Nat Melbert was the greatest human being I have ever known.  I first met him in 1947 after returning from Germany with my family, and although I don't remember it, I'm told he gently held me in his arms as he baptized me as a Christian, dedicated to Christ, to be raised in love.  And love he did.  You see, Nat Melbert was my grandfather. 

We called him Daddy Bah, and he was a Methodist Preacher's Methodist Preacher if you know what I mean.  He could give a fire and brimstone sermon with the best of them, and tell tales of the Christ so moving, you had tears in your eyes as you pondered the meaning of what you had been told. This towering giant of a man, this man who was my relative, but more importantly my friend had a favorite day of the year, and that day was Christmas!

Although I spent many Christmases with my grandparents, it was never enough.  Hearing Daddy Bah read the story of the Birth of Christ was something that everyone in my family always cherished, and looked forward to.

In September 1984 I received a call that Daddy Bah had been taken to the hospital and wasn't expected to make it over the weekend.  I was living in the Rio Grande Valley then, and rushed up to San Antonio, crying most of the way, for the loss that I already felt.  An important part of my life was about to be cut out by the very thing that ends all life - Death! Reaching my parent's home, my Uncle Jimmy walked out of the kitchen door and said "Rumors of your grandfather's impending death are greatly exaggerated," and relief swept through me like a wall of water rushing down a chasm sweeping all the fear and sorrow before it.  Uncle Jimmy gave me the name of the Hospital and room number that Daddy Bah was in and I rushed over there, walked in and was met with a still hale and hearty (though somewhat diminished by age and illness) "Hi, Guy, come to see me are you?"

Daddy Bah recovered and he and my grandmother moved in with my Uncle Jimmy and Aunt LaVerne in Houston.  Daddy Bah was a great fan of Baseball and Houston WAS the home of the Astros.  But he also needed to be watched over and Jimmy and Laverne were just the folk able then to do it with as much love as one can possibly handle.

Christmas of 1984 rolled around in time's way of having one day follow the next, and my family and I on Christmas Eve drove from Beaumont to my parent's home in San Antonio.  We stopped in Houston to see Jimmy and LaVerne, and of course Daddy Bah and Mye Mye, our grandmother.  Daddy Bah was just about worn out, his body had existed on God's green earth for more than 94 years and was worn out.  A friend of mine says that at the end of life, we should be sliding into home, completely worn out and shouting Yee-Ha!  What a ride.  That would have been Daddy Bah!

We spent an hour or so with him and the family then resumed our trek to San Antonio.  The story that follows I did not witness, but you can believe it none-the-less.

Christmas Morning, 1984 awoke bright and crisp in Houston, and in San Antonio.  Presents were opened, joy shared but in Houston, one of the greatest of interactions between a husband and wife played out, one last time.  Daddy Bah, in bed struggled to say "Waaaa..." and Aunt Laverne picked up on that immediately... "Do you want some water Dad?" 

"Waaaa....." Said Daddy Bah.

"Nat," said Mye Mye, "do you need some water?"

"Waaaa...." He Repeated.

A lightbulb went off in my Aunt's head, "Watch," she thought to herself.  Because you see, Daddy Bah had spent some of his healthier times shopping for a special gift for his beloved Eppie.  Ethel as others knew her, Mye Mye to the grand kids and the great grand kids.  A Watch, for Eppie.

Laverne handed the package to Daddy Bah and he slowly, but with a love that few have known, handed his Christmas gift to Mye Mye! 

You see, the Watch was important to him, not because it was a watch; though it was.  It was important to him, not because it was Christmas; though it was.  It was important to him because it was a gift of love, a gift that the Christ Child bestowed on all of us some 33 or so years after his birth.  And that, indeed is what Christmas symbolized to Daddy Bah, the gift of love, because love he did, and everyone who knew him loved him back. 

Daddy Bah slipped into the soft gentle hands of God sometime in the night, he would no longer be with us, but would be forever with God.  We shall someday join him but until then, think as he did, when you give something to someone this Christmas, do it not because giving is important, do it from love, because Love is most important and the most important gift you can give. 

Posted at 12:10 AM | Comments (21) | Add Comment
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1

GM,

Thanks for telling us this story, which highlights how we're supposed to celebrate Christmas with our loved ones.  Too often, in the rush of the Season, we forget what's important.

Posted by: Always On Watch at Sunday, December 09 2007 05:33 PM (bYbHX)

2 GM, you wrote a loving and beautifully written tribute to your grandfather. It sure puts love and gift-giving in perspective. Thank you. Here's a gift for you. A man writes about his father and Christmas: http://www.cashill.com/memoir/electric_football.htm

Posted by: debra blackstone at Sunday, December 09 2007 08:04 PM (JqkCS)

3

You are a lucky man.

It's not really the touching story you have posted ; it's the interpretation you have of it.

Wishing you a Most Excellent Christmas.

Posted by: dougf at Sunday, December 09 2007 08:31 PM (16GPT)

4 thank u my friend for sharing another precious part of u!

Posted by: Angel at Sunday, December 09 2007 09:28 PM (H7Nor)

5 Memories can build a "life" can't they. Thanks for sharing moments that made you the caring, patient, strong man you are for the rest of us to have the benefit and pleasure of knowing you GM.

Posted by: chrys at Sunday, December 09 2007 10:24 PM (SMKh4)

6 Oh, GMan... That was beautiful!!! How blessed you are to have had such wonderful, godly grandparents (I don't remember mine at all).

Now, you **ARE** going to submit this to the Carnival of Christmas, right?

;-)

Love and hugs, dear brother!

Posted by: Kat at Monday, December 10 2007 06:41 AM (8Y4Ww)

7 Thank you GM.  It made me think about the incredible people who made such a difference in my life too.  My parents and grandparents have passed on to God, but they truly leave a big mark on your very soul and we all need to remember to give our gratitude to God for having had it and the precious gift of our memories.  It's a very beautiful post and story, like the spirit of the man who wrote it!

Posted by: HoosierArmyMom at Monday, December 10 2007 10:36 AM (f9Dpx)

8 Thank you Guy. 

Posted by: James Melbert at Monday, December 10 2007 10:54 AM (JGY7O)

9

That is absolutely beautiful.  How fortunate we are in those who come before us in our family circle.  The legacy of love is indestructible.

Thanks for sharing GM.

Posted by: Gayle Miller at Monday, December 10 2007 11:01 AM (SZbgH)

10 GM Thank you for sharing this beautiful story with us all.

Posted by: Faultline USA at Tuesday, December 11 2007 06:41 AM (rvcfm)

11 Thanks for this Christmas tale, GM! Merry Christmas to you and yours.

Posted by: David at Monday, December 24 2007 09:40 AM (o4Zlc)

12 GM:

I think there is a hugely interesting coincidence within our respective Christmas postings. Your grandfather was "Daddy Bah"; my aunt was "Auntie Ba".

Lovely story, by the way. Mine may be found at:
http://jimsuldog.blogspot.com/2007/12/gift.html

God bless!

Posted by: Suldog at Wednesday, December 26 2007 03:06 PM (GPkDP)

13 Hi:

Just so you know: I found you through the Carnival Of Christmas.

Jim Sullivan

Posted by: Suldog at Thursday, December 27 2007 08:13 AM (GPkDP)

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