Humbling Thought

Ed Goddard grew up in the little town of Reynolds, Georgia. When he left home to go to college he quickly became known around Emory University campus and the ATO Fraternity house as a heavyweight boxer. He could whip anybody. He took no crap off anybody. His nickname was “Foots”. He was strong, tall, dark and handsome. He was a man’s man.

After he graduated from college he ended up for a short time in Fort Myers Fl where he met a local beauty by the name of Naia Gonzalez. Against the wishes of Naia’s mom, he married her and brought her back to Georgia… Reynolds that is - population 1200.

He was at a dove shoot outside of Reynolds on December 8, 1941 when he and his buddies gathered around a transistor radio to listen to the famous speech by President Franklin Roosevelt and heard these words: “Yesterday, December 7, 1941 – a date which will live in infamy – the United States of America was suddenly and deliberately attacked by naval and air forces of the Empire of Japan.”

As most able bodied men did, he enlisted in the Armed Forces to help protect the country he loved. He was soon “anchors away” in the South Pacific as a Lieutenant in the United States Navy. He was proud of his service. And he was proud of his country.

When he got back, he made a good life for his family as he took over the family business. He worked hard and did a little bit of everything. He sold groceries, hardware, sporting goods, appliances and televisions. He even dug wells…and also graves. He was the local undertaker. He promoted himself, his business and his town. He was very active in his church and his community and had a reputation that was above reproach. And he loved to laugh.

He also spent his life investing his life in his family.

I did not choose him for my dad. I had nothing to do with it. I had nothing to do with having a role model that taught me, by example, all the life lessons I would ever need to make it in life. I did not even choose to grow up in the little town of Reynolds, GA in the early sixties where God, family and community was everything. I had absolutely nothing to do with any of that.

I know now it was the grace of God. I didn’t earn it. I didn’t deserve it. It was just lavished on me.

The truth is - I am humbled at the thought.