Edgar Feddersen went to his eternal rest on February
25, 2004. His son Earl is the Webmaster for the LCMS Foundation. Last week's
story, also in memory of Edgar, was Things
my father taught me about giving.
Editor's note: Memorial gifts can be made online ... Click here.
Pappy wasn't a big talker. He was a better listener, but he taught a lot by his example. For instance, he was an officer in one congregation or another for about 70 consecutive years. He had to resign from being president of his congregation (at age 89) a few weeks before he died because he just wasn't up to it any more.
Pappy's father was a pastor. When Pappy reached the age to go to high school, grandpa sent him to St. Paul's College in Concordia, Missouri (Grandpa's alma mater also). Pappy was to be the next pastor in the family. When Grandpa died, Pappy chose not to go to the seminary. He got married and became a Sunday school teacher and officer in the congregation.
I learned very early that matters of faith were the most important matters of all. Once, when we only had one chicken for five people at the table, I reached out and took a leg before we had said, "Amen" to our table prayer. After a very brief encounter with the back of Pappy's hand, I found myself looking up to him from the floor. I went to bed without supper and I have never again acted up during prayer.
On another occasion, when I was a teenager, I decided to "play sick" and stay home from church. It worked! I got to stay home, but after the rest returned and we had dinner I started to head outside to play. Pappy said, "No, Earl, you're sick!" I never "skipped" church again. From that day on, even if I felt horrible, I got up and went to church just in case I might feel better later in the day!
Confirmation classes gave Pappy the opportunity to reinforce in me the importance of my faith. Most of the kids were afraid of the pastor asking them for their memory work. All of us were afraid of the dreaded questioning, which took place before the congregation's elders. They sat on a raised platform with the pastor and we sat on chairs on the floor. It wasn't an inquisition, but it felt like that to 13-year-olds.
Pappy was on the Board of Elders in those days. But the most stringent questioning I got was not from the pastor and not that dreaded evening before the whole board. It was in the car on the way to Confirmation instruction every Saturday morning! I realize now that my father brushed up on his catechism and Bible verses every week because he knew what my assignments were and he knew my memory work!
After a few difficult rides to the opening weeks of my Confirmation classes, I knew my memory work, too! And I knew it perfectly every time. Giving back to God from the time and talents He gives you was a first priority to my father. I thank God for his example...some of it even rubbed off.