4/22/2008
<br>Author: Devin Pickard
<br>Title: Toodle-Do
<br><br>“What makes a person great?”  I suppose to answer that question you would have to determine by which standard you were basing your definition on.  I guess by the world’s standards you would have to have truck loads of money and the finest possessions available.  Perhaps you would have to be someone who had a tremendous amount of power and authority.  Many would say that greatness would require you having the looks of a cover model and the intelligence of a Rhodes Scholar.  Though many of the above characteristics could considered favorable attributes and ones to be desired, would they necessarily mean that the person possessing them was the “end-all, be-all” to life itself?  I think the answer would be a resounding “No”.<br><br>Let me give you my take on what true “greatness” is.  Being great means being a servant to all those around and putting self last.  It means working hard, giving any task your all and being faithful to your God, your family and yourself.  It means remembering to stop and smell the roses every now and then.  It means having a smile on your face and realizing that you don’t have to be a child to still have some fun.  I could go on and on, or I could have saved a lot of space and just given you a two word definition of what true “greatness” really was......Paul McCoy.<br><br>This past Sunday one of God’s finest examples of “greatness” was laid to rest.  Paul Edward McCoy was born in 1922 and lived on this earth for over 85 years.  During that time Mr. McCoy proudly served his country during WWII as a surgical tech, made his sweetheart Grace his wife and helped bring a precious daughter into this world who bears part of his given name.  He worked hard for many years at Genesco and worked even harder in his garden and at playing with his grandchildren.  Quail didn’t have a fighting chance if they happened upon him with a shotgun in hand and the Atlanta Braves always had at least one faithful fan as long as he was around.  <br><br>Time and space do not permit me to tell you all of the wonderful stories I have heard about Bro. McCoy over the last few days....the span and events of 85 years is the stuff novels are made of.  The family tells me that they would never leave Mr. McCoy’s presence when he wouldn’t wave his index finger and tell them good-bye, or “toodle do” as he would say it.  The blessing of Mr. McCoy being a Christian man is this.....his departure from this life served as his entrance into the next one.  The blessing of us being a Christian is this....he will only have to tell us “toodle do” once.  <br><br>Go the extra mile - Devin         <br>  <br>