My Hero

5 Years ago today, I can remember so vividly being woken up by the phone ringing in the wee hours of the morning. I didn't have to hear who was on the other line. I knew what the phone call meant. I immediately jumped out of bed, got dressed, and headed downstairs to embark on the ominous journey to Baptist East. The phone call meant it was time. By the time we arrived at the hospital, the doctor met us in the deserted halls to give us the news. He was gone. My Papa had breathed his last breaths and had left his earthly body and was now with Jesus. My heart could hardly bear the news. We knew, though, by this point, that it was all but inevitable. We had said our goodbyes. Still, you are never ready for such a thing.

While our lives these past 5 years since then have been full and blessed, his presence has and always will be greatly missed. He was, in all respects of the term, the life of the party. He was the kind of person that you could just sit and listen to for hours, because he was truly that entertaining and compelling. But, he, unlike some, didn't simply just talk on for hours, (don't get me wrong, he could talk...) but he was also always sincerely interested in YOU. This was the same whether you were a young preacher, an important politician, or a 5 year old granddaughter. He was sincere, and he made you feel special, because to him, you were. Knowing how much time he made for his family, it is simply amazing to me to have read countless stories from preachers all over the world of the personal time he made for them, too. We were certainly never slighted by this fact. No, he was the kind of grandfather that you could call, and say, "Papa, can you take me shopping and buy me an Easter dress?" And, he would clear his schedule and go shopping with you for several hours and wait patiently as you tried on dress after dress, and act interested. =) He was the kind of grandfather that came up with all kinds silly games to play with his grandchildren. Whether it be songs, stories, secret clubs, or countless other things, time with Papa was always a treasure. He was also the kind of grandfather who you knew genuinely cared - when you were happy or when you were heartbroken (no matter how trivial the matter), he was right there rejoicing or grieving with you.

His life was a testimony to us. He did not have to preach to us at home (although, we did have many Bible studies around the breakfast table) to preach to us. His life was an example. It is because of this, that I am constantly challenged in my marriage, in my family, and my relationships with Christ and with others to follow his example. He was an optimist through and through, he was warm, genuine, and loving. He was fun, creative, and silly. There is simply no one like Papa. He was one of a kind, but my hope is that I can live each day and remember, not only his rock solid stand for following Christ, but also his love for others and for life.

He is my hero. He is and always will be missed. And, while it is true that he was one of a kind and simply irreplaceable, these words, written by Kie Bowman, a pastor in Texas, is such a beautifully written reminder, that he indeed invested his life in so many of ours, and in turn, his legacy will forever live on in those he invested in.

"Adrian Rogers was a hero. He was a hero to the thousands who called him "pastor" and a hero to thousands of preachers who found a mentor and a model for their own ministries. And he was a hero to me. I join thousands who will miss him.There will be those times when our preachers, our denomination and even our nation will need him, but he has gone to be with Jesus. Like all great men, however, when we need him, and those days will come soon enough, he will still help us because he has left his sermons, his books and his legacy to remind us of the path. More importantly, perhaps, is the fact that when we need his heroic prophetic vision, courage and voice, we will see him and feel him and hear him in the lives in which he invested.Adrian Rogers was one of a kind. We are not likely to see anyone quite like him again soon. He was a preacher, a statesman, a warrior, a mentor, a giant, a leader, a true friend, but most of all Adrian Rogers was a hero. May God bless us all for having known him. We know what God has already said to Dr. Rogers early one Tuesday morning, but we want to add our echo, “Well done, thou good and faithful servant.”

I am proud and blessed to know that his legacy will continue to live on through me and my family. My prayer is that we're able to teach our children about their Papa, and, although they won't have the privilege of knowing him this side of heaven, I pray that the way we raise them is so colored by his presence in our lives that his legacy will live on for generations to come. It brings a smile to my face to already hear little Allie in the backseat whenever Papa's voice comes on over the cd player saying, "Papa, Papa!"