Father’s Day is almost here. Are you ready for it?

Back in 2017, I posted the following story on Facebook. It’s about my dad and a favorite of mine.

” The Music Man… I am coming down the stairs when I hear Elvis Presley blasting through the speakers. It’s the gospel song, I’ve Got Confidence and the beat of the music and his voice puts some pep in my step.

I am around four or five years old, living in Stockton, California and it’s the earliest, clearest memory I have of music being played in our home.

Growing up, our houses and cars were always filled with music.

I remember traveling from California to Arizona to the music of Andrae Crouch, BJ Thomas and I still feel the angst today when I remember the time, leaving Safford, Arizona and asking my dad to put on Wanda Jackson’s 8-track and him telling me that he gave it to my Uncle Andy.

At that moment, it was as if the world had ended.

Although some of these singers sang worldly music too, I can testify today that only their gospel and it was only gospel that was ever played, that was ever turned on by my parents but oh, what gospel it was!

We had it all, every genre and it was mostly my dad’s doing.

This unassuming man gave it to us in English, Spanish, instrumental and we had it in old and we had the very latest.

From our very own singers within the United Pentecostal Church to those way out there like, say, Gary Paxton and he wasn’t afraid to blast it and he wasn’t afraid to try something new like the time he brought home one of Stryper’s music videos.

That one didn’t go over very well with us kids and ” Honestly “, Shawn and I still laugh about it. (Kids, say NO to Christian rock!)

On a softer note, I see my dad at the dining room table studying and writing down notes for Sunday’s lesson/preaching. He’s got a glass of iced tea next to him and the front door is open a little, letting in a nice breeze. It’s Saturday and the Southern Gospel Hour is playing on Family Life Radio.

TIME OUT! It’s time for some trivia but not you dad, you go on studying and writing your notes.

Fact #1) Dad took the FCC test in San Francisco and receives his Broadcast license. He says he was around 24 years young.

Fact #2) Dad volunteered at KCJH (CLC) for around two years doing three hour shifts three times a week.

I told you he is unassuming.

Many years later somewhere in my 30s, I was having a lot of headaches and vertigo.

My doctor ordered an MRI, and I was told by the MRI people that more often than not, patients will not finish this test because of claustrophobia.

I was also told that I could bring a CD of my choice to listen to while the test was being done.

I chose my Elvis Presley gospel CD, He Touched Me.

I knew its familiarity would comfort me, calm me, strengthen me and encourage me.

Song #2 on the CD was, I’ve Got Confidence.

Dad, thank you for this gift, the gift of music that you filled our lives with. It has been a gift that keeps on giving. Love u. “

~missy salcido wead