I don’t mean this in an arrogant way, but for most my life
people have commented on how I conduct myself and have often made the comment;
“your parent’s did a great job raising you!”
I think having confidence in knowing who you are can be mistaken for arrogance. This isn’t
about me, this is about my parents.
It’s true, my parents did a FANATASTIC job raising me! They are my heroes! There is no other man or women I have
more love and respect for than my mother and father!
They have given me everything they didn’t have to ensure
that I would have every opportunity to “become” that they didn’t have! If I am anything it’s because I have a
mother and father who have given me everything, and has given me the room to
chase my dreams with their blessing!!!
and father!
My father, Champ Smith Jr., is 73 years old from Littlerock
Arkansas. Coming from extreme
poverty his mother died while giving birth to his sister when he was at the age
of 2. Living in a time of extreme
racism my father was drafted in the military. He served in the tail end of the Korean war, and fought
during the entire Vietnam war! He
retired after serving for more then 20 years, met and married my mother while
in the military! Had me after he retired from the military and became a police
officer for more then 20 years. He
is now retired twice and has been happily married for close to 30 years!! He is a man of rare integrity, honor, excellence, and
character, and has seen and experienced more then most! I still have yet to meet
anyone like him! He is my hero and
has given me everything he didn’t have!
He has overcome all that has been thrown at him and has beaten all the
odds! Because of my father I have
a hope of being a type of man like him!
He has made the way of integrity and rare character for my life! There is no one more fierce or gentle
as my father! It’s why man rarely
intimidates me! He is an over-comer, a warrior, and a lover! This is some of my
heritage as a man because of my Father!
Thank you Dad for being what I hope to be!
My mother is 15 years younger then my father- but has much
of the same wisdom and character as him!
She has given me an example of a wife I would be lucky to have if it
were ever possible to find a women like her! She is one of the most magnificent lovers I have ever seen-
but also one of the strongest women I have ever known! Truly a rare woman! Like
my father she is an over-comer!
She comes from a life of unfair pain and circumstances- seeing those she
loves hurt before her eyes everyday!
She never allowed this pain or anger to overflow into her life! She
broke the curse before it ever reached me! My mother, a white woman, met my father, a black man. For half of my mother’s family, namely
my grandfather, the idea of my mother marring a black man was unthinkable! My mother was warned if she married
him- she would no longer be considered part of the family! Well, she did, and
the family split! My grandmother
and my uncles, Bill and Claude, were like my mother, unprejudiced and just
normal if that makes sense. My
Grandfather and other uncles and aunts never forgave my mother- and the family
has never recovered. My Mother has
worked in banking for over 30 years!
With no college education my mother has climbed the ranks and is one of
the elites for Wells-Fargo private banking in Seattle! She is one of the most dedicated
workers I have ever seen! She was
and is a superwoman of a mother! I
will always be a proud mama’s boy!
So many children see the shortcomings of their parents. But I see my mother and father as very
rare, not because they didn’t make mistakes, not only because of what they’ve
done, but because of who they are! They understand covenant and what it means
to be a husband, wife, mother, and father! I grew up seeing my father treating my mother like a queen
and my mother treating my father like a king! They have sacrificed everything for me! There’s no such thing as a perfect
parent, but they sure are close in my book!! I honor them because the comments I receive are because of
them! I have worked with the youth
of my nation as an occupation in various capacities and I witness that my
mother and father have set the bar!
My parents are forerunners of what a mother and father could and should
be!! As I find myself in positions of authority and responsibility I find
myself trying to be like them!
They have given me a hope of who I could be as a father and
husband, and what I hope to have in a wife! Thank you God for my parents! I love you Mom and Dad! Thank you for all your love and support as I travel the
world! I hope my life honors
you! It’s because of you I have
this opportunity!
