Blessed to Bless! by Steve Klusmeyer
Thanks For The Memories
by Steve Klusmeyer - 7/29/2003
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A Legacy of Memories
An American/world icon was lost this week. But he left behind a legacy of memories. As the nation's most honored comedian, Bob Hope's comedy and films are legendary. He made his presence known in every decade of the 20th century and was a star in every category open to him - vaudeville, radio, television, and film.For nearly six decades, since 1941, in war or in peace, in spite of his fear of flying, Bob traveled countless miles to entertain service men and women in field hospitals, jungles, and aircraft carriers from France to Berlin to Vietnam to the Persian Gulf. He gave the world laughter in times of overwhelming hopelessness.
Bob kept his sense of humor to the end. Deloris, Bob's wife of 69 years, asked Bob where he wanted to be buried. His daughter, Linda, recalled that her father answered, "Surprise me." Comic actor Kelsey Grammer, star of the "Frasier" television sitcom, summed up Hope's legacy: "He gave us a 100 years, and still left us wanting more." One cartoon that I saw commemorating his life pictured Bob approaching the gates of heaven with a golf club resting on his shoulder. St Peter stands at the open gate and says, "The troops are waiting."
In His Big Hands
When our son, Caleb, was born almost 13 years ago, he had three great-grandparents. My grandma died a few weeks later - both of Brenda's grandparents, in the last couple of years. Not any of them reached the century mark like Bob Hope, but each left their own legacy.
I was privileged to speak at my grandma's memorial service. I
don't remember all that I said, but I do remember talking about
a special memory that I had of her. It was during a visit to our
home. She was spending the night. After everyone had gone to
bed, she could be heard in her room praying. She was mentioning
each of her family - children and grandchildren by name. Her
legacy is each one of those she faithfully prayed for every day.
One of the things that Brenda remembers and talks about is the
size of her grandpa's hands, "My grandpa was a big, big, man. He
had big hands, a big voice, and a big heart. I have always known
that my grandpa loved me so much that he would do anything he
could for me. There is a picture of him holding me in his big hands . . .
my eyes are the size of saucers!" She also remembers the stories
Clarence had to tell. He had seen things that many of us will never
see and loved to tell about them. He passed his stories on to his
children and grandchildren and great-grandchildren. His stories
were proof of who God was to him . . . and who God can be to us.
What's Your Legacy
What kind of legacy are you creating? Do you have real purpose and meaning in life? Will those who follow you be able to say, "Thanks for the memories?" There is a blueprint, a master plan for your life. Learn moreVisit Bob Hope's web site
Visit the Bob Hope Memorial Cartoon Tribute
Click on the images below to see a few other Thanks for the Memories cartoons honoring Bob Hope. They were found circulating around the internet.
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