Thank You, “Sir”
It will be thirty-eight years this coming June, the Lord willing, that our family met TOM SHIRLEY’S family. There are hundreds of stories we could share, but the space here is far too minimal. Yet one stands out and embodies a broad view of this man’s influence upon others. Our youngest son was only six years old and already knew that older men who are not related to him were addressed as “Mr.” Tom was a bit more insistent and told him, “Just call me ‘Sir,’” he told our son. From that day forward, Tom was always called “Sir,” not just because of that joking comment, but much more because he earned the moniker.
Tom was many things to many people. He was a husband to Kay, father to Dale, Justin, and Robin, grandfather to six, and a great-grandfather to three sweet girls. His fourth great-granddaughter is due in May. Tom was a fair-minded man who had an uncanny ability to “read” people. It didn’t take him long to figure out whether he could trust you, whether you would be a lasting friend, and, especially, whether you were serious about serving God! Tom had “learned the hard way” the value of being faithful to God, and once he learned the true value of being a child of God, he refused to repeat that educational process: he became a fervent teacher of the lesson, “be thou faithful unto death.”
Accolades in this life should be given while the recipient lives, not after they can no longer hear them, and be humbled by them. That’s why I’m glad to have known Tom Shirely well enough in this life to extend to him the honor and respect due him. And that is why, with great esteem, I close this final tribute by saying, “Thank you, Sir! You did well for all who know you to be a child of God.”
