump hook. I was there. All because of the love of a son.
"And when they had come to the place called Calvary, there they crucified Him, and the criminals, one on the right hand and the other on the left." Luke 23:33 Jesus' Father sent Him to earth to die. Jesus' loved His Father enough to do His Father's will. Because of that, one day we will sit in that grand arena of heaven with all the saints of old; the prophets and apostles, the preachers and Sunday School teachers and all those evangelistic minded folk who brought us the gospel. Some day we will be there and see God the Father and His Son. All because of the love of a Son.
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...He was the Minister of the Minorsville Christian Church located near Stamping Ground, KY.
...Becky and Tom have three children; John, single and in worship ministry in Nicholasville, Kentucky; Sean, married (Jennifer, elementary school teacher) with twins (Grace and Patrick, b.d. 10/31/04) and regional director of Papa John's Pizza in Central KY; Kara, married (Vince Taylor, prison guard) and working with Hospice East in Winchester, KY.
...Tom went to be with the Lord on November 13, 2009 after a lengthy battle with cancer. If you have been touched by Tom's writings please send an email to Tom's son at jkelley@catalystchristian.net
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