Celebrating One of God’s Sweetest Gifts
What if our daily decisions, actions and reactions were always led by “What Would Jesus Do?” This day of the year is one of my favorites because I get to celebrate my “other” son. Yes, I have one birth son, but when my daughter, Staci, married Larry Wallace, God gave me another beloved son. Today is his birthday and I wanted to share a story about him that will help you know him better.
A few years ago, when their children, Payton and Alexia were in high school Speech & Debate, Larry was asked to be the speaker for one of their Regional Speech & Debate morning devotions at Concordia University in Austin. I don’t think I was ever prouder of him that day. Larry told his own story to the students.
Larry was raised by his single mom who had to resort to working three jobs to make ends meet for her and her young son. She had to make choices that weren’t easy. For example, there was the time when she didn’t have enough funds for childcare, so Larry had to be a “latch-key” kid, coming home from school to fend for himself — cook, wash his own clothes and overall take care of himself. There was also the time when she bought a season pass to Six Flags Over Texas which became Larry’s baby sitter while she was at work.
Later on, Larry’s mom told him that if he wanted to go to college he would have to get a scholarship or earn enough money, himself, to go to college. He knew he didn’t have the academic ability for a scholarship (LOL! The kids laughed here), so he began to pursue athletics — particularly, football. Larry’s coach, who was also their neighbor, saw him hanging out with the “wrong crowd”. He pulled Larry aside, pushed him against the wall and said, “Larry, if you want to make something out of your life, you’ve got to stop hanging out with the wrong crowd.” It was such an impactful conversation that Larry made the decision to become the best version of himself that day. He changed his friends, the things he was doing and began to work hard. That coach’s support and encouragement in football and life paved the way for him to get a 4-year scholarship to Texas A&M, from 1989 to 1993 which was a great football season at A&M. Their team went to five post-season bowl games, two pre-season bowl games, and won three Southwest Conference championships. Larry played defense and his team’s defense was ranked #1 while he attended there. Larry went on to receive his Engineering Degree from A&M.
Even after graduating, “being the best version of himself” continued to be his mode of operation in life. He realized that he didn’t come from a two-parent family, or a family of means like many around him had. He could have looked at himself as deprived, rejected, troubled, lost, forgotten — but he didn’t. He knew that nothing defined who he was except for who he believed God made him to be.
He went on to talk about the 90s bracelet and slogan: “What Would Jesus Do?” Though he wasn’t raised in an environment of believing and serving God and attending church, he met his wife (my Staci) and attended a Bible Study she was teaching, gave his life to Christ and “What Would Jesus Do?” became the mode of operation that he would continue to live out andbe the best version of himself.
He went on to encourage the students that even in Speech & Debate Tournaments, competition is stiff, attitudes and actions can be on the edge toward their competitors and how they are being judged, but still, the higher calling is to always apply “What Would Jesus Do?” in every situation, conflict, and circumstance here or at home or in any place in life.
I like to think that way back when Larry’s dear mom made the sacrifices she did for her boy and instilled hard work ethics into him, God was already working out His perfect plan for his life. That’s just the God we serve. Jeremiah 29:11 “Oh the plans I have for you,” says the Lord, plans to prosper you and not harm you. Plans to give you a hope and a future” was already at work in him when he was a latch-key kid, becoming responsible and able to be independent. God was at work in him when his coach became a male role model that would point him to doing what’s right. God was at work in him when he moved to Tulsa for work and met my daughter and received Christ into his life. God was at work in him as he is the most incredible husband, dad and even son to me, and who is the role model to so many others in business, in life and in his walk with God. Yes, Larry became the best version of himself. “What Would Jesus Do?” not only was his mode of operation back-in-the-day, but it lives out in him daily. Maybe we should start living “What Would Jesus Do?” in our own lives to be the best versions of ourselves that we can be!
Happy Birthday, Larry! You were and are God’s beautiful gift of blessing to all who know and love you. You were and are God’s beautiful gift of blessing to me!