“Pa” Robert (Bob) Gay (1896-1978)
All of us talk about “Pa” Bob Gay. We have heard stories and some of us have had our own experiences with Pa. As a deacon at Paul’s Chapel Primitive Baptist Church, Pa was aware of and lived by one powerful Christian doctrine: that faith without works is dead.
For maybe some of the grand children and probably all of the great, great and great grandchildren, here are a few comments about the works of “Pa” Bob Gay.
You’ve probably read about how sad and how uncomfortable large families were: that they were constantly battling and on welfare and begging everybody in sight. Not “Pa” Bob Gay. In fact, anybody who stopped by and talked to him would have to listen to him brag about how many relatives he had in the house. He would say, “I got one of Jennie’s, one of George’s, all of Lou’s, Erma Dell’s, Dave’s, Lillie’s cousin, Spence, and Robert James gonna be here soon. We already got over 30 in here.” Then “Pa” would let fly one of his full throated, hearty laughs, with a “yes, sir” or two thrown in.
“Pa” Bob Gay was a provider who was ahead of his time. We admire people who spend their time helping others. We tout businesses that offer food baskets and turkeys for Thanksgiving and Christmas. We watch rich professional athletes who have toy give-aways and fun times for needy children.
Well, Pa helped his relatives and neighbors just like that throughout his life. He was a free hearted man who discovered at some point in his life that the joy of living gave its greatest joy through giving.
Want a few examples? Throughout the garden season it was routine to see Pa take a bag or two and go in his garden and gather a few meals for his friends, neighbors or anybody who asked for some of the vegetables. For many of these friends, neighbors, and relatives Pa would go to the smokehouse and get pot meat and sausages or some smoked ham or shoulder. It was ordinary for someone out of the family to stop by to get meat for a week of evening meals.
During the Christmas holidays Pa busily packaged bags of fruit, nuts, and candy. As the Christmas season passed, he would set out bowl after bowl of fruit, raisins, and candy until his supply was gone.
Why did he do it? Simple. Pa loved helping people whether they were relatives or acquaintances. If somebody needed it and had to have it, “Pa” Bob Gay would share whatever he had. From the Bible, James 2:22 makes the point clear about “Pa” Bob Gay: “Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect.”
As we reflect on our memories of Pa during our reunions or just during conversations at lunch, we can learn a valuable lesson from “Pa” Bob Gay–that faith must also have works.
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