Blood doesn’t make a family. It doesn’t teach values, hard work, it doesn’t show us love. Time, relationships, interactions help us become who we will become. People who love and care for us — who invest in us and who help teach us — that’s family.
Cody Shugard recently shared a picture of his life-long neighbor and friend, Mr. Chip, holding his son. Shugard penned a deeply touching tribute to Mr. Chip about how he helped Shugard become the man, father and son he is today.
Read his touching tribute below:
So a lot of people like this picture. So I wanted to take a minute to tell the story. Milton West was my childhood next door neighbor. I knew him as Mr. Chip. He retired from DOW chemical as an operator. He has always been there for me since I was two years old. Growing up without a father was always difficult for me. But the good lord surrounded me with great men, Mr. Chip was one of them. He constantly preached the value of an education, taught me how to take care of a yard, he taught me to see people for who they are not what they look like, he taught me how to treat my mother like a saint and many other life lessons. His contributions to me becoming a good son ,man and father were huge.
I am forever grateful for God putting him in my life.
So this past May my wife and I had a little boy named Bob Wayne Shugart. When Mr. Chip and his wife Shirley saw him they fell in love with him. They babysit him sometimes and we go and visit when we can. The last time we were over there Mr. Chip said he wants to be called “POP”. He says that’s his grandson. So we had to come up with a name for his wife. We decided on Lolli!!!!
So we tell Bob Wayne we are going to see Lolli Pop!!! I’m grateful that Lolli and Pop will be apart of my sons life. If he learns half the things from Mr . Chip as I did he will become a great son, man and father.Everyday I read something negative and how race relations are worse than ever. I disagree and I hope this is a positive loving message to many people. This is just one story in little ol Victoria , Texas. I m sure there are millions of similar stories across the United States.
We love this beautiful story that focuses on love, acceptance, and family! If you love it too, let us know in the comments.
