June 2 – “Remembering Bob”

Bob Bryant was a barber of the old school, for sure.  You know, the kind that still used a razor on the back of your neck and whisked the back of your head with that baby powder.  He cut our boys’ hair when we lived in Mansfield.  I don’t think he cut mine, though.  I was more of a “stylist” guy, which was becoming a big thing back then. 

 

Bob was the Sunday School director when I was Minister of Education.  Because of our mutual connection to education in the church, we had to coordinate a lot of efforts.  That coordination became especially important when we started a second Sunday School, with a fellowship time between the two, and then a third Sunday School early in the morning.  He and I worked pretty smoothly together, at least from my perspective.  He was invaluable as an administrator, but even more so as a people person. 

 

Bob was a great encourager as well.  He put up with my hare-brained, off-the-wall church education ideas, and between us, often in spite of the pastor’s hesitance, we made most of them work.  One of the big changes I made at that church was to re-organize and subsequently re-brand the Sunday School classes.  Instead of dividing them by age (and having to ask ladies how old they were!), we structured them by stage of life (Like parents of preschoolers, or empty nesters).  The only group that I still had a problem with was the senior adults.  Try as I might, I couldn’t get away from the fact of their aging status.  Enter Bob.  He got with that class and did some brainstorming, and they came up with a name that they were more than proud to own – The Toppers.  Confused?  When questioned about it, they had a ready answer that made it all clear.  “We have reached the top and are on the downhill slide of life.  It’s all easy going and no worries from here on out.”  They are still called Toppers to this day.

 

Bob had a great grin and an almost mischievous air about him, like he was about to reveal the punchline of the greatest prank of all time.  And sometimes that was exactly what he was about to do!  That grin, followed by his unique way of saying, “Gosh,” could be a prelude to:

Words of affirmation for a Sunday School teacher

Words of admiration for a growing and learning little one

Words of adoration for the God he so obviously loved and followed with all his heart.

 

 

Bob always had a kind word to say about our kids, which of course absolutely endeared him to their mother.  And his wife Bea was – and still is – the epitome of sweetness, always carrying an encouraging smile, even in the midst of adversity.  We only knew two of Bob’s kids – Carla and Brad.  One of our best friends in the world, Cary (Of Cary and Kay Lynn fame), is a nephew of Bob’s.  And all of their lives of commitment to Jesus and to family was a reflection of the way they were raised, to be sure.  Nice job being a Dad, Bob.  And I understand he was very excited about his soon-to-be-born great-grandson Luke.  I’m sure Luke will carry on your legacy, Bob. 

 

Luke 6:36 says, “Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.”

 

Father, thank you for the chance I had to know Bob.  Welcome him into your arms.  And watch over Bea and Brad and Carla and Keith and the rest of his family.  They are pretty special as well.  Amen.