Altar Call –
Opelika-Auburn News
Walter
Albritton
August 6,
2017
Remembering tender,
comforting words
Across
the years, in families, we sometimes utter harsh words to one another. Most of
us can remember having to say, “Please forgive me; I should not have spoken
like that.”
When my wife wrote her memories of my
dad, she said she chose not to remember dad’s insensitive words but to recall only
those words she describes as tender and comforting. I hope my family will be
that kind to me when they recall the words that I have uttered over the years.
Here are Dean’s memories of her
father-in-law:
The man we came to call “Papa” was a man of few
words, but when he spoke he said words that touched your heart. The words he spoke to me were words that are
etched in my mind and heart forever.
On Christmas Eve in 1951 Walter gave me an
engagement ring. I could not wait to
show it to our families. When we arrived
at the Albritton home, everyone was in the kitchen. I rushed in to tell everyone that Walter had
given me a ring. Papa looked at us and
said, “I hope you will always be as happy as you are tonight.” Well, we weren’t always that happy, but
having celebrated 65 years of marriage I can say that overall we have had a
happy life together.
Within three months of marriage I knew that I was
going to have a baby. I was scared and
as I got heavy with child I felt like I didn’t look very good. One day Papa said to
me, “Dean, you have never looked prettier than you look now. Mothers-to-be always have the most beautiful
skin.” That made me feel so good that I
began to believe him.
The day our son, David, was born was a day to
remember in more ways than one. The
weather was some of the worst we had ever seen.
A tornado hit our house and the town of Auburn. I just made it to the hospital; what was so
bad was that Papa and Grandmamma were right in the middle of a storm trying to
get to Auburn to see their first grandchild.
Papa said these precious words, “It was worth the trip to see David.”
Money was tight and we decided that I should go to
work. Papa wrote one of his few letters
to us. This is what he said to me,
“Dean, I think it will be fine for you to work.
The change in environment will be worth more than money. David will do well in nursery school and mark
my word, you will be glad that you are working.” In that letter he also wrote David a note and
told him about all the things he was doing. His words encouraged me.
When we found out that David had Leukemia, Papa
said, “No, we must not give up, there is always hope.” The doctors had said he only had a short time
to live, but Papa did not want to believe it.
When Papa and I stood beside each other at David’s grave, I saw a man
filled with grief because he had lost his only grandchild. When our second son was born, I saw that man
come to life again. I told Matt the
other day, “Matt, you were loved more that you will ever know by your
grandfather.”
As the years have taken their toll on me, I can
understand what he went through as he aged.
His hearing was gone and he was having a hard time walking and there was
sadness about him. I wish I could tell
him now how I am understanding more and more how he felt. He was a brave, strong man and he didn’t
always speak as kindly as he should have, but I chose not to remember those
words. Instead I remember with gratitude the tender words that were a comfort
to me so many times. + + +