“So a lot of people like this picture. So I wanted to take a minute to tell the story.
Milton West was my childhood next-door neighbor. I knew him as Mr. Chip. He retired from DOW Chemical as an operator. He has always been there for me since I was two years old.
Growing up without a father was always difficult for me. But the good lord surrounded me with great men, and Mr. Chip was one of them. He constantly preached the value of an education, he taught me how to take care of a yard, he taught me to see people for who they are not what they look like, he taught me how to treat my mother like a saint, and many other life lessons. His contributions to me becoming a good son, man, and father were huge.
I am forever grateful to God for putting him in my life.
This past May, my wife and I had a little boy named Bob Wayne Shugart. When Mr. Chip and his wife Shirley saw him they fell in love with him. They babysit him sometimes, and we go and visit when we can.
The last time we were over there, Mr. Chip said he wants to be called ‘Pop.’ He says that’s his grandson. So we had to come up with a name for his wife. We decided on Lolli!
So we tell Bob Wayne we are going to see Lolli Pop! I’m grateful that Lolli and Pop will be part of my son’s life. If he learns half of the things from Mr. Chip that I did, he will become a great son, man, and father.
Every day I read something negative about how race relations are worse than ever. I disagree, and I hope this is a positive loving message to many people. This is just one story in little ol’ Victoria, Texas. I’m sure there are millions of similar stories across the United States.”
This story was submitted to Love What Matters by Cody Shugart, of Victoria, Texas. Be sure to subscribe to our free newsletter for our best stories.
Read more stories like this:
Do you know someone who could benefit from this story? Please SHARE on Facebook and Twitter.