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Perhaps
this is something that others can relate to!
This is a poem written for and dedicated to our Dad,
Alfred Harrison Palmer, Sr.
September 30, 1916 - February 13, 2002
Dad devoted himself to preaching and teaching the
gospel. He served as a gospel preacher for 50 years,
preaching in Tennessee, Pennsylvania, Iowa, Florida, and
New York. He traveled into "all of the world"
to preach the gospel and has supported many missionaries
in foreign lands.
There was
never a doubt Who was in control of our Dad's life. It
was full of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness,
goodness, faithfulness and self-control both privately
and publicly until his departure.
The best thing we can say of him is that he was a
faithful child of God, a faithful and loving husband to
our mother and loving father devoted to teaching and
leading us and others to heaven ... and he prayed in the
King James Version!
My Daddy Prays In
the King James Version
by his daughters, Ellen Agee and Beth Brockman
Upon arising each new day
Dad with eyes closed would bow and pray
We thank THEE Father for this new day
Guide us THOU in all we do and say.
Three times a day as we sat down to eat
Before we could take one bite of our meat
Our heads would bow, as Dad would say
"Heavenly Father unto THEE we do pray.
We give THEE thanks for the food set before us
We praise THEE oh God for all THOU hast done for us
You KNOWEST our needs and our every care
Please be THOU with our loved ones everywhere.
Help us to preach THY gospel to every nation
Teaching, baptizing and laying THY foundation
So one day in heaven we all will meet
Dear friends and loved ones and babies so sweet."
And then throughout each day Dad would go
Praying without ceasing to a Father he did know
Reading from His word in the King James Version
Following His direction without diversion.
So many hours were spent listening to God speak
From an archaic version which some considered antique
It was only natural as Dad prayed to God above
To pray in THEEs and THOUs to the God he did love.
And then at the close of each busy day
The family would all gather to read and pray
From Genesis to Revelation Bible stories were told
Scriptures were read that will never grow old.
After our reading we would kneel to pray
Each child, our mother and then Dad would say,
"Heavenly Father, guide us safely through this
night
THY loving hand protecting us till morning light."
And then at bedside, Dad by Mom would kneel
Giving praise to their God to whom they would appeal
"Oh God unto Thee do we put our trust
We know dependence on THEE is an absolute must."
So it was THEEs and THOUs that were intricately woven
Into Dad's prayers that were so often spoken
A beautiful tapestry in the King James Version
From the man whose life was filled with devotion.
Ellen
Agee and Beth Brockman , Copyright 2002
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