4. Half a Man
What Grandpa Told Grandma
When He Came Back From the War
A broken and wild soldier came home and found a new hope of victory that he shared with his wife. He took his wife’s tough love to heart (“Fido”), and surrendered his heart to God (“Bottles and Cans”), and now tells his wife about his new strength, hope and commitment to a life change.
This third song of the trilogy tells of the victory he has found in Jesus and his actions that will prove it. Of course in Grandpa’s real life it was a constant daily battle to control his anger, depression, and other soul-effects of PTSD from the war. Grandpa never drank or gambled again, and lived one of the most upright lives I ever knew. Grandpa’s day-by-day battle for his own soul and the family he loved was a struggle that he won — every day.
From a miserable half a man, he became joyful,whole and holy, — a family man, admired and respected by family, church and community for some 50 years.
