A Legacy Written in Lives

What more can I say of my husband, that our children have not already said?

Having been married now for 51 plus years, I think I qualify as knowing Ernest Gambrell! We met when we were very young, married at young ages and soon had our first two children while still very young! We had Teresa and Joe by the time I was 21, you were 24. Were we prepared to be parents? I think not, however, by the grace of God, we did our best. Twelve years later, out third child was born, Jonathan. We knew so much more by then and with God being the center of our lives and our Helper, hopefully we did not make the same mistakes we had made with our first two children.

I am so thankful that at the early ages of Teresa and Joe, God called us and we surrendered our lives to full times service for the Lord Jesus. The years as missionaries in Mexico were priceless! What a difference God has made in our home and in our lives!

I am so grateful to God for giving you to me to be my husband. Having met quite by “chance”, you living so far away from me! We both knew that one day we would marry one another; we just had to grow up! Later, we discovered we both would pray for each other during those years we did not date.

You are a man of integrity, great character, many abilities, strong beliefs, and a Godly man, who loves our Lord with all your heart, and you seek to help other Christians, preachers, and missionaries by putting practical teachings of things God has taught you on paper. You are very diligent with your writing and so many people have been blessed because of it. I am so proud of you!

I have never had to know life without love, compassion, confidence, reassurance, provision, caring, teaching, and so much more. I could always have confidence in your judgment on matters, no matter what the problem. You have always been a wonderful provider for all of us! Even to working two jobs when necessary. You have always looked well to my needs as well as that of others. You live what you preach! You are the best husband any woman could ever wish to have. Your children and grandchildren love you dearly as well as I. As I tell others, you have spoiled me! I mean this in the best of ways! I have no fear, as you have taught me I can rely on you! And together, we rely on our Lord Jesus Christ. When we married, my favorite words were, “I can’t”. Well you have taught me through these many years that I can do all things with God’s help and many times with yours! Sometimes I get myself into trouble and have to call on you to help get me out! That has happened more than once. You have had such patience with me! For that I am truly thankful!

As you teach others, you have taught us also. I thank God for the ability He has given you to discern matters and to lead. You and our Lord have led me on a fascinating life and I am so grateful for the many untold blessings! I trust God will give us fruitful years ahead together in the time we have left on this earth.

I love you with all my heart,

Diane

I am quite sure it is impossible to put all one’s feelings for a parent into mere words on a thing so invaluable as a piece of paper. Where do you begin? Are there even words to express such a love? A love such as this only comes from first experiencing true love shown by a parent. Truly I have been blessed to know such a love for as long as I can remember. I have the most WONDERFUL Daddy in the whole wide world! And though I’ve always known this, the older I get the more I realize what a TREASURE I have.

From such a young age I wanted to be exactly like my daddy. One of my earliest memories is wanting to polish your shoes just like I’d seen you do….the beginning of learning responsibility.

I wanted to walk around the house my small feet on your feet…the beginning of knowing you would protect me and not let me fall.

I loved wrapping presents with you at Christmas time. You wouldn’t just tape on a bow but you’d be so creative with the ribbon and make each package different and special and write a note on each gift tag….the beginning of me realizing that people are the same….different and each one special, that no matter how small the task do it well…give your best, being positive and having fun even in the time consuming, seemingly unimportant tasks…to be creative. (and you never knew how much someone could learn from just wrapping presents with you / ).

Watching you roll yards, put water hoses over the roof to be prepared for the yard rollers, all the men of the church at our house all night and the women at the neighbor’s house….the beginning of knowing that Christians can have fun without the world’s methods.

All the camping trips, stories around the fire, smell of the old green tent, boat rides, pyramids, crawl-dads, marinas…the beginning of wonderful family memories…learning that it doesn’t take a Taj mahol to make someone happy, just being together with those closest to us…..What FUN we had!

Holding me in your lap every night around the fire at North Fork to protect me from those hard shell bugs….knowing Daddy’s arms were safe arms.

Building us a club house out back on Gailwood….helping me paint my bedroom furniture on several occasions…Surprising us by building us a ping pong table for Christmas (which we had hours of fun playing on). always asking at the hotels if they would let you take us swimming after hours when we’d be traveling all day (knowing now that you would have probably rather rested in the room), then after swimming the famous chip and dip (Yum), take us to the Tea Room or Tulsa’s in Guadalajara (I felt so special), buying me peppermint ice cream when we had so little money ( I feel terrible now – you and mom didn’t even like it)

All these and so many thousands more showing me that my world was important to you…. the beginning of teaching me to give of myself, to think ahead, that it is what you make it, work can be fun and rewarding, don’t just expect a no – ask, take time to make people feel special, teamwork, a little paint, soap and water does wonders and so much more…..

I will forever see…. the image of you working in the garden, tilling, planting, watering, weeding, picking, canning….the beginning of seeing that hard work pays off and is rewarding.

the image of you preaching…and me being so proud that my daddy was the BEST preacher I’d ever heard (and I’ve heard many)

the image of you reading your Bible and studying…knowing you practice what you preach

the image of you kneeling at the foot of my bed praying when you didn’t know I saw you…WOW….what that has meant to me through the years

You have not only taught me by words but by actions….and all the while teaching me and preparing me to be a parent one day.

Your love didn’t stop when I left home and continued on with Mike and our three children. We all have a wonderful heritage, precious memories, and a knowledge that you truly love us and would do anything for us. For you it doesn’t matter if it is hot, cold, rain or snow…you always have put our needs before your own. We CAN count on you all the time!!

You began to teach me so much at a young age and still teach me now…..You have taught me how to love by showing me true love!

You have not only been a great parent but a great friend!

I LOVE YOU MORE THAN WORDS CAN EXPRESS!!!

Your favorite daughter (and only one /  ) Teresa

Hey dad! I love you!

I tried to think back on the earliest memory I could of you and I’m not sure of the order in years. It was in Helena at the end of the street and the cotton field in the back yard. Memories of you in the floor wrestling with me and flipping me over your shoulder; wow that was fun! Playing in the cotton wagon while you helped Mr. Gregory. Those fishing trips so early in the morning that taught me discipline to “get up” get going and not be lazy. Teaching me the joys of catching a fish. Camping at Jordan’s landing with the Logans. I remember the floating swim platform you would swim out to with us and let us jump off of over and over.

There are way far too many memories of you and mom to put on this piece of paper. I’d have to write a book. (maybe later) The things you instilled in me that I had no idea at the time it was happening, have made my life what it is today. A lot of those times I wasn’t very happy about. For example, hand digging the garden in Mexico and pulling out the weeds as I went. But now I know how to use a shovel. What a simple thing. Thanks! The gifts and abilities God gave me and you as a dad bringing those to the surface in my life are irreplaceable. I can’t imagine where I would be if you had not taken the time to teach me all the things you did.

I can only imagine the joys of teaching your son to be a man. The awesome responsibility to know that much of his future is in your hands. I also realize that if it were not for you having God first in your life my life would be…. who knows!!! Thank you for standing on the Word of God, being strong and unchanging. I can only pray that my life and practices will be as your example have been to me. I can’t imagine having been born into any other family but ours. Any other would have been less than the best! I mean that with all my heart!

Love ya dad!!!!!!

Joe

Where can I begin? Proverbs 22:1 “ A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches…” I like the adjectives God uses in the Bible. Not simply “riches”, but “great riches”. I certainly would agree! I am very grateful that you have lived your public life in such a way that your name has become one that stands for integrity, and service to our Lord Jesus Christ. Many men have left their children “great riches” but have failed to leave a “good name”. I am privileged to carry that “good name” today and pray that I will continue the same heritage for my children.

In your private life you lived the same. I am blessed with a vast amount of childhood memories of us spending time together. I remember the hunting trips; the many hours spent tossing a baseball or football. I remember the envious look of my classmates when I told them that my dad was checking me out early from school to go fishing for the afternoon! You truly did take a good amount of time from your schedule to make sure I spent time with you and that I felt loved.

I appreciate the work ethic you instilled in me. I remember very, very well the many times I had to hoe the rows in the garden. The many times I “helped” change the oil. I remember when “we” roofed the house. I did a lot of watching while growing up, but I also did a lot of learning. I have found that in my adult life, I now have no problem getting dirty while changing my own oil. I don’t hesitate to take care of projects around the house. You taught me good skills, and also taught me not to be lazy. This work ethic has played a great role in my ability to provide for my family today. I remember that many times I would get up in the night to get a drink, only to find you at the family couch on your knees in prayer. As a young person I had some appreciation for this, however, as an adult, I have the utmost respect for the time you spend in prayer. None could ever place a value on the time you spend in prayer for our family.

Watching you serve the Lord with consistency and preach from your heart also had a big impact on me. I believe I learned most about serving God from watching you.

When asked what my father does, I am always proud to tell people that you are a preacher, and that you are involved in getting the gospel out around the globe.

You have been, and are a good father. I could write a thousand lines and never say enough. I think you know my heart. I pray that my children will see some of you in my life.

Thank you Dad.

I love you. JON