A Tribute to Jack Nelson given by his daughter, Nancy Nelson Wayland, on Thanksgiving Day 2011
For as long as I can remember, we went on family vacations. Some years we got to tag along with you on your business trip in June and spend a few extra days in the area, but most vacations I remember were the 5 of us, travelling in the car to a destination like Pennsylvania, the Smoky Mountains, --- or 2 times even getting to go to Disney World. I always looked forward to our vacations and didn’t realize that all families didn’t get to spend that time together. Family vacations were just one of the ways that you provided for our family.
You also provided for us with your great work ethic. You would faithfully get up early each morning and leave for work at 7:30, arrive home at 5:30, and then work on the farm at night and on weekends. At that time, I had no idea how faithful you were being to Mama and us girls as you were providing for our welfare. I didn’t realize that not all men did this. Yet you provided even more by teaching me, through your work ethic, responsibility, faithfulness, and dependability. Thank you for teaching me how to work hard, to be responsible and dependable. Along with working hard, you taught us to live within our means. While we always had plenty, you and Mama were wise in your spending and saving so that we had what we needed. How many young adults graduate from college debt free? Not many. You taught me to spend my money wisely and live within my means.
Perhaps one of the greatest areas in which you have blessed me is in your marriage with Mama. Even though I know there are times when you get frustrated with each other or disagree, I never heard you raise your voices at each other. I always knew that you and Mama were committed to one another and that you loved one another. I have never had to fear that you would get a divorce. I remember going on a hike with you (just the two of us) on the last vacation we went on as a family of 5. We hiked up and saw some pretty flowers in a meadow, and both of us enjoyed the hike immensely. On that hike, I realized something I hadn’t before. Even though you enjoyed them, you had given up going on long hikes on vacations because they were too hard for Mama. You didn’t complain or try to convince her to change, but instead you willingly gave up something you enjoyed because you loved her more. You showed me what it looks like to put someone else first. As I have worked with more and more college students and heard their stories, I have realized more and more how privileged I am to have you and Mama showing me what a good marriage looks like. Thank you for loving Mama and staying committed to her for life.
As we were growing up, you always set boundaries and parameters. You kept your word; your yes meant yes and your no meant no. Your discipline showed that you loved us. Proverbs 13:24 says: “He who withholds his rod hates his son, but he who loves him disciplines him diligently.” At that same time, you also extended grace. I will never forget being warned about driving carefully when we first got our driver’s licenses. Then I was in a car accident – my fault – where I totaled my (really your) car as well as the car of the woman I hit! Even with all the extra bills I’m sure you had to pay, you and Mama never scolded me or rebuked me. I think you saw how devastated I was and just extended grace. It was a perfect picture of the way God extends grace to us. I definitely didn’t deserve forgiveness. I wrecked a car and made a mess of things. You paid all my bills, took care of me, and then bought me a new car for my freshman year at Virginia Tech. With God, I definitely don’t deserve forgiveness. I wrecked my life and made a mess of things. Yet God, through Christ, has paid all my debt, taken my death penalty, and then given me new life. Thank you, Daddy, for teaching me about God’s grace in such a tangible, real-life way.
Exodus 20:12 says, “Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be prolonged in the land which the Lord your God gives you.” Daddy, today I want to honor you because you have honored me in the way you raised me. I love you, Daddy. Thank you for loving me and for being my dad.
