For Father’s Day, Fr. Aaron Foshee shared how his “Poppa,” G. Wayne Walton, taught him to be a man of integrity
Q:What kind of Christian example has your step-dad been for you?
A: Poppa has been an example of fortitude and diligence when things have been hard. He instilled in me a quote that I say all the time, especially to my spiritual directees: “Breathe, and don’t lock your knees!” This is how Poppa has been able to get through his own personal hardships throughout his life; to persevere through the discomfort, frustration or unfairness. He has shown me how important it is to take up my cross and follow Christ’s example, even when it’s difficult.
Q:What are some of his goals for his family?
A: Poppa’s primary goal for his family has been to get them to heaven. He has worked to make this goal a reality by being an example himself of charity, humility and commitment.
Q:Who have been examples that he has followed in his life?
A: While not an example of fatherhood, one of the greatest examples of Christian holiness that I can think of that has been a phenomenal influence has been Mother Teresa. Even before we came into the Catholic Church, I remember Poppa having a devotion to her. When she died in 1997, he made a shrine to her, which made the rest of the family a little uncomfortable, because “well, we aren’t Catholic, and that’s not what we do!” How beautiful a foreshadowing of what was to come for his family when, three years later, we came into the Catholic faith together. And, I think he would be the first to say that Mother Teresa had a lot to do with that.
Q:What has he done that makes him a lot like Saint Joseph?
A: One of the things that strikes me about Saint Joseph is that he had no reason to protect a family that technically was not his own, yet he chose to say “yes” to doing so, and thus became the earthly “Abba: for the Son of God. When Poppa married my mother, I was 4 years old. He is not my biological father, yet he chose to say “yes” to loving me. He said “yes” to being my “Abba” — my Poppa.
Q:What would you like to say to your step-dad?
A: All that I can do is thank Poppa for all he has done for me, my mother and my family. Thank you, Poppa, for showing me how to be a man of integrity. Thank you for supporting me and teaching me, listening to me and protecting me. Thank you for being my personal “Saint Joseph.” I love you.
Fr. Foshee is pastor for Saint Joseph Catholic Church in Ada and Saint Francis Xavier Catholic Church in Sulphur.
Chuck Laterza is a freelance writer for the Sooner Catholic.