The Legacy of Thomas Wesley Mitchell

I want to tell about the man I have most loved respected and admired-my father. In many respects he wasn't unusual. I had to learn how to love respect and admire. His integrity was in my perception at least absolutely and essentially intact. His kindness generosity gracious judgment empathy love of the good and of the vulnerable capacity to forgive and trust again eagerness to rejoice with those who rejoice and to grieve with those who grieve all such qualities of mind and heart that might be considered weak and naive all of it worked against his success. Maybe so. I loved him for it though I did not always rise to his example. God's blessing I pray on those of us who try.