quiet example

He was born in a barn and raised on a tractor. It wasn't an easy life for the boy called PJohn, but when asked, he didn't complain. He grew up to be one of 10 kids, two of them died as children, but he always spoke of them with a softness that didn't match his gruff exterior. At the age of 3, he lost his father, and by the time he was 12 years old, he was a middle school dropout. Not because he was a victim of the system, or because he was a "bad boy", but simply because his brothers and sisters needed to be provided for. At an age where most children now are learning cheat codes for a video game, or thinking the world is unfair because they don't have the newest technology toy, PJohn was working so his family wouldn't go hungry.
Fast forward a few years, PJohn found himself in Germany as a member of the United States Army. At the ripe old age of 17 years old, he was "eager for duty." He was always looking out for everyone else first. During his time in the Army, he did and saw things that he never discussed with his children. He left here a kid who thought he was a man, and returned as a man who wished for his childhood back to erase the memories. Never one to enjoy a pity party, he soldiered on, too stubborn to let an unchangeable past affect his present and future. When asked if he was angry or bitter, he'd smile and say "Why? Why be bitter or angry over things you can't change? Live life in a way that when you go to bed at night, you aren't ashamed to look at yourself in the mirror." Hard work and humility, all wrapped up in a strong, quiet man. Calloused hands and no nonsense attitude, but always ready to crack a joke and quick to smile. Some would say he was hard to get to know, but truth be told, he never met a stranger. He worked hard to provide, but was always ready to give the shirt off his back to anyone who was in need. He wasn't perfect, but he did strive to be. He was always a man of few words, when he spoke-there was wisdom. But when he was quiet, the example he set spoke volumes.