He wrote "A Has Been" sometime in the early 90's. He mailed a copy to my sister and here you will find both it and the reply she mailed back to him.

A Has Been

Have you ever seen a "Has Been"? He has the mark of the years upon him. His hair is sort of grayish white. If he has any left. He is not a was. He has outgrown that. He has a pleasant look on his face, which can turn into a smile. His attention can just hold a little while. His cheeks are sometimes rosy. Hi teeth gleam brightly. They come from the dentist, so the shine comes rightly. His eyes are usually red and sunken deeply. They are hidden behind glasses, hiding the worse from passers-by. His knees are on the knobby side and he wobbles when he walks. His clothes don't fit in most places. They look like they are on a hanger. He carefully puts up his possessions. They can be found in various places. By someone. But not him. He will ask your name today. Tomorrow he will ask it again. He is not so bad. He is a friend to all he meets and will give you a hearty handshake. If you are down and out he will help to meet your need. He believes the Bible is God's own Holy Word. He is trying to live a life which will show what he believes. All he needs is love. All he has to give is love.

By Drayden Marshall

Has Been #2

Have you ever seen a "Has Been"? He has the mark of the years upon him. His hair is sort of grayish white. From years of concern for his family's well being and happiness. He has a pleasant look on his face, which quickly turns into a smile when his two great-grandaughters run into the room. His attention is held just a little while. He has heard and seen so much in his life, bad and good, that it is hard to reveal something new. His eyes are red and sunken deeply. He has had years of watching, observing, learning, obtaining the wisdom that only years can bring. His knees are on the knobby side and he wobbles a little when he walks. This is years of walking miles to find jobs, kneeling to work with his hands that provide for a hungry family, and running after grandchildren who are over active and have been intrusted into his care. He probably can't find the few possessions that he may have but he has found the higher possession of contentment. He will ask your name today and tomorrow forget, but he never forgot to be there for someone in need. He is not so bad. He is a product of years of our Lord molding and shaping someone as a potter and clay.

The outside may be merely the culmination of the years but the inside is the gold molded by the fire. He is a friend to all he meets and will give you a hearty handshake. He believes the Bible is God's own Holy Word and has passed this belief on to his family who will live eternally, raise their children to love the Lord and serve Him all of their days because of his convictions. He is trying to live a life to show what he believes and has touched many lives. All he needs is love. All he has to give is love. Which is the most important thing anyone can give. He has been many things. He is an example, a rock, a source of wisdom, a tool with which the Lord will continue to fulfill His perfect plan.

I love you, Papaw.

Betty