Sermon Tone Analysis

The very first thing that needs to be said about Papa is that he was a good man in the very truest sense of the word.

A true “fisher of men”, Papa’s most remembered trait was his patience.

A patience that won countless men and women to his point of view, his side of the tracks, and his peaceful way of life.

In particular there was a certain category of men and women who he greatly influenced and won over to his way of life.

And that was his grandchildren.

Every single one of his grandchildren confess to Papa being a defining part of their lives.

We were taught many of the same lessons, some were taught unique lessons depending on what they needed.

A farmer to his core, Papa may have envisioned his family like a crop, carefully tending it, watering it, and fertilizing it for future seasons.

A true master of animals, who cared for most creatures and waged war with some, Papa also cared for his family in a similar manner to a good shepherd; feeding, watering, sacrificing, and even sometimes lovingly breaking the leg of wayward sheep to protect them from true harm.

The marriage of Ron and Marcia Duell has taught me more about marriage, and the nature of Grace and Mercy than nearly anything in my short life.

Biblical mercy could be described as not receiving something bad that we very much deserve, and biblical grace is receiving something infinitely valuable that we very much do not deserve.

Grandma and Papa displayed these traits regularly towards each other in their marriage, and in their interactions with their children and grandchildren.

One of the clearest displays of grace in my life and the lives of my siblings and cousins is the unconditional love and warmth that has been extended to my wife, and all of the other grandspouses.

Every time a new member of the family has been added, Grandma and Papa have gracefully enveloped them in their love.

Many men and women in this room who are not blood relatives would consider Marcia and Ron Duell to be like a parent or grandparent to them thanks to their practice of extending love towards all.

When I was a child I found out that Grandma and Papa were like that, when I grew up I found out that God was like that.

The experiences that grandchildren and great-grandchildren had with Papa were multi-various, however there is a lot of commonality that allows us to remember his special, patient way of being Papa.

A day with Papa would almost certainly begin with eating fruit on the deck.

Papa loved being outside as much as possible and helped instill this love for nature in his grandchildren.

Sitting with Papa frequently revealed that the man who appeared to be quiet actually had quite a bit to say to his grandkids.

Almost exclusively in the form of a story.

Many times we would ask to hear a story we had heard many times before, simply because his ability to tell them was masterful.

Papa was also a grand-master in the ancient art of dry humor and playing mind games with his grandchildren.

One of the most beautiful, dainty, and harmless creatures God ever created were hummingbirds.

Papa especially enjoyed hummingbirds, but that didn’t stop him from ruining them for his youngest grandchildren.

Many a child was tormented by the news that if you got too close to the hummingbirds that they would bore into your head with their long beaks.

After breakfast, the rest of the day was filled with purpose.

Purposeful work, and purposeful leisure.

You would follow Pop around his property as he did projects for Grandma, fixed broken items, cared for plants, fed some animals, and fortified against others.

Pop’s patience really shone when he was working.

Nothing escaped his dominion.

Every plant.

animal, and piece of equipment was brought under his careful, steady control.

No matter how long it took.

One time, Josiah was wondering why Papa had dug a bunch of holes in the yard.

Papa invited him outside to help him with a hose by saying “Let’s go irrigate the gophers.”

Other notable working moments with Pop include countless hours at the ranch, spraying neighborhood trees for pine beetles, checking houses, and making his once a decade trip to the dump to unload the items he couldn’t burn in his stove.

Leisure time with Papa included more time on the deck hearing stories and eating knackebrod, port wine cheese, more fruit, and pickled herring.

Oftentimes leisure time meant fishing, a pastime Papa loved.

However a better term for fishing with his grandkids could have been, “untangling”.

Endless patience.

The most cherished memories of Papa however come in the form of the lessons he taught us.

These were expertly interwoven into the work and leisure.

Papa had an incredible way of correcting and teaching gently in the same motion.

Mark had a memory that captured Papa’s style perfectly.

“You know I swore that just a little while ago, I saw some kid burying my tools out in the yard.

Think you could help me find them?”

Archer rode a broken lawnmower down the hill after being told not to and then after struggling to push it back up, was joined by Papa to help him push it back.

Brian was invited to join in a high stakes forensic case to determine the source of the holes shot through the screendoor at the ranch, only to discover that the source was Brian and his bb gun.

All of these lessons were an extension of his character, which were an extension of Christ.

If you knew my grandfather in any capacity, than you have met the strong hands and patient spirit of the Son of God.

The part that I skipped in the day with Papa was the part where you scamper up the stairs early in the morning to watch cartoons, only to find Grandma and Papa with the Word of a Holy God open on their laps as they submitted their hearts, minds, desires, attitudes, and lives to the Lord Christ.

Many grandchildren had the Bible read to them by Papa when they were infants.

Brian and Mark had the distinct privilege of spending many Sunday nights curled up on the floor under the legs of Grandma’s armchair, while Papa read out of the Bible.

The Fruit of the Spirit

Papa is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self control.

Papa was a man who loved Jesus.

And because he did that, thousands of men and women have enjoyed the fruit of Ronald Axel Duell’s life, because the strong tree that he was, was rooted deeply beside the still waters of eternal life.

And indeed it is eternal life.

If you love Papa, you probably love Jesus.