- PHOTO BY MARLENE MCPHERSON
Glasford George Smith, an outstanding father.

Marlene McPherson, Outlook Writer

GLASFORD GEORGE Smith is one of Jamaica's outstanding patriarchs who has won the love and admiration of his seven sons and two daughters, so much so that they want to make sure everyone knows the good father he has been.

When Outlook sought this interview with him about his experience as a father, they were not about to lose the opportunity to talk about his virtues, his Christian principles and faith, and how he leads by example. So all of them gathered at the Red Hills, St. Andrew home of Granville, one of their brothers, taking the journey from the parishes of Clarendon, St. Ann, St. Thomas and Kingston to share with us their 'goodly heritage.'

MEMORABLE EVENTS

These adults recalled memorable events that have kept them together and caused them to love their dad, the disciplinarian who pastors two churches ­ Rock Rose New Testament Church of God and Main Ridge New Testament Church of God, both of which are in Clarendon. They admitted that they were poor. There was no electricity in their home, no radio let alone television - even until 1996 - but this only pulled the family unit together and they devised ways to keep themselves active and entertained - having fun and singing together even. No wonder the family was embraced by the community of James Hills in Clarendon as a model of respect.

Dad and Miss Ivy, as mom is affectionately called, have been married for 34 years. Both depend on the Lord for their daily sustenance. As subsistence farmers, sometimes they fell on hard times and had nothing to eat but they were taught never to beg.

One of their daughters, Eugennie, now a teacher, related two of her childhood experiences.

"I am never afraid because my father is around. I do not think that there is anything that can harm me and my father does not see it and warn me, because he is a man of prayer. He has had opportunities to go abroad but he remained with us. We would have been better off financially but we would not be who we are if he was not here."

Her siblings nodded their agreed.

She continued, "Dad taught us to pray about everything and we were always reminded to do so before going to bed. I still practise it now."

BADGE

Solomon, now a guidance counsellor, had this to say about his father: "I was elected deputy head boy while at Edwin Allen and there was an investiture ceremony. I told my friends about my father coming so everyone looked forward to it. The ceremony should have been done according to order but the students started to shout, 'We want Solomon! We want Solomon!' I had to be accommodated.

"My father pinned the badge on me then he charged me 'work hard and be fair to everybody'. I was elated. I saw this as a very exciting few minutes of my life; as a result the students would always remind me to be fair."

Ransford, a police officer, chimed in: "My ability to speak dates back to the devotions in the mornings. Every morning we were aroused with dad singing, 'There shall be showers of blessing, this is the promise of God'. Each of us would have to have to share the word of the Bible."

Selvin, another police officer said that he hadto learn that 'time is the master'. We had no running water so we had to head to the spring for water. I was late getting back home one morning and my father only gave me five minutes to shower and reach school."

Then said Granville, an auto assessor, "One of our father's favourite sayings is: 'Speak the truth, speak it ever, cause it what it will, he who hides the wrong he does, does the wrong thing still'. He would emphasise it in a very throaty voice, and any one who violated this would be harshly dealt with."

Granville pointed out that he has learnt honesty, reliability and determination which played a role in his first job at a company as a holiday worker. He was asked to continue and over a period, reached the position of assistant to the director.

At this point Devon, an electrical engineer and a motivational presenter, said, "My father's current pursuit (studying theology ) means a lot to me. This speaks of character, resilience and perseverance. He does not have a high school education yet he does well."

Outlook inquired about Mr. Smith's grades and he responded: "I received As, Bs, and one C." To which all his children said in unison: "The C is for congratulations." Hearty laughter followed.

DIPLOMA

He hopes to complete his diploma within another four year having done four already. Mr. Smith said "It was a trying experience for us, every year one (child) would pass the Common Entrance Examination and sometimes four would be going to high school and I would have to borrow to ensure that they all had secondary education."

With the teaching they have received from him that they should help each other, all except one have received tertiary education.

Mr. Smith has a solution to Jamaica's problems "We need to love God and keep his commandments: Train up a child ..."