Growing up at Dallas Christian School, we had a graduating class of
45 students, so we were all very close.  One of our classmates, 40-
year young lady, Amy Phipps Jones, was one of our dear friends.  She
was very close friend of mine and Jeff Majors.  Amy passed away
recently.

It’s sad that a death is what brings all these friends together.  But
at the same time, there is something very special about the
relationships that you build in a small Christian school, either high
school or in a small Christian university.   You go through school
with someone for 2, 4, 8 or even 12 years and you know them so well
and then your lives take different paths – you go in different
directions.  And even when you don’t see each other for 15 years or
more, it’s special when you see one another.  When you go to a
funeral and you see Amy’s parents – and immediately when you see each
other – there’s a smile on their faces and there’s a smile on our
faces and you know each other – you recognize each other.

And whether it’s Dallas Christian or ACU, there’s a unique connection
that lasts forever.  Whether you see each other annually, or weekly
at church, or if you don’t see each other for 20 years – there’s some
very unique about a relationship that picks up immediately.  And I
think that is the bond that we have through Christ and the
relationship that we have with one another.

At the funeral, it was sad because Amy was so young, with 3 young
children all under the age of 10.  You know, it’s so sad to see
someone pass away at such a young age, and the parent outlive their
child.  We always expect us to take care of our parents.  You don’t
expect to see a child die before the parents.  Heartbreaking experience.

But when we walked into the church, the first thing we saw was our
classmates and it’s like we never missed a minute.  And we had so
many good conversations after the funeral – we went to the family
life center at the University Church of Christ in Abilene (where her
parents live).  When we walked in and saw our classmates, it really
gave me a deep feeling of warmth, of happiness .  After the service,
we saw Amy’s parents.  When I walked up to her mother, it was like
she recognized me as if we had seen each other last week.  Her Dad
was so encouraging.  Amy and I had gone to school together since 6th
grade – it was a good day to see those friends and rekindle those
relationships and to see her parents.

But it was also a tough day because someone’s life was lost – I wish
was there was a way we could get together without it having to be at
a funeral.

My main thought:  what is special is the tie that binds us together -
it’s the relationships.  People talk about loving their church or
loving their alma mater – it’s such a good feeling.  It’s the
reaffirmation of our friendships and those heartfelt feelings.

-RWH

Character: making the decision to do what is right, even if there is no chance of being caught.

Recently Chellee and the girls were shopping at Wal-Mart. As they loaded the car, Miranda noticed a small roll of money laying on the ground next to the car.  Without hesitation, Miranda insisted on turning it in.  It was just a five and three one’s but the clerk at the desk seemed surprised, saying, “Thank you for being so honest.”

As Chellee told me the story, I thought back about the time Chellee found twenty dollars at Target and turned it in. Target has a policy that if it is not claimed in two weeks they will give it to you………and they did.

The next time I consider returning a VCR to Wal-Mart after two years of use and operator error damages, I with think about Miranda and her example of character.

Chellee told Miranda that she could have put the money in her pocket and no one would have ever known.  Miranda said, “but I would have known.”

I told my Dad this story and he wrote back this note:

Thanks! Isn’t it great to witness your children maturing and evidencing signs of displaying the traits you so earnestly wish for their character. These little “evidences” don’t come about by accident…they come from parents who model such character traits in front of their children.

- Randy Hill, Texas Entrepreneur